The Oriel Window

Saturday

len leaves, for the summer was gone-the long beautiful summer which had seemed as if it were going to stay "for always." And the autum

swallow voic

said good-bye several weeks ago now. Ferdy's fancy had often f

lly were rather sorry to go this yea

he foliage he had copied from the real leaves surrounding his dear window, and up in one corner was his pet idea-a swallow's head, "face," Ferdy called it, peeping out from an imaginary nest behind. This head was as yet far from completed, and he almost dreaded to work at it, so afraid was he of

ough less well than when able to be out for several hours together in the open air. What the doctors now thought as to the chances of his ever getting quite well, he did not know; he had left off asking. Children live much in the present, or if not quite that, in a future which is

et the doctors did not

rdy, little as he would have been able to believe this, had he for

ingly quite contented. Though he had had his troubles too. Some of his old wild companions were very jealous of him and very spiteful; and bit by bit a sort of league had been started against him among the worst and roughest of the Draymoor lads, several of whom were angry at not being allowed to join the class in the shed at Bollins, some still more angry at having been sent away from the cla

really were the most satisfactory. They were so very proud of finding that they could, with patience and perseverance, "make" something, useful at

this afternoon. He was alone, except for an occasional "look in" from Th

d so much time for thinking. And though he did not, as I have said, troub

all, Mr. Brock thought so. But for some weeks past Mr. Brock's lessons had stopped. He had been sent away by the firm at Whittingham who employed him, to see to the restora

e at hand quite as eager ab

isn't clever enough. Oh, if only mamma wouldn't be so afraid of my tiring myself, and would let me have a class for them up here in the winter evenings! Or I might have two classes,-there are only ten or twelve of them altogether,-and once a week or so Mr. Brock might come to help me, or not even as often as that. If he came once a fortnight or even once a month he could see how they were getting on,-extra coming, I mean, besides his teaching me

hance of improving in his dearly loved "carving" without being mocked at or interfered with, neither of which so far had actually been the case, though there had been some unpleasant threatenings in the air of late. His efforts to interest and

ischief, you might be sure, or

to gain "a bad name,"

, "I do wish something cou

so long alone, or what? The clouds overhead were growing steely-blue, rather than grey. Could it be going to thunder

Chrissie wou

come and might continue. But this he was too young to understand; he thought he was cross and discontented, and this self-reproach only made him the more uncomfortable. These feelings, however, were n

as J

moving told of fatigue. He had r

Chrissie, and Jesse had been sent for help! But in that case he would have gone straight to the stable-yard, and as this thought struck him, Ferdy b

footsteps coming upstairs. Then a slight tap at the door-Thomas's

ty well done. He's begging to see you. He's in some trouble, but he won't tell me what. I'm afraid yo

ust be something very much the matter for Jesse, me

n, but before Thomas had time for any more hesitation the matter was taken o

xclaimed, in a choking v

with a touch of impatience, "I'll call you if I want you,"

e's first words, "at least I'm afraid they

exclaim

and a lot of them, and oh, Master Ferd

at Jesse's words. "And what is it that's happened, and wha

so quietly and sensibly, for he was feeling terribly startled. Jesse

m madder than ever, and he said he'd pay me out. And this afternoon when Barney and me were sorting the carvings at the shed-we've a box we keep them all in, there-Bill comes down upon us, him and some others. They got hold of 'em all and smashed 'em up and kicked them to pieces-all to pieces, Master Ferdy"-with a sort of wail, almost of despair, in his voice. "All the things we've been at for so long! We were going to make a show of them at Christmas; and I couldn't stand it, I went at him like a wild beast

at patches of red and white, and smeared with the tears he had tried to rub off. "Oh, I do wish papa

ymoor boys, I mean-Bill's lot, and they may have tracked me. Of course none of my bo

d just beyond the hedge, and a murmur of several voices all talking together. It might not have caught

Ferdy," exclaimed the poor

rd to be brave, "Thomas is all righ

dn't mind so much if it had to be-like if your papa was here and said I must go to prison. But if

of everything to do with law and prisons an

ep under my couch and lie there quite still. Thomas is

and knees, "better luck. I'll keep still, no fear, Master Ferdy," his boyish spirits already

one, "But oh, Master Ferdy, if they do come up here, please try to find out if Bill T

onstable in front marched along as if he meant business, for as Ferdy watched them, he turned round and waved back the eight or ten stragglers who were followin

rying steps on the stairs again, and T

t his little master was alone. "Bless me!" he ejaculated unde

o speak and look as usual. "I saw the cons

, but he will have it he must see you. Some

sure papa will be very angry, and I don't believe he's any r

t listen to reason. He says them Draymoor boys are getting past bearing. I only hope," he went on, speaking more to himself, as he turned to leave