ent of
hers--that it would be illegal for you to take me away? Do you think
it's true?"

"I've asked our Major, and he's a bit doubtful," said Bob. "All the
other fellows say it's utter nonsense. But I'm going to ask the old
lawyer chap who has charge of Aunt Margaret's money--he'll tell me. We
won't bother about it, Tommy; if I can't get you politely, I'll steal
you. Just forget the she-dragon and all her works."

"But have you thought about what you are going to do?"

"I don't think of much else, and that's the truth, Tommy," said her
brother ruefully. "You see, there's mighty little in sight. I could get
a clerkship, I suppose. I could certainly get work as a day labourer.
But I don't see much in either of those possibilities towards a
little home with you, which is what I want. I'm going to answer every
advertisement I can find for fellows wanted on farms." He straightened
his square shoulders. "Tommy, there must be plenty of work for any chap
as strong as an ox, as I am."

"I'm sure there's work," said Cecilia. "But the men who want jobs don't
generally advertise themselves as 'complete with sister.' I'm what's
technically known as an encumbrance, Bob."

"You!" said Bob. "You're just part of the firm, so don't you forget it.
Didn't we always arrange that we should stick together?"

"We did--but it may not be easy to manage," Cecilia said, doubtfully.
"Perhaps we could get some job together; I could do inside work, or
teach, or sew."

"No!" said Bob explosively. "If I can't earn enough for us both, I ought
to be shot, Aunt Margaret didn't bring you up to work."

"But the world has turned upside down since Aunt Margaret died," said
Cecilia. "And I have worked pretty hard for the last two years, Bob; and
it hasn't hurt me."

"It has made you older--and you ought to be only a kid yet," said Bob
wistfully. "You haven't had any of the fun girls naturally ought to
have. I don't want you to slave all your time, Tommy."

"Bless you!" said his sister. "But I wouldn't care a bit, as long as it
was near you--and not in Lancaster Gate."

They had turned across Hyde Park, where a big company of girl guides
was drilling, watched by a crowd of curious on-lookers. Across a belt of
grass some boy scouts were performing similar evolutions, marching with
all the extra polish and swagger they could command, just to show the
guides that girls were all very well in their way, but that no one with
skirts could really hope to