Paul the Courageous

igh window-seat, grasping a long pole with a curtain hook at the end of it, with which he made frantic but

"Stella has been wrecked, and is trying to get to land in a boat, but the waves are dashin

hook, and then I shall drag her boat-" But Stella had caught sight of Paul's face, and abandoning her b

ey haven't made the holidays shorter, have the

sly. "As if they could. Why, if the

s. "Do tell me, Paul, what is

little ashamed and sorry. "No, no," he said, sinking into a chair by the table, and letting his he

f looking on her as of Michael's age, and understanding. He forgot that at her age he had considered himself old enough to quit the nursery meals for the dining-room, and had done so too. Stella was four years older than h

does many a boy, to object to endearments, and to think them something to be ashamed of. Her heart grew heavy with a nameless fear. Michael, too, ceased to complain

,-"and I call it beastly hard lines. It isn't as though it would cost so very much more than any other hol

ul had painted in such glowing colours all the joys, and adventures, and wonderful things which lay in store, that that trip was no ordinary one for them. It was the great event of their lifetime. It was to have been one long experience of travel by day and night, by sea and land, and of adventure with strange and wild creatures-V

really true?" she cri

put it on. You said 'Is that all?' as if it were nothing. But of course one can't expect

d I am not glad; but I thought at first something dreadful had happe

e minded anything else as much as this," he

l soberly. He had been standing, boat-hook in hand, listening to the conversatio

tella, her brother's injustice fading

in the adjoining room and the door between was open. Supposing she had heard, what should he do? He could never undo his foolish speech! He peeped at her in a state of great alarm. No, she was dusting under the bed, and could not have heard,-at least

t," cried Stella indignantly. "Mikey is not a sneak, and you ought

be a coward if that frightens him,"

aid Stella stoutly; "you know

ing at all. "Well, if you want to know why we are not going to Norway, you had better go a

other unhappy a

think she is, a

Michael, his big eyes g

n't cry; but

e sad. I'll tell her it doesn't matter a bit, we don't mind not going. I don't want to go for a cruise. I'd quite as soon stay at home, and-I c

don't mind the least little bit. We don't want to have any holiday at all this year, only don't you cry any more, mummy da