o hope you'll like her, dad, because we do. We thought we'd
get her as a surprise for you.'

'I really----' began Mr. Allonby, then his eyes met Miss Robsart's and
they both laughed aloud.

'I must explain myself,' she said, checking her laugh and speaking
hastily and nervously 'I met your little boy and girl in a 'bus and
heard them say they had come out to look for a governess. Of course
they had not the smallest idea how to set about it, so I took them to a
very good registry. I fancied you must have been wanting to have one
from what they said, and then, as we were all talking about it, I
wondered if I could undertake the situation myself. I am very anxious
to earn something, as I have an invalid sister at home, and we are very
badly off. I can give you good references. My father was a clergyman.
I have been educated in the Kensington High School.

She stopped. Mr. Allonby drew a chair forward for her, then turned to
the children.

'I don't know what you two scamps have been doing,' he said; 'something
of which I had no conception, I know; but I should like to have a talk
with this lady, and you can both go off to Margot, who must be
wondering where you are.'

True and Bobby obeyed instantly. They were extremely pleased with
themselves, and burst in upon Margot, who was in the bedroom tidying
herself to bring in dinner.

'We've got ourselves a governess, Margot.'

'We finded her in a 'bus.'

'She has a smiling face and doesn't wear spectacles or grey hair.'

'She'll teach us to dance round the room.'

'She's talking to dad now; and I believe she will be cheap, because we
told her she must be.'

'And me and Nobbles loves her already.'

Margot put her hands up to her ears.

'I think you're quite demented!' she said. 'You've never been out in
the streets alone?'

'We went in a 'bus.'

They told their tale. Margot was horrified at their daring.

'You've picked up a strange young woman in the streets and brought her
here? She'll maybe belong to a band of burglars! Your poor father is
too easy-going. To think of his talking to her at all! Let me see the
young hussy, and I'll send her packing! To trade on your innocence in
such a fashion!'

Margot grew quite vehement.

True tried to soothe her.

'You don't understand. You haven't seen her. Oh, come downstairs and
just look at her.'

'I'm going this very minute. I have to lay the cloth for dinner. 'Tis
time she was off; and it'