one ranch to another. Miss
Helen took after her mother, and got everyone's love. And then her
father got her to marry a rich old settler, so that some of his debts
might be paid, and he died within a twelvemonth of the marriage, and
Miss Helen kept the property together and did for her father till he
broke his neck riding an unbroken horse, and Miss True was all the bit
of comfort she had left. She could have married over and over scores
of times; but not she; till Mr. Allonby found Miss True one day and
brought her home, and then I knew how things would end. And when she
would gallop off with him on her big horse, with her laugh and jest, I
little thought she'd ever live to lie on her back and never move again.'

The old woman paused. Bobby had not been following her. He only
repeated the question, which was an all-important one to him:

'Will they be sure to like me?'

'The mistress has the biggest heart in the world, my dear, and the
master never says a cross word to nobody!'

Bobby felt cheered by her tone, and his doubts utterly vanished when he
was held in the close clasp of his stepmother.

'We are going to keep you, Bobby, and I must be prepared to see two
small children go off every day with my Wanderer. We are going to make
this summer a holiday, to build up and strengthen your father, who has
been very ill, and next winter, if we are spared, we must all set to
work in earnest. Lessons and school for the little ones, real hard
writing for your father and me. Now, darling, True is calling to you
from the garden. Run out to her, and the air and sunshine will bring
colour into those pale cheeks of yours.'

'Me and Nobbles likes to be darlings,' Bobby informed True a short time
afterwards. 'We aren't darlings with Nurse or grandmother.'

When his father returned, Bobby approached him, almost trembling to
hear his fate.

'Well, little chap,' Mr. Allonby said, 'it has been rather a stormy
scene, but I've got you for good and all. And if I had known your
grandmother considered children such a trouble I never would have left
you with her all this time. Your nurse is going to drive over this
afternoon and wish you good-bye. She will bring your clothes. Do you
think you will get on with us without a nurse? We are very poor folk,
you know, until I write this big book of travels that is going to bring
us fame and money, and then--well, you ask True what will happen.'

Bobby smiled contentedly.