"But my beautiful voice is very unruly; the last few times I have tried to sing, it has been quite disobedient.
I think it must be cracked, at last." "Are you not pleased ?" said Louis, archly.
"Not particularly," replied Reginald.
"You said you should be, last Christmas.

Do you remember the ladies at grandpapa's ?" "Well, there is that comfort at any rate," said Reginald, "we shan't have any more of their humbug; but think of the dear old madrigals, and--it's no laughing matter, Mr.Louis, for all your fun." "Acknowledge, then, that you spoke rashly, when you said you should be glad of it," said Louis, who was full of merriment at his brother's misfortune.
And now Vernon, Arthur, and Frank Digby pressed forward, to bid good-bye.
As Vernon shook Louis' hand, he said, "I shall see you at Heronhurst, I suppose." "I suppose _I_ mustn't dare to go," said Frank.
"And now I shall go and gather some of those white roses by the wall, for mamma," said Louis.

"I hope it won't be very long, Reginald, they must be here soon--oh, how delightful it will be!" Louis ran off, and succeeded in finding a few half-blown roses for his dear mother, and was engaged in carefully cutting off the thorns, when one of his school-fellows ran up to him, and called out that his father and mother were come.
"Papa and mamma! Where's Reginald ?" he cried, and flew over the playground without waiting for an answer.

"Where are papa and mamma?
Where is Reginald ?" he cried, as he ran into the hall.

His hurried question was as quickly answered; and Louis, jumping over the many packages, made his way to the drawing-room.