wind to-morrow, and that it was all 'Fangs's' fault in some incomprehensible manner.
At Cliff House Kalliope was carefully handed out by Sir Jasper, trying, but with failing voice, to thank Captain Henderson, and declaring herself not the worse, though her hand shook so much that the General was not content without giving her his arm up the stairs, and telling Maura that he should send Mrs. Halfpenny up to see after her. The maimed carriage was left in the yard, and Captain Henderson then took charge of his iron horse, and the whole male party proceeded to the livery stables; so that Gillian was able to be alone, when she humbly repeated to her mother the tale parents have so often to hear of semi-disobedience leading to disaster, but with the self-reproach and sorrow that drew the sting of displeasure. Pity for Bruno, grief for her mother's deprivation, and anxiety for Kalliope might be penance and rebuke sufficient for a bit of thoughtlessness. Lady Merrifield made no remark; but there was an odd expression in her face when she heard who had come so opportunely to the rescue.
Sir Jasper brought a reassuring account of the poor little steed, which would be usable again after a short rest, and the blemish was the less important as there was no intention of selling him. Mrs. Halfpenny, too, reported that her patient was as quiet as a lamb. 'She wasn't one to fash herself for nothing and go into screaming cries, but kenned better what was fitting for one born under Her Majesty's colours.'
So there was nothing to hinder amusement when at dinner Sir Jasper comically described the procession as he met it. Kalliope White, looking only too like Minerva, or some of those Greek goddess statues they used to draw about, sitting straight and upright in her triumphal car, drawn by her votary; while poor Gillian came behind with the pony on one side and the bicycle on the other, very much as if she were conducting the wheel on which she was to be broken, as an offering to the idol.
'I think,' said Mysie, 'Captain Henderson was like the two happy sons in Solon's story, who dragged their mother to the temple.'
'Only they died of it,' said Gillian.
'And nobody asked how the poor mother felt afterwards,' added Lady Merrifield.
'I thought they all had an apotheosis together,' said Sir Jasper. 'Let us hope that devotion may have its reward.'
There was a little lawn outside the drawing-room windows at Il Lido. Lady Merrifield was sitting just within, and her husband had just brought her a letter to read, when they heard Wilfred's impish voice.
'Jack-no, not Jack-Fangs!'
'But Fangs's name is Jack, so it will do as well,' said Valetta's voice.
'Hurrah-so it is! Jack-'
'Hush, Wilfred-this is too foolish!' came Gillian's tones in remonstrance.
'Jack and Jill went up the hill
To draw-'
'To draw! Oh, that's lovely!' interrupted Valetta.
'He is always drawing,' said Gillian, with an odd laugh.
'He was brought up to it. First teeth, and then 'picturs,' and then- -oh, my-ladies home from the wash!' went on Wilfred.
'But go on, Will!' entreated Valetta.
'Jack and Jill went up the hill
To draw a piece of water-'
'No, no,' put in Wilfred-'that's wrong!
'To draw the sergeant's daughter;
Fangs dragged down unto the town,
And Jill came moaning after!'
'I didn't moan-'
'Oh, you don't know how disconsolate you looked! Moaning, you know, because her Fangs had to draw the other young woman-eh, Gill? Fangs always leave an aching void, you know.'
'You ridiculous boy! I'm sure I wish Fangs would leave a void. It wouldn't ache!'
The two parents had been exchanging glances of something very like consternation, and of the mute inquiry on one side, 'Were you aware of this sort of thing? and an emphatic shake of the head on the other. Then Sir Jasper's voice exclaimed aloud-
'Children, we hear every word you say, and are shocked at your impertinence and bad taste!'
There was a scatter. Wilfred and Valetta, who had been pinioning Gillian on either side by her dress, released her, and fled into the laurels that veiled the guinea-pigs; but their father's long strides pursued them, and he gravely said-
'I am very sorry to find this is your style of so-called wit!'
'It was only chaff,' said Valetta, the boldest in right of her girlhood.
'Very improper chaff! I am the last person to object to harmless merriment; but you are both old enough to know that on these subjects such merriment is not harmless.'
'Everybody does it,' whined Valetta, beginning one of her crying fits.
'I am sorry you have been among people who have led you to think so. No nicely-minded girl will do so, nor any brother who wishes to see his sisters refined, right-feeling women. Go in, Valetta-I can't suffer this howling! Go, I say! Your mother will talk to you. Now, Wilfred, do you wish to see your sisters like your mother?'
'They'll never be that, if they live to a hundred!'
'Do not you hinder it, then; and never let that insulting nickname pass your lips again.'
Wilfred's defence as to universal use in the family was inaudible, and he was allowed to slouch away.
Gillian had fled to her mother, entreating her to explain to her father that such jests were abhorrent to her.
'But you know, mamma, if I was cross and dignified, Wilfred would enjoy it all the more, and be ten times worse.'
'Quite true, my dear. Papa will understand; but we are sorry to hear that nickname.
'It was an old Royal Wardour name, mamma. Harry and Claude both used it, and-oh, lots of the young officers!'
'That does not make it more becoming in you.'
'N-no. But oh, mamma, he was very kind to-day! But I do wish it had been anybody else!'
And her colour rose so as to startle her mother.
'Why, my dear, I thought you would have been glad that a stranger did not find you in that plight!'
'But it makes it all the worse. He does beset us, mamma; and it is hard on me, after all the other nonsense!'
Lady Merrifield burst out laughing.
'My dear child, he thinks as much of you as of old Halfpenny!'
'Oh, mamma, are you sure?' said Gillian, still hiding her face. 'It was not silliness of my own; but Kitty Varley told Val that everybody said it-her sister, and Miss Mohun, and all. Why can't he go away, and not be always bothering about this horrid place with nothing to do?'
'How thankful I shall be to have you all safe at Clipston!'
'But, mamma, can't you keep him off us?'
Valetta's sobbing entrance here prevented more; but while explaining to her the causes of her father's displeasure, her mother extracted a good deal more of the gossip, to which she finally returned answer-
'There is no telling the harm that is done by chattering gossip in this way. You might have learnt by what happened before what mistakes are made. What am I to do, Valetta? I don't want to hinder you from having friends and companions; but if you bring home such mischievous stories, I shall have to keep you entirely among ourselves till you are older and wiser.'
'I never-never will believe-anybody who says anybody is going to marry anybody!' sobbed Valetta desperately and incoherently.
'Certainly no one who knows nothing about the matter. There is nothing papa and I dislike much more than such foolish talk; and to tease your sister about it is even worse; but I will say no more about that, as I believe it was chiefly Wilfred's doing.'
'I-told-Will,' murmured Valetta. 'Mysie begged me not, but I had done it.'
'How much you would have saved yourself and everybody else if you had let the foolish word die with you! Now,
