the wickedness of David and
Fly; of the recovering of the little animal from the man who had bought
it, through Flower's instrumentality; all this she told, following up
with the full and particular history of the sale of a valuable diamond.
At last--at long last--the good lady stopped for want of breath.

There was a delicious pause, then the Doctor said, quietly:

"In short, Maria, you have never come across such absolutely wicked
children as the Maybrights and Dalrymples?"

"No, Andrew--never! never!"

"It is lucky they are not your children?"

"Thank Heaven!"

"Would it not be well to leave them to me? I am accustomed to them."

"Yes; I wash my hands of you all; or no--not quite of you all--I heap
coals of fire on your head, Andrew; I offer to relieve you of the charge
of Daisy Rymple."

"Of Flower?--but she is one of the worst of us."

Here Flower ran over, crouched down by the Doctor, and put one of her
hands into his.

"But I will be good with you," she said with a half-sob.

"Hear her," said the Doctor. "She says she will be good with me.
Perhaps, after all, Maria, I _can_ manage my own children better than
any one else can."

"Daisy is not your child--you had better give her to me."

"I can't part with Flower; she is an excellent reader. I am a blind man,
but she scarcely allows me to miss my eyes."

Flower gave a low ecstatic sob.

"And you will allow her to part with valuable gems like this?"

"Thanks to you, Maria, she has recovered her diamond."

"Andrew, I never met such an obstinate, such a misguided man! Are you
really going to bring up these unfortunate children without a chaperon?"

"I think you must allow us to be good _and_ naughty in our own way."

"Father is looking very tired, Aunt Maria," here whispered Polly.

"My dear, _I_ am never going to fatigue him more. Andrew, I wash my
hands of your affairs. Daisy, take your diamond. At least, my little
precious dog, I have recovered _you_. We return to Bath by the next
train."

CHAPTER XIX.

ONE YEAR AFTER.

"Helen, here's a letter."

"Yes. Who is it for?"

"I think it's for us all. See: 'the Misses Maybright and Miss
Dalrymple.'"

"Well, where's Flower? We can't open it till Flower comes down. It must
be--yes, it must be about father! You know it was yesterday his eyes
were to be operated on."

"As if I didn't know it, Nell! I never closed my eyes last night. I felt
nearly as bad as that awful day a year ago