"Comfortable, but dull, so I want you to bring the kids over thisevening, to amuse the very aged gentleman. Mrs. King has got out theantique costumes and trumpery, as I promised Bella she should havethem, and tonight we are to have a merrymaking, as we used to do whenNed was here."

"Very well, sir, I'll bring them. We've all been out of sorts since thelad left, and a little jollity will do us good. Are you going back, MissMuir?" asked Coventry.

"No, I shall keep her to give me my tea and get things ready. Don't readanymore, my dear, but go and amuse yourself with the pictures, orwhatever you like," exclaimed Sir Harold; and like a dutiful daughter sheobeyed, as if glad to get away.

"That's a somewhat charming girl, Gerald," began Sir John as she left theroom. "I'm much interested inside her, both on her own account and on hermother's."

"Her mother's! What do you know of her mother?" asked Coventry, muchsurprised.