‘Well,’ he says, ‘I am so hot, what shall I do to get cool—­’

‘Sit still,’ suggests Lippa.

‘Oh no, that’d make me heaps hotter, oh! there’s Joseph,’ and away flies Teddy.  Joseph is an old gardener whose business it is to keep the paths in order, and of whom most of the square live in wholesome awe, not so Teddy, he loves him dearly and will talk as long as the old man has time to listen, this afternoon he is busy and Teddy soon returns again to the seat.

‘He’s such a dear old man,’ he says, nodding in the direction the gardener has taken, ’a dear old man, but he has a terrible cough, and he doesn’t know anything that will cure it.’

‘Poor old man,’ she answers, ’but really Teddy you must sit still, you are so hot, and jumping up and down like that shakes me all over.’

‘Does it?’ he says, innocently.  ’I’ll sit still if you’ll tell me something, but perhaps I’d better tell you something first.  Did you ever know that I had a sister?’

Lippa nods.

‘Oh!’ he says, ’well then perhaps you knew that her name was Lilian, and she was lost.’

‘Yes,’ replies Philippa, ’I knew all about her; you see your father is my brother, so of course I know all about you.’

‘Not everything,’ says Teddy, confidently, ’you don’t know that I’m feeling rather empty, not ‘xactly hungry but as if I could eat my tea.’

‘Well, I dare say it is time to go in,’ says his aunt, ’and if you will cease to sit on my feet I will get up.’

Teddy rises with alacrity, and not till they get to the square gate do they remember they have not got the key.  ‘How tiresome,’ ejaculates Philippa.

But Teddy who is always full of resources, departs in the hope of finding Joseph or some one who has a key, but alas they are the only occupants of the square, what is to be done.  They stand gazing helplessly over the gate, Philippa looking uncommonly pretty in a light gown that fits to perfection, and her large black hat adorned with red poppies, ‘I wonder who she is,’ thinks a gentleman who has already passed them twice, and is contemplating turning back to see her again.  But he hears his name called in a shrill voice, ’Captain Harkness, Cap-ta-i-n H-a-r-kness!’ He turns round hastily and sees Teddy waving frantically over the gate.

‘Well, little boy,’ he says, ‘what is the matter? eh!’

’We can’t get out, Aunt Lippa and I, we’ve forgotten the key, do go to mother and ask her for it.’

Captain Harkness turns to Philippa and raising his hat, says, ’I shall be very pleased if I can be of any service to you, I was just on my way to see Mrs Seaton.’

‘If you could get the key,’ replies she, ‘it would be most kind.’

‘Not at all,’ says he, still wondering who she is, ‘I will not be long,’ and he is as good as his word, reappearing with the key and setting them free, when they return to Brook Street.