on their legs all day long because she won't use
hers. Miss H'Amabel does the sporting gent, and is never indoors except
to meals; while Miss Sibyl--well, there, she is not much 'count in the
fam'ly, for she can't say bo to a goose, and doesn't mind how people put
on her!"'

'You saw the children, I suppose?' questioned Miss Hunter gravely.

'Of course I did. I rode down to the station for that express purpose.
They are two skinny, puny little monkeys, enveloped in bundles of wraps.
I packed them all up comfortably in the carriage, and rode on to tell
you of their arrival. I don't seem to have done the right thing, as
usual; but that is always the way. Here is the carriage lumbering up the
drive. Now you had all better go out on the steps and overwhelm them
with kisses and caresses. Only may I ask that they should be taken
straight up to their nursery, and not brought in here?'

'One would think, to hear you talk, that you hated children,' murmured
Miss Sibyl; 'it is a good thing that Percy and his wife cannot hear
you.'

Miss Hunter left the room at once, and curiosity drew Sibyl and Hester
after her, to see the little nephew and niece who had been sent to them
from India from their only brother.

The four Miss Hunters lived very comfortably together, though they were
all, with the exception of Sibyl, rather self-willed, opinionated women.
All of them being well over forty, and grey hairs plentiful between
them, they had earned the distinction of being looked upon as 'old
maids,' and some wag having one day obliterated the 'h' in Chatts Chase,
the house was now familiarly called 'Pussy's Chase.' This did not
disturb the good ladies when it came to their ears, for they had large
souls, a keen sense of humour, and too much interest in life to be
fretted by village gossip.

They were now full of plans and purposes regarding the two small
children about to be placed in their charge, and no two visitors could
have caused more excitement and preparation in the quiet household than
did this little couple from India.

'Well,' asked Miss Amabel, as, after a great deal of bustle and talk in
the hall, the sisters came back to the drawing-room, 'and what are your
impressions of the kids?'

'Poor little mites!' said Miss Sibyl; 'they seem so very white and
sickly in appearance, that we were quite astonished at the way they
scampered upstairs. I am thankful they were sent back in charge of an
English nurse. Those ayahs ar