en up with them. Of course
he was now aware that the people of George Yard did good work for his
new Master, but he was so ignorant of the special phase of their work at
the beginning of his Christian career that he never thought of applying
to them for information. Afterwards he became so busy with his own
special work, that he forgot all about these institutions.

When the missionary recovered and returned to his work, he at once--on
hearing for the first time from Ned his family history--put him on the
scent, and the discovery was then made that they had gone to Canada. He
wrote immediately, and soon received a joyful reply from Hetty and a
postscript from Bobby, which set his heart singing and his soul ablaze
with gratitude to a sparing and preserving God.

About that time, however, the robust frame gave way under the amount of
labour it was called on to perform. Ned was obliged to go into
hospital. When there he received pressing invitations to go out to
Canada, and offers of passage-money to any extent. Mrs Frog also
offered to return home without delay and nurse him, and only waited to
know whether he would allow her.

Ned declined, on the ground that he meant to accept their invitation and
go to Canada as soon as he was able to undertake the voyage.

A relapse, however, interfered with his plans, and thus the visit, like
many other desirable events in human affairs, was, for a time, delayed.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

HOME AGAIN.

Time passed away, and Bobby Frog said to his mother one morning,
"Mother, I'm going to England."

It was a fine summer morning when he said this. His mother was sitting
in a bower which had been constructed specially for her use by her son
and his friend Tim Lumpy. It stood at the foot of the garden, from
which could be had a magnificent view of the neighbouring lake. Rich
foliage permitted the slanting sunbeams to quiver through the bower, and
little birds, of a pert conceited nature, twittered among the same.
Martha Mild--the very embodiment of meek, earnest simplicity, and still
a mere child in face though almost a woman in years--sat on a wooden
stool at Mrs Frog's feet reading the Bible to her.

Martha loved the Bible and Mrs Frog; they were both fond of the bower;
there was a spare half-hour before them;--hence the situation, as broken
in upon by Bobby.

"To England, Bobby?"

"To England, mother."

Martha said nothing, but she gave a slight--an almost impe