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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 Excerpt:... fun for her? But I say, Polly; look at that chair with little wheels to the legs--just the thing for a ride, isn't it? Jump in, and I'll race you up and down the room." This proved excellent sport, and with loud laughter they dragged the large chair about, Miles in it one moment, Polly the next. In their journeying they pulled the hearthrug crooked, and threw down a small writingtable; and what with the open drawers, the linen tossed on the floor, and the ink from the upturned inkstand staining the carpet, the neat room was being reduced to a state of hopeless chaos. But further and worse mischief was to follow. Miles, whose restless eyes were moving everywhere, stopped short. "What's that?" he said. In a sheltered corner, close to Miss Cecil's bed, hung a roughly executed pen-and-ink sketch--a sketch of a boy's head, a boy of about Miles' age. The sketch was framed in a very poor wooden frame, and covered with glass with a flaw in it. What with the badly-executed drawing, the ugly frame, and wretched glass, the picture was anything but a pretty one, but not all the artist's want of skill could prevent the brave, sweet mouth from smiling at you, or take away from the dark eyes their fearless glance. Round the picture, encasing it as in an outer frame, was hung up an old-fashioned and much discoloured hoop. It was on this hoop now that Miles fixed his wondering gaze. "I say, Polly," he exclaimed, "I've found out now what it is,--she plays hoop here. What a rum old hoop! See! Polly, fetch me a chair, and I'll get it down." Polly did so, and after considerable difficulty, for the hoop was very firmly fastened to the wall, Miles got it into his hands. Yes, it was a very old hoop indeed, a hoop made after an uncouth and unwiel...