"I don't like lessons--not a bit." "Well, but, Olly, think a bit; you can't spin your top and look at picture-books all day, and I'm afraid it's going to rain all day--it looks very like it.

If you come and do some reading and counting with me this morning, I can give you some spills to make, or some letters to tear up for me afterwards.

That will save the toys for this afternoon; and some time this afternoon, if it doesn't stop raining, we'll all have a romp.

And as for you, Milly, don't you think it's quite time Katie had a new frock?
I believe I can find a beautiful bit of blue silk in my bag, and I'm sure nurse will show you how to make it." Milly's face brightened up very much at this, and the two children went skipping upstairs to the drawing-room after their mother, in very fair spirits again.

Olly did some reading, while Milly wrote in her copybook, and then Olly had his counting-slate and tried to find out what 6 and 4 made, and 5 and 3, and other little sums of the same kind.