rm's
representative in Naples, was very ill? Well, Mr. Fenton has decided to
send Dad to Italy to take his place, for a year at any rate, and perhaps
longer. We're to start in a fortnight."

Such a stupendous announcement required a little realizing. Vincent
removed his hands from his pockets.

"You don't mean to say we're _all_ going?" he inquired. "Jemima! Leaving
London fogs and toddling off to Italy? Materkins, you take my breath
away! How's the whole business to be fixed up so soon?"

"Quite easily. We shall let this house, just as it is, to Mr. Atherton,
who will come from the Norfolk branch to fill Father's post in London.
We are to rent Mr. Southern's flat in Naples, while he takes a voyage
round the world to try to regain his health. Dad means to put you into
his office in Naples, Vin. Don't look so aghast! It's high time you
started, and it will be a splendid opening for you. And as for Renie--of
course she's too young to leave school yet----"

"Mums! Mums!" interrupted an agonized voice, as Irene took a flying leap
over her circle of books and, plumping herself on the sofa, clutched
tightly at her mother's sleeve. "You're not going to leave me behind at
Miss Gordon's? You _couldn't_! Oh, I'd die! Mums darling, please! If the
family's going to jaunt abroad I've got to jaunt too! Say yes, quick,
quick!"

"What a little tempest you are! Cheer up! We'd never any intention of
deserting you. We'll stick together for a while at any rate, though when
we arrive in Naples you'll be packed off to a boarding-school, Madam, so
I give you fair warning."

"An Italian school?"

Irene's gray eyes were round with horror.

"No, an Anglo-American school for English-speaking girls. Do you
remember that charming Mr. Proctor who stayed with us last year on his
way from New York to Naples? His daughter is at this school, and he
strongly recommended it. It seems just exactly the place for you, Renie.
It will solve a great problem if we can educate you out there. It would
have complicated matters very much if we had been obliged to leave you
in England. As it is you'll be quite near to Naples, and can come home
for all your holidays."

"Hooray! Then I'm not to go to Miss Gordon's again?"

"As we start in a fortnight it's not worth while your beginning a fresh
term at St. Osmund's."

"Then I needn't bother to find the hateful old history book. I'm _so_
glad I didn't do those wretched holiday tasks--they'd just have been