Walter and Christopher despised the idea at first of doing what the little boys did; but when they saw some other youths like themselves get on, they put their pride in their pockets, and each mounted a tricycle. How they did waggle from side to side; and how impossible it was not to laugh and shout at the absurd feeling of the thing! "This is rare good sport," said Chris at last. He had but just spoken when he met Mr. White. "It's ten minutes to one," said the latter. "We must go, or we shan't be on the terrace as soon as the rector. Come along, boys; it's dinner-time." There was a general turning round of tricycles, and in a few minutes the little party were making their way towards the palace. "What's the matter, Chris?" asked Walter. "I thought you liked that." "So I did; 'twas the only bit of fun I've had. It's a regular nuisance to be at some one else's beck and call like this, just when one _is_ getting a little pleasure. Why should we come before we want to?" "Why? Because it's dinner-time. Aren't you hungry? I am, I know." Christopher grunted sulkily, but in spite of his ill-humour he managed to get through the meat-patties and plum-pudding with a most excellent appetite. Dinner over, the rector proposed that every one should come with him to see a panorama of the siege of Paris, which was to begin at three o'clock. "I should like it awfully. Wouldn't you, Chris?" said Walter. "I don't know. No--it sounds dull and schoolish," replied Chris, who was no scholar. "I won't be led about like a monkey on a chain, either. I know best how to amuse myself, and I tell you what--I'm going back for another ride on that tricycle. You'd better come too, Wat. The panorama doesn't really begin till half-past three. I saw it up on the board outside." "But I've only got three half-pence left," said Walter, "so _I_ can't ride any more." "Oh, I'll lend you the money. I've got heaps." "But could you find your way back, Chris? This is such a thundering big place," urged Walter doubtfully. "Yes, you idiot, of course I can. But don't come if you're afraid." Chris knew very well that such a suggestion would break down Walter's hesitation at once; and so it did. He followed his friend, and soon forgot all about the panorama in his delight at having improved so much since the morning in the management of his tricycle. Suddenly a clock struck. One, two, three, FOUR. "Chris, Chris, _did_ you hear? It's four o'clock!" he cried. "Well, what of that?" was the cool rejoinder. "Get off at once, Chris. The panorama must be half over. Bother it all! and I did so want to see it." Chris proceeded slowly and leisurely back to the starting-point, and got off his tricycle. "How much?" he asked the man in charge. "One and sixpence each, please." "What a plague you are, Wat, to have come without any money," said Chris, as he paid the three shillings. "I didn't come to spend all my cash on you." "How do you come to have so much?" inquired Walter.