end to this. It was felt that the
perpetual presence of such a crowd of youngsters at meals would
never do. To Brenda and Herbert the change was typical of the whole
difference these unwelcome guests would make in their lives.

"Couldn't we just have one look round first?" said Nesta, staring
about her in proprietary admiration at the walls of the great hall,
where hung the horns and weapons, the family portraits and
trophies, of bygone Chases. "I would like just to see the secret
chamber. Let me see--it must be through that door and up some
steps--"

She stopped inquiringly.

"No, it isn't," Brenda said, with a look of surprise; "you go just
the other way. But there isn't time now; Herbert and I will show
you everything to-morrow."

Nesta looked taken aback.

"I don't expect I shall need much showing," she said, with a little
air of importance.

Her cousins both stared at her.

"You certainly will," said Herbert decidedly; "it isn't at all an
easy house to find one's way about in, I can tell you. You would go
blundering into all sorts of places you oughtn't to."

"Places we oughtn't to?" repeated Eustace in bewilderment.

"Yes, the servants' quarters, you know," said Herbert, as if he
were talking to a child of eight.

"Aren't you allowed to go into the servants' quarters?" asked Nesta
wonderingly.

"Oh, we're _allowed_, of course," said Herbert; "but one doesn't
go. I dare say things were rather mixed out with you, though."

"What do you mean?" asked Eustace abruptly.

"Oh, you had to rough it rather, hadn't you?" said the elder boy.
"I had a sort of idea you all had meals together."

"With the servants?" questioned Eustace.

"Yes," said Herbert, with perfect gravity.

Eustace flushed deeply.

"Oh, of course," he said, "coolies and every one had meals
together. We all ate out of a trough."

"Eustace!" exclaimed Nesta in dismay, wondering what had happened
to him all of a sudden.

The cousins stared at him blankly, hardly realizing for a moment
what he had said.

"Well, it is just as sensible as saying we had meals with the
servants," said the boy, in such a tone of disgust that Herbert was
left in no doubt as to his meaning.

"You needn't be cheeky, youngster," he said; "you can't expect me
to know your habits, can you? I do know people in the Colonies
can't pick and choose their company, and have to make friends with
cowboys and bushrangers, if they want any society."

"What!" shouted