CHAP. II.] 



GLENLAIR CHILDHOOD. 



31 



members his interest in colours " that (sand) stone 

 is red ; this (whin) stone is blue." " But how d'ye 

 know it's blue?" he would insist. He would catch 

 insects and watch their movements, but would never 

 hurt them. His aunt, Miss Cay, used to confess that 

 it was humiliating to be asked so many questions one 

 could not answer " by a child like that." 



But the child was not always observing, or asking 

 questions. Ever and anon he was engaged in doing, 

 or in making, which he liked better still. And here 

 his inventiveness soon showed itself. He was not 

 long contented with " tossing his hat about," or fishing 

 with a stick and a string (as in an early picture of Miss 

 Cay's) ; but whenever he saw anything that demanded 

 constructive ingenuity in the performance, that forth- 

 with took his fancy, and he must work at it. And in 

 the doing it, it was ten to one but he must give it 

 some new and unexpected turn, and enliven it with 

 some quirk of fancy. At one time he is seated on the 

 kitchen table, busily engaged in basket -making, in 



