148 MADGE’S MISTAKE.

“ Horrid creature!” cries she, as she pushes
her chair back, thereby letting the stream
down upon the floor: “will you ever learn
to behave decently, I wonder?”

The catastrophe does not trouble me much,
however, and for a wonder I am not ordered
out of the room.

I finish my breakfast in peace, therefore,
and as soon as we rise from the table I rush
out of the room and into the garden, followed
by Jack.

“Isn't it splendid?” I cry, as he comes
up with me; “really I am happier now than
I have been for days, now it’s all over: oh!
Jack, you really can’t tell what the anxiety
has been.”

“T havea very fair idea, notwithstanding,”
answers Jack, as we saunter down the path:
“T must say, though,” he adds, “ you have
been most precious lucky to get out of all
the scrapes that you have: just look now
what a heap you got into trying to get out
of the first one!”

“Yes,” I answer, with a deep sigh, “so I