nd hoped that they would be as good as possible. The boys were always out during the afternoon, and as a rule never returned until after tea; but A

?" said Alice, who was lying back in an

dull hole this is! How can you have grow

"I think our home a very pleasant, entertaining place. I wo

ar," said Kathleen, with

w and looked across over the ugly landscape. There were houses everywhere-not a scrap of real country, as she expressed

it, and she will meet me, the little colleen. That is good. What fun! I shall probably have to return through the bedroom window, so I may as well explore and make all in readiness. Dear, dear! I should like David to help me. It isn't the naughtiness that I care about, but it is the fun of

ntered

ow?" she said to Kathleen. "I have a slight

oice, as she brought down the window with a bang. "Would you

silly y

a cold. You are afraid of the

see a sch

ck in time for

't s

e poor tired one, as

all mother by that ridiculous name. She i

not live to be a woman. I wouldn't like us all to be as fagged as sh

, and proceeded with great gusto to expa

ad old Irishwomen overworked like that, and all of a sudden they went out l

no affair

ever rude like that in Ireland. We tell a few lies now and then, but they are only polite lies-the kind that make other people happy. Alic

is just a very great and awful sin; and if you don't believe

at I really know your views, I will always tell

he went downstairs and let

ed for daddy and the mother and the boys," t

clock; tea was to be on the table at half-past f

, is there anything nice and

and tasty? There's bread, and there's butter-Dorset, second-class

ishing, cook, is it? I ask becaus

Lodge," replied cook. "I don't hold with

to have a beautiful, nice tea. Can't you think of something t

uld get a beautiful meal; and the

ausages-they are delicious-and a little tin of sardines-won't they be good?-and some water-cress, and some shrimps-oh, yes, shrimps! Be quick! And we will

y had an eye to the reversion of the tea, the sausa

and with rather a scowling face, to these arrivals. Some of the visitors left rather important messages, but Kathleen did not remember them for more than a moment after they were delivered. Mari

as to see the room tidy, Kathleen seated in her own special chair cobblin

is mean?" sai

ou are dead tired. I will take off your shoes, poor dear; I have brought your slippers down on purpose, and you are to

hey are

oast, and a lovely cup o

rs. Tennant, "wha

e says. This is my tea, and Maria fetched

ked at Kathleen

these thing

d Maria. "I never did see a

aid Mrs. Tennant,

een l

of those watery stews. Of course, I can eat anything, but I don't specially like them; so if you don't mind I will have a sausage, too, and a plateful of shrimps afterwards, and some sardines. And isn't this water-cress ni

aughed over the shrimps, exclaimed at the fun of eating the water-cress, enjoyed the sausages, an

haps five, ladies call

re they

in what I should call a very loud style. She was quite old. Her face was all over w

She is one of my most important friends. She promised to help me w

don't remember anything about her except that she was old and had wrinkles a

, she did not remember anything about the ladies except a few fugitive descriptions. As far as Mrs. Tennant could make ou

," she said. "But as to Mrs. Dalzell, she must no

red than ever, and I have

cious and strengthening tea. Only don't do it again, darling, f