"'I am going to leave it to dry now,' said Uncle Gee; 'I can't paint it while it is wet; and so now, young people, as I have worked in your service all the morning, it is high time you did for mine. I am going to write a letter, and have no more time to spare until after lunch. So you must promise me to leave this table untouched, and go and amuse yourselves until by-and-bye.'
"The children agreed to this very fair bargain, and very sensibly dispersed, and amused themselves until lunch time, which was really their dinner time.
"When they all came down with carefully brushed hair, and shining, clean faces, and took their places round the great table, they were about as merry a party as you would find anywhere, in spite of the drenching rain, which had poured steadily on the whole day.
"'The Kite is getting beautifully dry and tight,' said Uncle George, as he took the place left for him; 'I peeped into the school-room as I came down, and I see it is drying fast and nicely. And what shall we make it? A flying dragon, like the Chinese flags and lanterns?'
"'O yes! Uncle Gee,' cried Dora, with his eyes as round as cricket balls; 'do make it a dragon—a green dragon, with a fiery tail!'
"'Or a likeness—warranted genuine—of old Bogey himself,' laughed Bob.
"'A fairy with wings,' suggested Mary, 'with a star on her forehead, and a girdle round her waist.'
"'Or a ship,' said Jeanie, her dark face glowing; 'a ship with masts and sails painted for her, because you know she does sail through the air, Uncle Gee!'
"'Paint it like a daisy,' said Baby, 'or make buttercups all over it!'
"'Well, we'll see,' said Uncle Gee; 'when dinner is over we'll have a solemn council on the matter, and the most votes shall carry the day.'