and rugs about them, they certainly did look more cosy than elegant.

'We'll bundle off, then,' said Mark, 'and good-night to you, Mr. Saucebox,' and as he spoke the vehicle moved rapidly away. Guy and Tom and the rest returned to the parlour, where Bertie, with his head resting lovingly against his mother's bosom, sat, somewhat tired, but all in a glow of happy satisfaction.

'Have you enjoyed your birthday, old fellow?' said Guy.

'Oh, so much! I wish I could have a birthday every week.'

'I wish you could, Bert,' said Tom, quite earnestly. 'Now boys, to bed,' said their mother, 'or you will be loth to rise to-morrow. The clock has given warning for eleven, and will strike before you get upstairs.'

With many kisses and 'God bless you's' the lads tripped off to bed, where little Frank, in a deep slumber, had been carried an hour ago.

So ended Albert's birthday.

CHAPTER VI.

AWAY TO SCHOOL.

BOUT a fortnight after the happy celebration

AB

of Bertie's birthday, the wagonette from the Court House farm again stood at the door of the Sylvesters' home. Its occupants were Mark and Harry Shaw, who were to be joined by Guy and Tom Sylvester, for the boys went to the same school, and this was the day for their return to Fellenberg House.

The boys were cheerful, for change and travel under any circumstances are pleasant to boys; but they were not quite as demonstrative and boisterous as when we last saw them. Even Tom, the irrepressible, was somewhat sobered, while Guy had, perhaps, never before felt leaving home so much. It was not that the prospect of school had any power to cast a shadow over his spirit, but Albert was so manifestly growing weaker day by day, and the affection between the brothers had been so much intensified since the new year, that they felt it hard indeed to part. Guy was old enough, too, to feel anxiety as he noted the evident signs of decay in Bertie, and the apprehen

sion would arise in his mind that perhaps he might not see his brother again.

But the parting must come, and concealing as much as possible his depression of spirits, Guy mounted the carriage. Tom sought to disguise his feelings by affecting much gaiety of manner, and Mark and Harry could not help laughing at his antics.

Off, however, the boys must go, calling on the way to the Croxham railway station at the Elms, that George and Willie Connor might be added to their number. Here they were received with much kindness by Mr. and Mrs. Connor and their daughter Bertha.

All the boys had a great regard for Mrs. Connor, and especially for Miss Bertha, who had been wont to gather them together in a Sunday afternoon Bibleclass ever since they were but little ones. And though their departure to school had taken them from her as regular scholars, they never failed to gather around her during the holidays on the Sunday afternoons.

Bertha Connor was a girl of singular beauty and strength of character. Her influence over her twinbrothers was unbounded, and she exercised a similar spell over every boy that came within her sphere. Even Tom Sylvester assumed a most grave and respectful demeanour in her presence. He was intensely desirous to secure her good opinion, and

while he did not fear Bertha, he was immediately submissive to her will. Tom used to say, 'It makes you feel good to be with Miss Connor. I think I should never get into any scrapes if I could be always in her company.'

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Bertha had known these boys from their infancy, and loved them sincerely. It had been her aim to win them in their youth to a loyal allegiance to their Saviour. Great had been her joy when in quiet converse with Guy she had learned that he had enlisted in the King's service. And now she longed and prayed for all the little group of boy friends, that they might become a band of brothers in faith and love and good works.

But the train will not wait at Croxham Junction, and so last words must be said; and with sundry mysterious baskets and packages added to their previous appendages, away the boys go, never slackening speed till they reach the station. Then in a few minutes the train, already signalled, comes up, and away they steam to Kingsbury, in the suburbs of which important town Fellenberg House is situated.

Bertha watched from her window until the boys were out of sight, and then fell on her knees and sought for them the divine blessing.

Mr. Hargrove, the principal of Fellenberg House, was a man of ripe scholarship and considerable ability in the instruction and management of boys. Best of all, he was a consistent and earnest Christian, and it

was his great desire and aim to lead his boys to decision, and to cultivate in them a manly Christian character. He was particularly careful to avoid anything like compulsion in these matters, and to discourage anything like dissimulation or insincerity. 'What is, outshines what seems,' was a favourite motto of his, and his constant exhortation was: