Q: George had stolen some money, but the police had caught him and he had been put in prison. Now his trial was about to begin, and he felt sure that he would be found guilty and sent to prison for a long time.

Then he discovered that an old friend of his was one of the members of the jury at his trial. Of course, he did not tell anybody, but he managed to see his friend secretly one day. He said to him, "Jim, I know that the jury will find me guilty of having stolen the money. I cannot hope to be found not guilty of taking it ---- that would be too much to expect. But I should be grateful to you for the rest of my life if you could persuade the other members of the jury to add a strong recommendation for mercy to their statement that they consider me guilty."

"Well, George,"answered Jim. "I shall certainly try to do what I can for you as an old friend, but of course I cannot promise anything. The other eleven people on the jury look terribly strong-minded to me."

George said that he would quite understand if Jim was not able to do anything for him, and thanked him warmly for agreeing to help.

The trial went on, and at last the time came for the jury to decide whether George was guilty or not. It took them five hours, but in the end they found George guilty, with a strong recommendation for mercy.

Of course, George was very pleased, but he did not have a chance to see Jim for some time after the trial. At last, however, Jim visited him in prison, and George thanked him warmly and asked him how he had managed to persuade the other members of the jury to recommend mercy.

"Well, George," Jim answered, "as I thought, those eleven men were very difficult to persuade, but I managed it in the end by tiring them out. Do you know, those fools had all wanted to find you not guilty!"

1. George
2. Yes.
3. Jim
4. mercy
5. eleven
6. Yes
7. five
8. guilty
9. Yes.
10. Yes
11. No

Numbered questions:
1. Who stole some money?
2. Was he friends with any of the jury members?
3. What was the friend's name?
4. What was George asking Jim for?
5. How many other people were on the jury?
6. Did George react positively to Jim's answer?
7. How many hours did it take the jury to deliberate?
8. What was the verdict?
9. Did George get what he asked Jim for?
10. Did George ever see Jim again?
11. Was guilty the original verdict the jurors were going to give?

Q: There was once a little fairy named Twinkles who lived in an old willow tree. The tree grew next to a river in a large, green forest. Twinkles loved to fly around the forest with her best friend Betsy the Bat. Betsy was a very forgetful bat. One day Twinkles and Betsy were playing next to the bushes by the river bank when Betsy shouted, "Oh no, I've forgotten my lunch that my mom packed for me today! It is late in the afternoon and I am hungry."

"Do not worry," said Twinkles. "I am going to wait here for you until you get back."

With that, Betsy flew off toward her home in the wet cave near the other end of the river. An hour went by and Betsy still had not returned. "Hmm," thought Twinkles, "I wonder where Betsy went off to." Twinkles flew off to find her best friend.

Soon, she heard a voice calling from down below. "Help me! I'm stuck!" Twinkles looked down. Sure enough, it was Betsy! She had been caught in a pile of sticky mud near the mouth of the cave.

"Don't worry, I am coming to save you!" cried Twinkles. Twinkles swooped down to the ground. She found a strong stick nearby that she could use to help her pull Betsy out of the thick mud. Betsy grabbed the end of the stick that Twinkles held out to her. After some heavy tugging, Betsy was free.

"Thank you so very much for pulling me out of the mud! I was looking for some berries to use for jam down by the river. They grow on the bushes there. I wanted some for a little dessert after my lunch. I accidentally walked into the pile of mud on the floor and got stuck."

"No problem," said Twinkles. "That's what friends are for."

1. Twinkles
2. a fairy
3. in a willow tree
4. a river
5. Betsy the Bat
6. her best friend
7. a cave
8. she forgot her lunch
9. she waited
10. An hour
11. near the mouth of the cave
12. mud
13. no
14. she was caught in the mud
15. she pulled her

Numbered questions:
1. What was the creatures name?
2. And what kind of creature was she?
3. where did she live?
4. what was next to her dwelling?
5. Who did she like to fly around with?
6. what was she to twinkles?
7. Where was her home?
8. Why did she return to it that day?
9. what did twinkles do when she did that?
10. how long was she gone before Twinkles started to wonder where she was?
11. Where was she at?
12. what was the substance she was in?
13. could she freely move if she wanted?
14. why?
15. How did Twinkles assist her?

Q: CHAPTER VIII

D'AGUILAR SPEAKS

"Losses?" said d'Aguilar. "Do I hear the wealthy John Castell, who holds half the trade with Spain in the hollow of his hand, talk of losses?"

"Yes, Senor, you do. Things have gone ill with this ship of mine that has barely lived through the spring gales. But be seated."

"Indeed, is that so?" said d'Aguilar as he sat down. "What a lying jade is rumour! For I was told that they had gone very well. Doubtless, however, what is loss to you would be priceless gain to one like me."

Castell made no answer, but waited, feeling that his visitor had not come to speak with him of his trading ventures.

"Senor Castell," said d'Aguilar, with a note of nervousness in his voice, "I am here to ask you for something."

"If it be a loan, Senor, I fear that the time is not opportune." And he nodded towards the sheet of figures.

"It is not a loan; it is a gift."

"Anything in my poor house is yours," answered Castell courteously, and in Oriental form.

"I rejoice to hear it, Senor, for I seek something from your house."

Castell looked a question at him with his quick black eyes.

"I seek your daughter, the Senora Margaret, in marriage."

Castell stared at him, then a single word broke from his lips.

"Impossible."

"Why impossible?" asked d'Aguilar slowly, yet as one who expected some such answer. "In age we are not unsuited, nor perhaps in fortune, while of rank I have enough, more than you guess perhaps. I vaunt not myself, yet women have thought me not uncomely. I should be a good friend to the house whence I took a wife, where perchance a day may come when friends will be needed; and lastly, I desire her not for what she may bring with her, though wealth is always welcome, but--I pray you to believe it--because I love her."

1. Losses
2. John Castell
3. Spain
4. His Ship.
5. d'Aguilar.
6. No.
7. No.
8. Very well.
9. No.
10. Nervous.
11. No.
12. To marry his daughter.
13. No.
14. "Impossible."
15. No.
16. No.
17. No.
18. Because he loved her.

Numbered questions:
1. What was the rich man talking about?
2. What was his name?
3. Who did he engage in commerce with?
4. What vessel was he having trouble with?
5. Who was talking to him about all this?
6. Did he remain standing?
7. Did he admit knowing about the other man's troubles?
8. How had he heard business was going?
9. Did the rich man respond immediately?
10. Was the man questioning him, calm?
11. Did he want the rich man to lend him something?
12. What did he ask for?
13. Did Castell say yes?
14. How did he describe the odds of it occuring?
15. Were their ages incompatible?
16. Was the suitor's rank too low?
17. Did he admit wanting her for her money?
18. Why did he say he wanted marriage?