r. You must see him, Fan--he's a darling, and
I'm sure you'll love him!"

Almost before the door was properly open Jock hurled himself
reproachfully into the room, and flinging himself on to his mistress,
inquired in the plainest dog-language why she had been so slow in
answering his summons. When she had apologized and received his
forgiveness, she introduced him to Miss Gibbs, who was won immediately
by his courteous manner towards her and the friendliness in his nice
brown eyes.

She cemented the acquaintance by offering him--timidly--a piece of cake;
and instantly Jock threw dignity to the winds and begged, shamelessly,
for further morsels; which being denied him caused him to bark
vociferously and show off his few tricks in the hope of adequate reward.

He was engaged in walking on his hind legs round the room, following
Fanny, who was laughing excitedly and flourishing a piece of cake, while
Toni clapped her hands and called out words of encouragement at the top
of her voice, when a loud whirring sound on the gravel outside made both
girls turn in the direction from which came the noise--just in time to
see a big grey car shoot by the window on its way to the front door.

One glance was enough.

"Good gracious, Fan! Visitors! What a bore!"

"Will they come in? Won't your man say you're out?" gasped Fanny,
hastily dropping the bit of cake she held and pinning up a roll of hair
which had come down in the game.

"No--they saw us," said Toni wildly. "I never said I wasn't at home--and
anyway they'd hear us laughing!"

In a dead silence the two girls stood, waiting breathlessly to see what
would happen; and in the sudden hush they heard the clang of the big
bell, and Andrews' speedy arrival in the hall.

For one wild moment Toni thought of waylaying him with instructions to
send the visitors away. The next instant she realized that such a course
was impossible, and waited helplessly for the next act of the drama.

Andrews opened the door, and Toni heard a gentle, cultured voice ask if
Mrs. Rose were at home.

For a fraction of a second Andrews, who was young enough to be human,
and had not yet become a machine, hesitated as though he would fain deny
his mistress to these invaders; but finally habit triumphed over
humanity and he replied stolidly in the affirmative.

The next moment Toni, standing by the door, heard the rustle of skirts
and the firm step of a man, which sounds proceeded in the direction of