204 BRAGGADOCIO.

Bessie-—There’s your needle-book ; put that
in too. I think I see you mending the elbow
of your coat, Tom, and making wry faces at
your awkward botching. Live and learn. It
is easier to patch an elbow than to build a
house such as Howard Framingham built on
our island. Hasn’t he wonderful genius ?

“No; not exactly genius? He is too steady
for a genius; and yet he has something that
answers the purpose. He will make a first-
rate architect. A lucky thing it is for him
that his father did not leave him a mint of
money. He will make, now, a substantial
citizen.”

Bessie—Has Howard Framingham got over
his dislike to this country.

Tom.—Not entirely. He loves England
dearly; but he does not mean to go back till
he has gained a reputation here as an archi-
tect. Come, Bessie, it is getting late. We
will waken father, and have prayers.

The chapter in the Bible that night was read
with deep feeling; the prayers were said with
solemn earnestness, and trustful confidence.

Sleep came to relieve them of the sorrow