‘You’ll let me have another?’ asks Jimmy, eagerly.

‘Certainly,’ replies she; ’only, no more cat-finding.  I can’t bear them, can you?’

‘Can’t endure them,’ says Dalrymple, who would agree with whatever she said.

That night, or I should say next morning, when Miss Seaton retires to rest, a certain brown head figures prominently in her dreams, together with searching after huge monsters, who all bear a resemblance to Lady Dadford.  And even when awake the brown head is a subject for deep thought, and it is with a bright, happy face Miss Seaton appears (though somewhat late) at the breakfast table.

CHAPTER III

‘Philippa,’ says Mrs Seaton one day, ’I have just had an invitation from old Mrs Boothly, asking us to a water party next Wednesday, would you like to go?’

‘Who is going?’ asks Lippa wisely, ‘not only the Boothlys—­’

’I suppose the “not only,” means that in that case you would not go, but rest assured lots of other people are going, the two Graham girls, little Tommy Grant, Mr Dalrymple, and Captain Harkness,’ says Mabel, ‘but read the note yourself and decide—­’ Philippa’s mind is soon made up.  ‘I think I should like to go, it will be rather fun I expect.’

‘Yes, I daresay,’ replies Mabel, ’then I will write at once to get it off my mind, but what day is it for?’

‘Wednesday,’ says Philippa, meaning to enjoy herself.  But in one sense she is doomed to disappointment, the weather is everything that could be wished, and, donning a pretty gown, and covering her head with a dainty confection, she feels ready for the fray.

Ten o’clock is the hour fixed for starting from ——­ Station, but Teddy has been refractory over his breakfast and his mother considers it her duty to reprimand him, tears ensue, and then some time is spent in consolation, so that they are only just in time and have to run along the platform to the saloon carriage, out of which Tommy Grant is gesticulating violently.

‘You’re only just in time,’ says he, helping them in.

Philippa looks round and does not see Dalrymple; she finds herself next the eldest Miss Boothly who is saying, ‘I am so pleased you could come,’ giving Lippa’s arm a little squeeze at the same time, ’I think we shall have a nice day, don’t you, and you know all the people?’

‘All except the man at the further end.’

‘Oh! don’t you know him,’ says Miss Boothly.  ’He’s Lord Helmdon; he has come in the place of Mr Dalrymple, who at the last moment wrote to say he could not come, and so we asked Lord Helmdon, he’s so nice; we always fall back upon him when anyone fails us.’