ping you would come to tea with me this afternoon, my sister
wants to see you; but now your uncle and this Lady Isobel has arrived,
you will be occupied with them.'

'I expecks we shall have tea with them today,' said Bobby.

'Will you ask us another day?' asked True. 'Isn't it funny? Yesterday
we were quite miserable because nothing nice was happening, and to-day
we're too full. But Bobby and I want to come to tea with you very
much, we reely do, and we'll ask if you may come to the wedding.'

She jumped up from her chair and gave Miss Robsart a loving hug as she
spoke, and Bobby forthwith followed her example. Miss Robsart went
away from them with a cheerful face.

Margot dressed them in their best clothes directly their dinner was
over. It was in honour of Lady Isobel's expected visit.

'We haven't had a lady of title to the house since we've been in
England,' said Margot reflectively. I can't say I've run up much
against them, but I believe they're pretty much the same as other
folks; still a lady is a lady, and I wants her to see you looking like
your dear mother would have you, and you just sit still, now you're
clean, and don't dirty yourselves up with playing about.'

'It's like the story mother told us of the two little girls with their
clean frocks,' said True.

'Yes,' responded Bobby; 'I wonder how our inside frocks are to-day,
True.'

True shook her head doubtfully.

'I s'pose God has such _very_ good eyes He always sees spots and
stains; but I don't think mine is very bad to-day. I can't remember
anything just now.'

'Oh, I can. You stamped when the comb pulled your hair!'

'A stamp wouldn't make a very black mark,' said True. 'You were
beating the sofa with Nobbles this morning, and Mrs. Dodds would be
awful angry if she knew.'

'That was Nobbles.'

'Ah, that's another spot on your dress; you're making 'scuses, and
blaming Nobbles when it was reely you.'

Bobby hastily changed the conversation, and then there was a knock and
ring at the hall door, and in another moment Mr. Egerton and Lady
Isobel were in the room, and Bobby was in the arms of his friend. She
looked younger and prettier than when he saw her last. She was in a
long white coat and black hat. A big bunch of violets was in her
button-hole.

'Oh, Bobby, you darling, how glad I am to see you again! I can hardly
believe I may one day be your aunt.'

'That day will very soon be here,' said Mr. Egerton.

She laugh