A LAW THAT COULD NOT BE BROKEN — 207

a very clear and delightful way the principle shown in
rolling balls, leaning towers, and unsafe chimneys; in the
eraceful positions of skaters; in tumbling dolls and the
movements of various toys,—

“Rob!” exclaimed my wife.

“No, dear,” said I, listening a moment and thinking
that she had fancied she heard the baby ery.

“Rob!” she exclaimed again, “what were you laughing
about ?”

“When ?” said I.

“Why, a moment ago.”

“Oh,” I said, “did n’t I ever tell you, my dear? It was
such a capital illustration of the laws we have just been
studying, though I did n’t know it at the time.”

“Well?” said she.

She drew her chair close to mine, with a comical look
of curiosity on her face, and I began in a dramatic voice:

“°T is now about fifteen years since a small boy, full of
mischief by nature, but very cautious by education, found
himself alone in the upper part of a fine city mansion.
His mother was out. The servants were in the kitchen,
and this small boy felt that, perhaps, never again would
he have such a grand chance to be up to—something, he
hardly knew what.”

“Was it you, Rob?”

“Tt was,” said I. “ Well, as the boys say, T cast about
for some time, not able to settle on a plan. Many delight-°
ful projects entered my head, but they were all more or
less connected with danger. There was the roof, as steep
and as slanting as heart of boy could wish ; but [had been