“Allow me to present my son,” said the Vice-Warden; adding, in a whisper, “one of the best and cleverest boys that ever lived! I’ll contrive for you to see some of his cleverness. He knows everything that other boys _don’t_ know; and in archery, in fishing, in painting, and in music, his skill is—but you shall judge for yourself. You see that target over there? He shall shoot an arrow at it. Dear boy,” he went on aloud, “his Adiposity would like to see you shoot. Bring his Highness’ bow and arrows!” Uggug looked very sulky as he received the bow and arrow, and prepared to shoot. Just as the arrow left the bow, the Vice-Warden trod heavily on the toe of the Baron, who yelled with the pain. “Ten thousand pardons!” he exclaimed. “I stepped back in my excitement. See! It is a bull’s-eye!” The Baron gazed in astonishment. “He held the bow so awkwardly, it seemed impossible!” he muttered. But there was no room for doubt: there was the arrow, right in the centre of the bull’s-eye! “The lake is close by,” continued the Vice-Warden. “Bring his Highness’ fishing-rod!” And Uggug most unwillingly held the rod, and dangled the fly over the water. “A beetle on your arm!” cried my Lady, pinching the poor Baron’s arm worse than if ten lobsters had seized it at once. “_That_ kind is poisonous,” she explained. “But _what_ a pity! You missed seeing the fish pulled out!” An enormous dead cod-fish was lying on the bank, with the hook in its mouth. “I had always fancied,” the Baron faltered, “that cod were _salt_-water fish?” “Not in _this_ country,” said the Vice-Warden. “Shall we go in? Ask my son some question on the way—_any_ subject you like!” And the sulky boy was violently shoved forwards, to walk at the Baron’s side. “Could your Highness tell me,” the Baron cautiously began, “how much seven times nine would come to?” “Turn to the left!” cried the Vice-Warden, hastily stepping forwards to show the way—so hastily, that he ran against his unfortunate guest, who fell heavily on his face. “_So_ sorry!” my Lady exclaimed, as she and her husband helped him to his feet again. “My son was in the act of saying ‘sixty-three’ as you fell!” The Baron said nothing: he was covered with dust, and seemed much hurt, both in body and mind. However, when they had got him into the house, and given him a good brushing, matters looked a little better. Dinner was served in due course, and every fresh dish seemed to increase the good-humour of the Baron: but all efforts, to get him to express his opinion as to Uggug’s cleverness, were in vain, until that interesting youth had left the room, and was seen from the open window, prowling about the lawn with a little basket, which he was filling with frogs. “So fond of Natural History as he is, dear boy!” said the doting mother. “Now _do_ tell us, Baron, what you think of him!” “To be perfectly candid,” said the cautious Baron, “I would like a _little_ more evidence. I think you mentioned his skill in——”