Frank ran joyously out of the room, being much amused with the joke, for he had put one of his own shillings into the box for Harry and Laura, who were excessively surprised at first, and felt really ashamed to take this very kind present from Frank, when he so seldom had money of his own; but they knew how generous he was, for he often repeated that excellent maxim, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." After a few minutes, they remembered that nothing could prevent them now from going with Mr. Harwood to Arthur's Seat, which put Laura into such a state of ecstacy, that she danced round the room for joy, while Harry jumped upon the tables and chairs, tumbled head over heels, and called Betty to come immediately that they might get ready. When Mrs. Crabtree heard such an uproar, she hastened also into the room, asking what had happened to cause this riot, and she became very angry indeed, to hear that Harry and Laura had both got leave to join in this grand expedition. "You will be spoiling all your clothes, and getting yourselves into a heat! I wonder her ladyship allows this! How much better you would be taking a quiet walk with me in the gardens! I shall really speak to Lady Harriet about it! The air must be very cold on the top of them great mountains! I am sure you will both have colds for a month after this Tom-foolery." "Oh no, Mrs. Crabtree! I promise not to catch cold!" cried Harry, eagerly; "and, besides, you can scarcely prevent our going now, for grandmama has set out on her long airing in the carriage, so there is nobody for you to ask about keeping us at home, except uncle David!" Mrs. Crabtree knew from experience, that Major Graham was a hopeless case, as he always took part with the children, and liked nothing so much for old and young as "a ploy;" so she grumbled on to herself, while her eyes looked as sharp as a pair of scissors with rage. "You will come back, turned into scare-crows, with all your nice clean clothes in tatters," said she, angrily; "but if there is so much as a speck upon this best new jacket and trowsers, I shall know the reason why." "What a comfort it would be, if there were no such things in the world as 'new clothes,' for I am always so much happier in the old ones," said Harry. "People at the shops should sell clothes that will never either dirty or tear!" "You ought to be dressed in fur, like Robinson Crusoe, or sent out naked, like the little savages," said Mrs. Crabtree, "or painted black and blue like them wild old Britons that lived here long ago!" "I am black and blue sometimes, without being painted," said Harry, escaping to the door. "Good-bye, Mrs. Crabtree! I hope you will not die of weariness without us! On our return we shall tell you all our delightful adventures."