The little ones were very sorry, it is true, that No. 7 was poorly;
but, unluckily, they forgot it every time they went either up-stairs
or down. They could not bear in their minds the fact, that when they
encouraged the poodle to bark after an India-rubber ball, he was
pretty sure to wake No. 7 out of a nap; and, in short, the day being
so fine, and the little ones so noisy, Aunt Judy packed them all off
into their gardens to tidy them up, she herself taking her station in
a small study, the window of which looked out upon the family play-
ground.

Her idea, perhaps, was, that she could in this way combine the
prosecution of her own studies, with enacting policeman over the
young gardeners, and "keeping the peace," as she called it. But if
so, she was doomed to disappointment.

The operation of "tidying up gardens," as performed by a set of
"little ones," scarcely needs description.

It consists of a number of alterations being thought of, and set
about, not one of which is ever known to be finished by those who
begin them. It consists of everybody wanting the rake at the same
moment, and of nobody being willing to use the other tools, which
they call stupid and useless things. It consists of a great many
plants being moved from one place to another, when they are in full
flower, and dying in consequence. (But how, except when they are in
flower, can anyone judge where they will look best?) It consists of
a great many seeds being prevented from coming up at all, by an
"alteration" cutting into the heart of the patch just as they were
bursting their shells for a sprout. It consists of an unlimited and