y creep into their aunts'
presence.

The lamps are lighting in the drawing-room as they enter, though the
windows are open, and _Dies pater_, the all-great, is still victorious
over _Nox_. The Misses Blake both start and look up as they come in, and
show general symptoms of relief which is not reciprocated by the
culprits. Mrs. Mitchell, the nurse, who has followed almost on their
heels, stands in the doorway, with bayonets fixed, so to speak, seeing
there is every chance of an engagement. It may be as well to remark
here that Mitchell has not "got on" with the Misses Blake, having
rooted opinions of her own not to be lightly laid aside. The Misses
Blake's opinions have also a home in very deep soil, so that the
"give-and-take" principle is not in force between them and the foreign
nurse, as they term Jane Mitchell, though she was bred and born on
Devonshire soil.

"Mitchell," say the Misses Blake in confidence to each other, "is not
altogether what one would desire in a servant assigned to the care of
children. She is not _nice_ in many ways; there is far too much of the
fine lady about her," etc.

"H'elderly ladies as 'asn't been to the h'altar," says Mrs. Mitchell in
confidence to cook, "can't be supposed to know what is right and proper
for motherless lambs." And so the war rages.

Just now Mrs. Mitchell is plainly on the defensive, and eyes her
baby--as she still calls Kit (having nursed her)--with all the air of
one prepared to rush in and rescue her by bodily force, should the worst
come to the worst.

"My dear Monica, what a late hour to be abroad!" says Miss Priscilla,
reproachfully. "The dew falling, too, which is most unwholesome. For
you, Kit, a mere child, it is really destruction. Nurse, as you are
_there_," regarding the bony Mitchell with distrust and disfavor, "I
think it as well to let you know I do not think this is a proper time
for Miss Katherine to be in the open air. It is far too late."

"It isn't late, miss. It is only nine o'clock."

"Nine o'clock! What is the woman thinking about? Nine! why, that means
night?"

"Not at this time of the year, miss."

"At _any_ time of year. With all the experience you _say_ you have had,
I wonder you do not consider it a most injurious hour for a child of
Miss Katherine's age to be out of doors."

"I don't hold with making a child puny, miss. Coddling up, and that
sort, only leads to consumptions and assmas, in my humble opingion."

"I must reque