children. I must talk with Cecilia early to-morrow morning, or Agnes
will be at her. Dear Cecil, she would starve herself and her boys to
help any one, but she shall certainly get my views.'

Alas, however, his optimism proved ill-founded, and it so happened that
Miss Delacour paid a very early call indeed on the following morning at
The Paddock, for she slept well and woke early, whereas the Honourable
George Lennox slept badly and awoke late.

Mrs Constable was rather amazed at so early a visit from her brother's
sister-in-law. The boys rushed in, yelling the news. She was just
pouring out milk for her collection of Precious Stones when the
unabashed lady entered the spacious dining-room.

'Ah, upon my word, a nice house!' said Miss Delacour. 'How cheerful
you make everything look, dear! As sister women we can appreciate the
little niceties of life, can we not?'

'Yes, of course,' said Mrs Constable in her pleasant manner and with
her pretty, bright look. 'But what a long walk to take before
breakfast, Miss Delacour!'

'I have come on behalf of my brother-in-law.'

'Is George ill?' inquired Mrs Constable.

Miss Delacour put her finger to her lip. Then she significantly
touched her brow. Going up to Mrs Constable, she begged to have a
special talk with her all alone. Mrs Constable had thought the woman
in the thistle gown very queer the night before, and the boys had
frankly detested her; but when that admirable philanthropist went up
and dropped a word into her ear she turned a little pale, and facing
her sons, said, 'Laddies, you had best go into the back dining-room and
sup your porridge. Run, laddies; run.'

The boys gave their mother an adoring glance, scowled ferociously at
Miss Delacour, and left the room. Over their coffee, hot rolls, and
marmalade, Miss Delacour propounded her scheme--her great, her
wonderful scheme.

It is well to be first in the field, and Miss Delacour could speak with
eloquence. She was a real philanthropist, and she appealed to the kind
heart of Mrs Constable.

CHAPTER V.

THE EARLY BIRD.

There is, after all, nothing like being first in the field. The old
proverb of the early bird that catches the worm is correct. Miss
Delacour knew her ground. Miss Delacour had gauged her woman, and
when, about eleven o'clock that day, George Lennox walked across to The
Paddock, hoping to obtain the sympathy which he had never before been
refused by his sister, he w