ne,
so she determined to speak seriously to Cookie.

"Cookie," said Christine in her most earnest manner, "a lion may arrive
outside this door (pointing to the article in question in a most
impressive fashion) at any moment to-day."

"Yes," added Ridgwell, "and we only want you to be prepared."

Cookie's eyes seemed to boil a little faster for a moment, appeared to
swell in fact and be altogether overdone, as she fixed her orbs upon
the door in question, then up went Cookie's apron over her head, and
alas! down went the three new-laid at 2 1/2d. each, all spilled upon
the floor, and the cup broken as well.

At this moment the children instinctively realised that discretion was
sometimes the better part of valour, and made speedy preparations to
vacate in favour of other quarters of the house, not, however, before
they could hear Cookie moaning beneath her apron:

"Escaped I s'pose, oh! mighty 'Eavens! escaped from the Crystal
Palace, or the Zoo, or a circus or somethink, oh, it ain't safe living
in England! Blowed if I don't bolt the kitchen door, and nobody warned
me or told me it was in the morning papers. Thank goodness I've taken
in the milk, and them three eggs all spoiled. Only nine left now,"
moaned Cookie, "and cutlets and pancakes for lunch too."

"Come, Chris," whispered Ridgwell. "You see we can't expect much
support from Cookie."

"No," agreed Christine, as they departed for the dining-room. "How
about Mother? Let's hear what she says."

"Yes," assented Ridgwell. "You see Mother is very nice and kind always
to anybody who calls, and perhaps if she spoke to Lal and welcomed him
a bit when he comes, he might feel at home at once."

"I can't think where we are going to ask him to sit, can you, Ridgie?
You see," explained Christine, "it's so inhospitable to leave him in
the hall, and if he walks into the drawing-room and swishes his tail
even contentedly, all the china would go over at once."

"No, Chris, Lal is much too well mannered to do anything like that, but
I'm afraid the only place for him will be the hearth-rug in front of
the fire. Stop a minute, Chris, I've got it. Of course, the sofa in
the drawing-room. Nobody must sit on the sofa at all to-day, then it
will be all ready for him when he comes, and we shall only have to tuck
him in a bit at the sides if he's too big."

Matters were not much better understood in the drawing-room, for a lady
visitor had just called and was waiti