has entirely depraved my memory, I give you warning to come and fetch
us home, now that the boys are in full repair. Come yourself, and be
feasted on shrimps and mackerel, and take one sail to the mouth of
the bay. I won't say who shall bring you; it would be fun to have
Daisy, and Mary ought to have a holiday, but then Richard would take
better care of you, and Tom would keep you in the best order. Could
you not all come? only if you don't yourself, I won't promise not to
take up with a merman.'

* * * * * *

'July 4th.--Very well. If this is to make a strong man of Aubrey,
tant mieux, and even home and Cocksmoor yearnings concern me little
in this Castle of Indolence, so don't flatter yourself that I shall
grumble at having had to take our house on again. Let us keep
Leonard; we should both miss him extremely, and Aubrey would lose
half the good without some one to swim, scramble, and fight with.
Indeed, for the poor fellow's own sake, he should stay, for though he
is physically as strong as a young megalosaur, and in the water or on
the rocks all day, I don't think his head is come to application, nor
his health to bearing depression; and I see he dreads the return, so
that he had better stay away till school begins again.'

* * * * * *

'July 7th.--Oh! you weak-minded folks! Now I know why you wanted to
keep me away--that you might yield yourselves a prey to Flora. Paper
and chintz forsooth! All I have to say is this, Miss Mary--as to my
room, touch it if you dare! I leave papa to protect his own study,
but for the rest, think, Mary, what your feelings would be if Harry