"We've been having a lovely time. Cousin Ran has been telling me about snakes. Aunt Monnie, I'd like to go out to India one day and do what Cousin Ran is doing. Miss Sid says he's an Empire builder. I should like to build an Empire. It's such a big thing to do." "You won't be ready for that just yet," said Monica. "And you have to take care of your aunt, Chuckles," said Sidney. "She will want someone to love her and care for her when we have gone." "Is Cousin Ran going to take you away from us? That's horribly nasty of him." "I can't build without her," said Randolph. "She does know how to build wonderful," said the child with a wise nod. "She taught me all about it; she said God taught her, so, of course, she couldn't build wrong." "Of course she couldn't," said Randolph gravely, as his eyes met Sidney's. "We can all learn from the Master Builder, and then there will be no mistakes." "But you will be done building before me," pursued Chuckles, who, once on his favourite topic, was not easily quenched; "because the older people are, the higher their house is, and when it's very high and close to heaven, God takes them in. I made that up myself." Sidney smiled, but Monica's brows were furrowed. "Of course," Chuckles continued in his most dreamy voice, as he gazed up into the summer sky, "some people get their houses knocked down, and then, I suppose, they begin again. Miss Sid says they can. That's because they didn't build tight on the rock. I do hope my building won't slip off the rock." "Run off to bed," said his aunt shortly. She felt she could bear no more. Chuckles obediently wished them all good-night; then, as a parting shot, he called out to Randolph: "I see you out of my window when you take Miss Sid through the garden. You stick so close you only make one shadow!" "That is what we will do through life," murmured Randolph in Sidney's ear, not at all embarrassed by the child's remark. "Our shadows will be merged into one." Later on, when they were taking their evening stroll together, Sidney looked up at Chuckles' window. "I hope he will grow up a comfort to Monnie," she said. "She has spoiled her life in saving him; and yet I do think no life can be spoiled down here. She will come through it yet, a nobler and finer character." "She will learn to rebuild, eh?" said Randolph, divining Sidney's thoughts. And then, as if Chuckles had heard them, he raised his window and shot his head out. "I see you! Miss Sid, do you know why I'm going to be like a limpet? Because I'm going to build tight and stick to the rock for ever and ever. I've just said it in my prayers." And Randolph raised his hat and looked upwards. "Amen," he said. PRINTED by CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED, LA BELLE SAUVAGE, LONDON, E. C.