Under the table! it was not a bad idea; moreover, it was a new one—­ quite a fresh plan.  No. 8 grinned and obeyed.  The hall table was no bad asylum, after all, for a little boy who was always in the way everywhere else; besides, he could see everything that was going on.  No. 8 crept under, and squatted himself on the cocoa-nut matting.  He looked up, and looked round, and felt rather as if he was in a tent, only with a very substantial covering over his head.

Presently the dog passed by, and was soon coaxed to lie down in the table retreat by the little boy’s side, and the two amused themselves very nicely together.  The fact was, the family were going from home, and the least the little ones could do during the troublesome preparation, was not to be troublesome themselves; but this is sometimes rather a difficult thing for little ones to accomplish.  Nevertheless, No. 8 had accomplished it at last.

“Capital, No. 8! you and the dog are quite a picture.  If I had time, I would make a sketch of you.”

That was the remark of the first person who went by afterwards, and No. 8 grinned as he heard it.

“Well done, No. 8! that’s the best contrivance I ever saw!”

Remark the second, followed by a second grin.

“Why, you don’t mean to say that you’re under the table, Master No. 8?  Well you are a good boy!  I’m sure I’ll tell your mamma.”

Another grin.

“You dear old fellow, to put yourself so nicely out of the way!  You’re worth I don’t know what.”

Grin again.

“Master No. 8 under the table, to be sure!  Well, and a very nice place it is, and quite suitable.  Ever so much better than the hot kitchen, when there’s baking and all sorts of things going on.  Here, lovey! here’s a little cake that was spared, that I was taking to the parlour; but, as you’re there, you shall have it.”

No. 8 grinned with all his heart this time.

“I wish I’d thought of that!  Why, I could have painted my ship there without being squeezed!”

It needs scarcely to be told that this was the observation of the small boy who had watched an opportunity for emerging from the window corner without fuss, and was now carrying his little paint-box up-stairs to be packed away in the children’s bag.  As he spoke, he stooped down to look at No. 8 and the dog, and smiled his approbation, and No. 8 smiled in return.

“No. 8, how snug you do look!”

Once more an answering grin.

“No. 8, you’re the best boy in the world; and if you stay there till Nurse is ready for you, you shall have a penny all to yourself.”

No. 8’s grin was accompanied by a significant nod this time, to show that he accepted the bargain.

“My darling No. 8, you may come out now.  There! give me a kiss, and get dressed as fast as you can.  The fly will be here directly.  You’re a very good boy indeed.”