Daniel bid me good-night. As I put out my cigar and went to bed, my mind reverted to the dauntless little Hotspur who had spent the afternoon with me and reversed his mother's wish, thinking,-- "Oh, if Daniel were more like Billy!" It was always Billy's habit to come and sit with me while I smoked my after-breakfast cigar, but the next morning did not see him enter my room till St. George's hands pointed to a quarter of nine. "Well, Billy Boy Blue, come blow your horn; what haystack have you been under till this time of day? We sha'n't have a minute to look over our spelling together, and I know a boy who's going in for promotion next week. Have you had your breakfast, and taken care of Crab?" "Yes, sir; but I didn't feel like getting up this morning." "Are you sick?" "No-o-o--it isn't that; but you'll laugh at me if I tell you." "Indeed I won't, Billy!" "Well,"--his voice dropped to a whisper, and he stole close to my side,--"I had such a nice dream about _her_ just the last thing before the bell rang; and when I woke up I felt so queer,--so kinder good and kinder bad,--and I wanted to see her so much, that if I hadn't been a big boy I believe I should have blubbered. I tried ever so much to go to sleep and see her again; but the more I tried the more I couldn't. After all, I had to get up without it, though I didn't want any breakfast, and only ate two buckwheat cakes, when I always eat six, you know, Uncle Teddy. Can you keep a secret?" "Yes, dear, so you couldn't get it out of me if you were to shake me upside-down like a savings-bank." "Oh, ain't you mean! That was when I was small I did that. I'll tell you the secret, though,--that girl and I are going to get married. I mean to ask her the first chance I get. Oh, isn't she a smasher!" "My dear Billy, sha'n't you wait a little while to see if you always like her as well as you do now? Then, too, you'll be older." "I'm old enough, Uncle Teddy, and I love her dearly! I'm as old as the kings of France used to be when they got married,--I read it in Abbott's histories. But there's the clock striking nine! I must run or I shall get a tardy mark, and, perhaps, she'll want to see my certificate sometimes." So saying, he kissed me on the cheek and set off for school as fast as his legs could carry him. O Love, omnivorous Love, that sparest neither the dotard leaning on his staff nor the boy with pantaloons buttoning on his jacket,--omnipotent Love, that, after parents and teachers have failed, in one instant can make Billy try to become a good boy!