More William

am's

ual visit was to William a purgatory only to be endured by a resolutely philosophic attitude of mind and the knowledge that sooner or later it must come to an end. Uncle George had

could have loved. It was hard that fate had endowed him with a godson like William. William

e had (reluctantly) accompanied Uncle George upon his morning walk, he had (generally unsuccessfully) tried to maintain that state of absolute quiet that Uncle George's afternoon rest require

so we'll do a little work together this morning, shall we? Nothing like work, is there?

eyed him

ork," he said. "I shouldn't like to be more on than t

ge rubbed

f we go over some of the old work, no harm can be done.

uite heartily th

. "The lives of the great. Most inspiring. Better than t

soul that reproduced most realistically the sound of two cats fighting. These, at Uncle George's request, had been conf

ng. The rain came down in torrents. Moreover, the five preceding weeks had broken William's spirits. He realised the impossibility of evading Uncle George. His own family

elf slowly and ponderously

g the tips of his fingers together, "I loved my studies. I'm s

"I like shootin' and

ently, "but those aren't studies, Wi

e playin' Red Injuns," said William stoutly

No, we'll talk about History. You must mould your character upon that

Bears is a good game too. We might have Bears here," he went on brightening. "Jus' yo

Uncle George. "I mean Wolf

ith heroes who came within the sch

n from such names, my bo

George's chair endeavouring to turn a

said shortly. "An' the things they 'spect

le and his educational zeal was dying away, "to endure the buffets of fate wi

pped s

ow brought his feet into collision with Uncle George

George's chair endeavouring to turn a

ingly. "You should combine the gentleness of a

ere drooping slowly and William's sudden statuesque

their effect. In less than three minutes Un

s protruded. William soon departed on his way rejoicing, while on to one of Uncle George's coat-tails was firmly stitched a bright blue sock and on to the other a brilliant orange one. Robert's taste in socks was decidedly loud. William felt almost happy. The rain had stopped and he spent the morning with some of his friends whom he met in the road. They went bear-hunting in the wood; and though no bears were

illiam's grown-up sister, pointed out

r tidy up a bit," which drew from his sister expressions of

Uncle George, who had now

ment was over and Uncle George wa

with equanimity and to smile at misfortune. Then we must do some Geography." William groaned. "Most fascinating study. Rivers, mountains, cities, etc. Most improving. The m

he made no objection. He had learnt that objection was useless,

ck garden and continued the erection of a rabbit hutch that he had begun a few days before. He hoped that

ou mustn't

tern gaze upo

ot?" h

eorge is

t the lawn mower in the middle of the lawn. With one of his rare impulses of

called his sister from the win

o the middle of a garden bed and left it the

bitterly to Ethel, who

t, improving hobby," she sai

actually begin to think of hobbies, but none of those that occurred to h

course was to find a dead animal. Any old thing would do to begin on. A dead cat or dog. He would do bigger ones like bears and lions later on. He spent nearly an hour in a fruitless search for a dead cat or dog. He searched the ditches on both sides of the road and several gardens. He began to have a distinct sense of grievance against the race of cats and dogs in general for not dying in his vicinity. At the end of the hour he found a small dead frog. It was very dry and shrivelled, but it was certainly a dead frog and would do to begin on. He took it home in his pocket. He wondered

is cup and investigated the contents. in still mo

William's mother ent

ng and was standing by the mant

r a curious taste. Doubtless you boil the milk now. Safer

k anot

r out your tea--"

red. He looked qu

It's my hobby, an' I'm stuffin' frogs an' someone

ble?" said

nin.' You know. For stuffin'. I wa

held all the cumulative horror of a Greek tragedy. Then Uncle George put down his cup and went silently from the room. On his face was the expression of one who is going to