The family had just sat down to breakfast when the Writer arrived at Balham in a taxi-cab, bearing two large cardboard dress-boxes with him. Having deposited these articles, he was greeted by the family. "Oh! you bad man," commenced the Mother of Ridgwell and Christine; "sit down and have breakfast at once before you start any more of those plausible tales of yours." "How did you get here so early?" inquired Father. "Took a taxi, but it wasn't half such fun as riding down here on a Lion's back!" Ridgwell leaned one side of his head down upon the table and laughed, and Christine glanced round shyly. "A fine sort of commotion you and Ridgwell have caused," protested Father; "listen to this paragraph out of this morning's paper." The Writer actually appeared to enjoy eating his breakfast unabashed, whilst Father proceeded to read. "'The amusing action which took place yesterday in Court X---- has been the cause of unprecedented scenes in London. Thousands of children, both boys and girls, throng Trafalgar Square in order to see if the Pleasant-Faced Lion intends to speak, or give another children's party. "'Hundreds of children congregate every minute round the Griffin's statue, waiting for it to sing, and have to be moved on good-naturedly but firmly by the police.'" "A nice state of things," commented Father, during a pause in the reading. "'There can be no doubt whatever that the extraordinary story of Lal has interested all London, and everybody is laughing at the idea. "'Sir Simon Gold, the Lord Mayor of London, with the usual thoughtfulness that always distinguishes him, has resolved that the London children shall not be disappointed with regard to a party. Sir Simon has therefore taken the four biggest public halls, in the four quarters of London, north, south, east, and west, and all the children of London in each district will be entertained upon behalf of the Pleasant-Faced Lion by the Lord Mayor to a delightful evening party the same evening that the Lord Mayor gives his usual children's party at the Mansion House.'" "I can add something to that piece of news," observed the Writer, as he continued eating his breakfast happily, and totally unconscious, seemingly, of his many misdoings. "In those two big cardboard boxes are two costumes; they are presents from Mum, one for Ridgwell, and the other for Christine. Oh, no!--not to be opened until after breakfast. Now, upon the night of the parties an event is going to take place that will please everybody. The Lord Mayor wants both Ridgwell and Christine to tell the story of Lal at each party after the dancing. It will be the event of the evening, and will be illustrated on the cinematograph." "Oh!" echoed Ridgwell and Christine, "what fun!"