Mrs. Macdonald then proceeded to describe a scene where a haughty, fierce-looking man is standing by an open grave, from which his attendant soldiers are taking a body; the pale features of the corpse appear to resemble those of the proud king, who points to his followers to convey the body to the adjacent river. The bystanders are clothed in loose dresses like a carter's frock, bound round the waist by a belt, and only reaching to the knee; some have iron collars round their necks; most of them are bare-headed, but a few wear fur caps over their long hair, which, parted on the forehead, hangs down in straight locks on each side of the face. Their beards are shaven on the upper lip, and on the top of the chin; the rest long, clean and neat, divided in the middle, hangs down in two points; their shoes come up very high. "Is that really in English history?" asked Louisa. "Yes, my dear, about 1035." Edward rejoined, "Canute ascended the throne 1017--he reigned eighteen years. I know, dear auntie." Mrs. Arabin next began:--"My story is one which ought to lead us to stop and reflect; it relates to a banqueting hall, where a king and a wary-looking courtier are sitting together surrounded by attendants. The king looks earnestly and reproachfully at the nobleman, to whom he points with one hand, whilst the other is directed towards his own breast. The courtier, with a proud, defying look, yet with a lurking expression of conscious guilt, is raising a piece of bread to his half-opened mouth." None of the party seemed able to guess this story, and even Mrs. Macdonald herself looked puzzled. Just then the door opened, and the words "Please, ma'am, the nursery tea is ready," interrupted the amusement for this evening. Aunt Mary was then obliged quickly to tell, how that piece of bread choked the ambitious man, who so wickedly exclaimed that he hoped the next morsel might be his last, if he had ever intended any ill against his king. "Are not those dangerous sands off the coast of Kent supposed to mark the possessions of this designing earl?" asked Edward. "Yes, my love, and therefore I contend that the name should be spelt with but one o, thus restoring it to its purer Saxon form." 1. Death of Edmund. A.D. 948. 2. Welsh tribute. 3. Death of Edward the Martyr. A.D. 979. 4. Canute. A.D. 1017. 5. Harold. A.D. 1035. 6. Death of Earl Godwin. A.D. 1041. CHAPTER III. The following evening, Mrs. Macdonald, who had spent the day with an invalid friend, found all the children seated and ready to resume their historical amusement; her bonnet and shawl were soon taken from her, and leading her to a chair, all once more crowded round her. "We could not begin without you, dear mama; but aunt has been so kind in entertaining us, that we have not been in the least impatient."