Jacky advanced with hesitation. Hector bent down playfully and seized him by both arms, turning his back upon the party, and thus bringing his own bulky figure between them and young Hopeful. "Jack, I want you to be good." "I won't!" promptly said, and with much firmness. "Oh, yes, you will!" A stern masculine countenance within an inch of his nose, and a vigorous little shake, somewhat disconcerted Jacky, who exhibited a tendency to roar; but Hector closed his strong hands on the little arms so suddenly and so powerfully, that, being unexpectedly agonised, Jacky was for a moment paralysed. The awful glare of a pair of bright blue eyes, and the glistening of a double row of white teeth, did not tend to re-assure him. "Oh, yes, you will, my little man!" repeated Hector, tumbling him over on his back with a smile of ineffable sweetness, but with a little touch of violence that seemed inconsistent therewith. Jacky rose, gasped, and ran away, glancing over his shoulder with a look of alarm. This little piece of by-play was not observed by any one but Flora, who exchanged a bright glance and a smile with her brother. The imp was quelled--he had met his match! During the remainder of the picnic he disturbed no one, but kept at the farthest possible distance from Hector that was consistent with being one of the party. But it is not to be supposed that his nature was changed. No--Jacky's wickedness only sought a new channel in which to flow. He consoled himself with thoughts of the dire mischief he would perpetrate when the dinner was over. Meanwhile, he sat down and gloated over the jam tart, devouring it in imagination. "Is that water boiling yet?" cried Mr Sudberry. "Just about it. Hand me the eggs, Fred." "Here they are," cried Flora, going towards the fire with a basket. She looked very sweet at that moment, for the active operations in which she had been engaged had flushed her cheeks and brightened her eyes. George and Fred gazed at her in undisguised admiration. Becoming suddenly aware of the impoliteness of the act, the former ran to relieve her of the basket of eggs; the latter blushed, and all but upset the kettle in an effort to improve the condition of the fire. "Fred, you goose, leave alone, will you?" roared George, darting forward to prevent the catastrophe. "This is really charming, is it not, Mr Macgregor?" said Mrs Sudberry, with a languid smile. "Macdonald, madam, if I may be allowed to correct you," said Hector, with a smile and a little bow. "Ah, to be sure!" (with an attempt at a laugh.) "I have such a stupid habit of misnaming people." If Mrs Sudberry had told the exact truth she would have said, "I have such difficulty in remembering people's names that I have made up my mind to call people by any name that comes first into my head rather than confess my forgetfulness." But she did not say this; she only went on to observe that she had no idea it would have been so charming.