20 CAROLINE.

age

A visitor. Conversation with the client. Phonny is tired.

 

teacher and pupils, was suddenly attracted by a knock-
ing at the door. It sounded as if some one were knock-
ing on the door with a stick.

“ Come in,” said Caroline.

The door opened very slowly, and a man looked in.
He was dressed in a sort of cartman’s frock, and he had a
long whip in his hand. In fact it was with the handle of
this whip that he had knocked at the door.

« Ah,” said he, as he looked around the room and saw
that there were only children there. “The squire is
not in.”

“ No, sir,” said Caroline. “He is gone away. Could
I do the business do you think ?”

The man smiled and said, No——he was afraid not.

“ My father is coming home just before tea,” said Caro-
line.

“ Then I will come in again,” replied the man. So say-
ing he shut the door and withdrew.

“ Children,” said Caroline, “I am glad to see that you
behave so well when company comes in. It gives me a
great deal of satisfaction.”

As Caroline said this in a perfectly grave and sober
manner, Phonny and Malleville took it apparently in
serious earnest, and both resumed their studies.

In about twenty minutes Phonny laid down his pen and
drew a long sigh. Caroline looked up from her book.
She turned her eyes first to Phonny and then to the clock.
She pointed to the clock, then put her finger on her lips,
and resumed her reading. Phonny perceiving that ten
minutes of his time were still remaining, took up his pen
again, and soon afterwards resumed his writing.

At length the halfhour expired. The party were all,