ere to be her watchwords. And she buttoned on her
well-fitting white linen apron (newest and most approved hospital
pattern, which she had been obliged to make herself, for she could buy
nothing small enough) in a spirit of dedication as sincere as that
imbuing any candidate for Holy Orders. Then, almost breathlessly, she
put her cap upon her flaming head and surveyed the general effect in the
long glass.

Yes, it was all very satisfactory. Well-hung, short, green linen
frock--was it a trifle short? Yet the little feet in the low-heeled
shoes were neat as the ankles above them were slim, and one needed a
short skirt for "working about."

Perhaps there _was_ a touch of musical comedy about her appearance, but
that was merely because she was so small and the cap, a muslin cap of a
Quakerish shape, distinctly becoming. Well, there was no reason why she
should want to look hideous. She would not be less capable because she
was pleasing to the eye.

She seized her flannel apron from the bed where she had placed it ready
before she went out, and with one last lingering look at herself went
swiftly to her new duties.

Tea passed peacefully enough, though Fay asked embarrassing questions,
such as "Why you wear suts a funny hat?"

"Because I'm an ayah," Meg answered quickly.

"Ayahs don't wear zose kind of hats."

"English ayahs do, and I'm going to be your ayah, you know."

Fay considered Meg for a minute. "No," she said, shaking her head.
"_No._"

"Have another sponge-finger," Jan suggested diplomatically, handing the
dish to her niece, and the danger was averted.

They played games with the children after tea and all went well till
bed-time. Meg had begged Jan to leave them entirely to her, and with
considerable misgiving she had seen Meg marshal the children to the
bathroom and shut the door. Tony was asked as a favour to go too this
first evening without Ayah, lest little Fay should feel lonely. It was
queer, Jan reflected when left alone in the drawing-room, how she seemed
to turn to the taciturn Tony for help where her obstreperous niece was
concerned. Over and over again Tony had intervened and successfully
prevented a storm.

Meg turned on the bath and began to undress little Fay. She bore this
with comparative meekness, but when all her garments had been removed
she slipped from Meg's knees and, standing squarely on the floor,
announced:

"I want my own Ayah. Engliss Ayah not wass me. Own Ayah muss come