Tom, until Tom was suddenly pushed down, and tumbled over into
Ethel's lap, thereby upsetting her and Norman together, and there was
a general downfall, and a loud scream, "The sphynx!"

"You've crushed it," cried Harry, dealing out thumps
indiscriminately.

"No, here 'tis," said Mary, rushing among them, and bringing out a
green sphynx caterpillar on her finger--"'tis not hurt."

"Pax! Pax!" cried Norman, over all, with the voice of an authority,
as he leaped up lightly and set Tom on his legs again. "Harry! you
had better do that again," he added warningly. "Be off, out of this
window, and let Ethel and me read in peace."

"Here's the place," said Ethel--"Crispin, Crispian's day. How I do
like Henry V."

"It is no use to try to keep those boys in order!" sighed Miss
Winter.

"Saturnalia, as papa calls Saturday," replied Flora.

"Is not your eldest brother coming home to-day?" said Miss Winter in
a low voice to Flora, who shook her head, and said confidentially,
"He is not coming till he has passed that examination. He thinks it
better not."

Here entered, with a baby in her arms, a lady with a beautiful
countenance of calm sweetness, looking almost too young to be the