48 MADGE’S MISTAKE,

want to be off Tl have the pony-carriage
ready for you myself, agin’ you are.”

“Oh! thanks, Simmons,” I cry, starting
up; “you are a regular brick, and I won't
forget it: but let me sec,” I continue, coming
to the point at once, “what time do you
think I'll want to start?”

“Well, to get back by half-past eight,”
replics Simmons, “‘ you ought to leave by six,
I should say, it takes pretty nigh an hour to
get to M—; and then youll want a little
time to choose your flowers, but I should say
two hours and a half would do you nicely.”

Having settled everything satisfactorily I
scramble out of my seat, and after bidding
Simmons good-bye quite affectionately, leave
the stable. I go and join Jack then, and we
have a pleasant hour's fishing together in our
favourite quiet nook, where the tops of the
trees meet over the water.

We return to the house laden with one
small fish, but, as Jack says, one is better
than nothing. As we pass the open drawing-
room windows we see Father asleep behind