," enlarged Miss Million, wetting her finger to turn over the pages
of the magazine. "Vi Vassity we'll have; must have her, after her bein'
so decent to us. A friend in need, that's what I call her. And Mrs.
Flukes----" (This is the ventriloquist's wife.)

"We'll have her," planned the future mistress of the country house.
"Give her a bit of a change, and get her strength up again after that
baby. We'll take them down with us after we've been at the 'Refuge' for
a few days; and the nurse. And then we'll ask this Mr. Brace of yours to
come down, Smith, after a week or so. Y'orter be able to give him word,
one way or another, after all that time, didn't you?"

"Yes--I ought," I said.

"Well, there you are," said Miss Million complacently, getting up from
the couch. "I'll dress for late dinner now. Did you think to have me
cerise ironed out a bit?"

"No; and I'm afraid it's too crushed for you to wear," I said, with a
great show of penitence. "I'm afraid I shall have to dress you in the
cream, instead." She was ready dressed in the cream-coloured frock, with
the little golden shoes; she was just going down to join her cousin in
the big dining-room when she turned with a last word to put in on Mr.
Brace's account.

She said: "Your Auntie would be pleased about it now."

I said: "I don't suppose I shall hear anything more about what my aunt
would like me to do."

I was wrong.

For by this morning's post there has arrived a note from my aunt at
Putney. Not for me. For my mistress!

The note is short enough. It is signed only "Anastasia Lovelace," and
all it says is:

"Enclosed find notes to the amount of thirty pounds, being the
sum advanced by you as salary to Miss Beatrice Lovelace. She
will now return to Putney, bringing your receipt."

"Will," again. Will she?

And the notes!

Both Miss Million and I have been gazing in amazement upon the rustling
sheaf that my mistress took out of the registered envelope.

Where, in the name of all that's unaccountable, did Aunt Anastasia
"raise" all that money, and in such a short time?

When could she ever have put her hands upon thirty pounds of English
money?

Borrowed--pooh! Who has she to borrow from?

Beg--so like her!

Steal--I'm the only member of her family who's ever been accused of
that!

Surely--oh, surely, she can't have got the money from the Honourable
Jim?

I can't think how else she can have got it, though.

There's only