"Yes," said his father, "_tacit_ means silent; a tacit or implied agreement is one which is made without being formally expressed in words. If it is only understood by both parties, it is just as binding as if it were fully expressed. For instance, if I go into a bookstore, and ask the bookseller to put me up certain books, and take them and carry them home, and then he charges them to me in his books, I must pay for them: for, though I did not _say_ any thing about paying for them, yet my actions constituted an implied agreement to pay. By going in and getting them, under those circumstances, I, in fact, tacitly promise that I will pay for them when the bookseller sends in his bill. A very large portion of the agreements made among men are tacit agreements." The children all listened very attentively, and they understood very well what Rollo's father was saying. Rollo was considering whether there had been a tacit agreement that the society should have the cabinet; but he did not speak. "Now, Rollo, did you consent to the formation of the society?" "Yes, sir," said Henry, eagerly; "he _asked_ us all to form the society." "And was it the understanding that the museum was to be kept in the cabinet that Jonas made?" "Yes, sir," said Rollo, rather faintly. "Then, it seems to me that there was a tacit agreement on your part, that if the children would form the society and help you make the collection, you would submit to whatever arrangements they might make about the officers and the charge of the cabinet. You, in fact, _bailed_ the cabinet to the society." "Yes, sir," said the children. "And as the bailment was for your advantage, as well as theirs, you ought not to have taken possession of the property again, until a fair opportunity had been afforded to accomplish the purpose of the bailment, that is, the collection of a cabinet by the society. So, you see, you fell into the same fault in respect to the society, that Henry did in regard to you in the case of the dipper." The children were silent; but they all perceived the justice of what Rollo's father had said. "And the society have a claim upon you, Rollo, for compensation for the disappointment and trouble you have caused them by taking away the cabinet." Rollo looked rather serious. "O, we don't care about it," said Lucy. "Well," said his father, "if the society release their claim upon you, as you did yours upon Henry, very well. I hope, at all events, you will all go on pleasantly after this." The children then went out, and Rollo, followed by the other boys, went to find Jonas, to tell him he might be cabinet keeper. They tried to tell Jonas the whole story, and about Rollo's giving the fish to Henry, and its being a bailment. But they could not make Jonas understand it very well. He said he did not know any thing about bailment, except bailing out boats--he had never heard of bailing fishes. THE CURIOSITIES.