people taking their ease."

But, even while he spoke, Daffydowndilly's eyes fell upon a person who
seemed the laziest, and heaviest, and most torpid of all those lazy and
heavy and torpid people who had lain down to sleep in the shade. Who
should it be, again, but the very image of Mr. Toil!

"There is a large family of these Toils," remarked the stranger. "This
is another of the old schoolmaster's brothers, who was bred in Italy,
where he acquired very idle habits, and goes by the name of Signor Far
Niente. He pretends to lead an easy life, but is really the most
miserable fellow in the family."

"O, take me back!--take me back!" cried poor little Daffydowndilly,
bursting into tears. "If there is nothing but Toil all the world over, I
may just as well go back to the school-house!"

"Yonder it is,--there is the school-house!" said the stranger; for though
he and little Daffydowndilly had taken a great many steps, they had
travelled in a circle, instead of a straight line. "Come; we will go
hack to school together."

There was something in his companion's voice that little Daffydowndilly
now remembered; and it is strange that he had not remembered it sooner.
Looking up into his face, behold! there again was the likeness of old Mr.
Toil; so that the poor child had been in company with Toil all day, even
while he was doing his best to run away from him. Some people, to whom I
have told little Daffydowndilly's story, are of opinion that old Mr. Toil
was a magician, and possessed the power of multiplying himself into as
many shapes as lie saw fit.