hope your other pranks
afforded you more satisfaction. I expect you have been up to all manner
of mischief while we were away!"

"I've been most industrious, father, and good, and docile. Ask Maud if
I haven't. I had a few accidents: they _will_ occur, you know! Trays,
for instance, jumping out of my hand, and smashing the glass. It's a
mercy I was not killed."

"Glass? What glass?" queried Mrs Rendell quickly; and Nan smiled back
at her with infantile candour.

"Better tell her the first evening, when she can't find it in her heart
to be cross," she had decided diplomatically; and there was certainly no
nervousness apparent in the manner in which she made her confession.

"Oh, only some tumblers. Not so many. Seven or eight, perhaps. They
were not the best ones; none of the best set were broken except two
little water-bottles. Such a mercy, wasn't it?" She affected not to
hear Mrs Rendell's groan of dismay, and spread out her scarred hands
with an air of thanksgiving. "As for me, I can't imagine how I escaped.
There were knives on the tray, and they fell in showers round me--
literal showers--and dug into my hands! The blood--oh-oh!" Nan rolled
her eyes to the ceiling, and shuddered dramatically. "Ask Maud! She
wanted me to go to bed, but I struggled on. We were particularly busy
that night, and wanted to help the servants."

"Ned Talbot was here. He appeared suddenly, when we were laying
carpets, and went down on his knees to help us. He seemed to expect to
stay to dinner, so we gave him a scramble meal, and he left by the 8:30
train," explained Maud hurriedly. She, like Nan, had decided to give
her own special piece of news on the evening of her parents' return; but
though she appeared to be looking in an opposite direction, she was
acutely conscious of her mother's searching glances.

"In-deed!" Mrs Rendell said slowly. "He is staying in town, then, I
suppose? Is he to make a long visit? Shall we see him again this
time?"

"He said of his own accord, mother, that he would like to come from
Saturday until Monday if it would not inconvenience you so soon after
your return. I promised to give you the message, and said you would
probably write yourself."

"He said he wanted particularly to speak to you and father. I wonder
what about! He doesn't generally care to be with you as much as with
us; but he said it as if he meant it--he really did. I can't imagine
what he wants!" said Aga