ve up. "Blackall has everything of the best, you know, always
in tip-top style," he remarked; "and you see, if he gets a regular-made
kite from a first-rate London maker, what chance can any of us possibly
have?" Blackall himself seemed to be of the same opinion, and boasted
considerably of the wonders his kite was going to perform. Monsieur
Malin smiled when he heard him boasting; Ernest said nothing, but looked
as if he thought that he might be mistaken; while Buttar laughed and
observed that Bully Blackall seemed to think that a large amount of
credit was to be gained by buying a good kite. He might congratulate
himself still more if he could buy at as cheap a rate a good temper and
a good disposition.

Ernest, meantime, going on the principle he had adopted of doing his
utmost to encourage Ellis, proposed to join him in the share of a kite.
Ellis said that he should be very glad, and that he would undertake to
make it himself.

"What! can you make kites?" exclaimed Ernest. "I never dreamed of
that."

"Oh, I have made all sorts of kites, and know how to fly them well,"
answered Ellis. "I have the materials for one in my box now. I did not
like to produce them, because the other boys would only laugh at me for
proposing to fly a kite. I have ample line, though we may add another
ball or two. All I want are two thin but strong laths, nine and eight
feet long."

"What! are you going to make the kite nine feet high!" exclaimed Ernest.
"That will be big, indeed."

"Yes; nine feet high, and eight from wing to wing," said Ellis.

"Why, what a whacking big fellow it will be!" exclaimed Ernest. "And I
say, what a lot of paper it will take to make it!"

"Not a particle," answered Ellis. "It is all made of silk, which is
lighter and stronger than any other material. Come with me to the
carpenter's and get the laths, and we'll have it made by the evening, so
as to fly it, if there is a breeze, to-morrow."

"I'll go with pleasure to the carpenter's; but if you are pretty certain
that your kite will do well, do not let us fly it till the day of trial.
It will astonish every one so much to see you come out with a great big
kite, which, I doubt not, will beat all the others."

"Oh, no! I'm afraid that it won't do that. It will scarcely be equal
to Monsieur Malin's, and probably Blackall will get something very grand
down from London," answered Ellis, always diffident about anything
connected with himself.