then, and I should be able to do whatever came into my head.

Mr. Williams. I fancy some very wonderful things would happen if that were so.

Charles. That there would!

Mr. Williams. Julia, should you like to be able to do exactly what you pleased?

Julia. Of course I should, papa.

Charles. Oh, if Julia and I were our own masters! Mr. Williams. Well, dear children, I can give you that pleasure. To-morrow, you shall do precisely as you please all day long.

Charles. You are making game of us, papa!

Mr. Williams. No, I am quite in earnest. Tomorrow, neither your mother nor I, nor indeed any one in the house, will interfere with you in any way. Charles. What fun to feel the bridle on our necks!

Mr. Williams. That's not all. I will give you this indulgence not to-morrow only, you shall have it until you yourselves ask me to resume my authority.

Charles. If you wait for that, we shall always be our own masters.

Mr. Williams. I shall be delighted to see you So. So prepare yourselves for being very great people to-morrow.

The next morning arrived. The two children, instead of getting up at seven o'clock as they generally did, remained in bed until nine. Too long a night makes folks stupid and heavy, and Charles and Julia were no exceptions to this rule. They at

last woke of their own accord, and got up in very bad humour. However, they got a little more cheerful when they remembered that they were to do exactly as they pleased all day long.

"Come, what shall we begin with ?" said Charles to his sister, as soon as they had dressed and had had their breakfast.

Julia. Oh, we will play!

Charles. Yes, but what at?

Julia. Let's build card-houses.

Charles. I won't do anything so dull.

Julia. Will you play at blindman's buff?

Charles. A nice game that would be, with only two players.

Julia. At chess? at dominoes?

Charles. You know I hate all sitting-down games. Julia. Well, you choose then.

Charles. Oh! then we'll play at horses; you can be the horse and I'll be the coachman.

Julia. I dare say! and then you'll keep on slashing me with a whip, as you did the other day. I have not forgotten it.

Charles. I could not help it, you never will

canter.

Julia. But it tires me. No, I won't play at horses. Charles. Well then, hare and hounds? I will be the huntsman and you must be the hare. Now then, look out! I shall catch you.

Julia. I hate hare and hounds; you are always kicking my heels and tripping me up.

Charles. Well, if you, won't play at any of my games, I won't play with you at all; do you hear?

Julia. And I won't play with you either; do you hear?

And so saying, each left the middle of the room and went into a corner, where they stayed for a long time without looking at each other or speaking. They were still sulky when the clock struck ten o'clock. They had only two hours left before dinner.

Charlie sidled up to his sister and said, "Well, I'll do what you want. I'll play at chess with you." Julia. You broke one of the men, and lost another; and you promised me to look for it.

Charles. I promised you yesterday, but I need not keep my word to-day.

Julia. And pray, why not?

Charles. You have no right to tell me to do anything.

Julia. I shall tell papa of you.

Charles. And if you do, I'm not obliged to mind him now.

Julia. Then I won't play at all.
Charles. Just as you like.

A second fit of sulks.

Off went the children to different ends of the room. Charles whistled; Julia hummed a tune. Charles knotted a whip, and cracked it; Julia dressed her doll, and began a conversation with it. Charles yawned; Julia sighed. The clock struck again; eleven! They had only an hour left before dinner. Charles threw his whip out of the window, as if he were sick of the sight of it. Julia let her doll fall. They looked at each other, and did not know what to say.

Julia at last broke the silence.

I'll be

your horse."

"Come, Charlie,

Charles. That's right! I have got a capital bit of string for a bridle. Here it is: put it into your mouth.

Julia. I won't have it in my mouth! round my waist, or round my arm.

Tie it

Charles. What an idea! Have you ever seen a horse with the bit in any other place than its mouth? Julia. But I'm not a real horse.

Charles. You ought to behave as such.

Julia. I don't see why!

Charles. I declare, I believe you fancy you know better than I do, who spend a deal of time in the stable. Come, take it in the proper way.

Julia. It isn't a week since you were dragging that string in the mud. I won't have it in my mouth. Charles. And I won't let you have it; I'd rather not play at all.

Julia. Just as you like.

And now a third fit of sulks ensued, more desperate than the preceding ones. Charles fetched his whip; Julia took up her doll once more. But the whip would not crack, and the doll's clothes came undone as soon as they were fastened. Charles sighed ; Julia cried. Twelve o'clock struck, and Mr. Williams came to ask if they were ready for dinner. "But, what is the matter?" said he, when he noticed their red eyes and disconsolate faces. "Nothing, papa," cried the children. dried their eyes, and followed their father into the dining-room.

They

CHAPTER II.

THERE were several different dishes upon the table, and two bottles of wine.

"Now, children," said Mr. Williams, "if it was my business to order you about, I should forbid you to eat of all the dishes, and, above all, to drink wine, at least, if you did, it must be very little. Both wine and pastry are hurtful to children. But today, you can do as you please, and eat and drink whatever you like."

The children did not wait to be told twice. One swallowed great lumps of meat without any bread; the other took spoonful after spoonful of rich gravy. They poured out full glasses of wine, which they drank off without adding water.

"But, my dear," whispered Mrs. Williams to her husband, "I'm sure they will be ill."

"I fear so, too," answered Mr. Williams; "but I'd rather they learned once from experience the results of eating and drinking too much."

At last the children could eat no more. They left the table feeling stupid and heavy, and their heads dizzy.

"Come, come, Julia," cried Charles, and he dragged his sister with him into the garden. Mr. Williams thought it prudent to follow them.

In the garden there was a little pond, and on the pond a boat. Charles thought he should like a sail. Julia stopped him. "You know," she said, 66 we are forbidden." "Have you

"Forbidden!" screamed Charles. forgotten that we can do as we please ?"