He was standing by Lady Isobel, who was beginning to take
her farewell of her friends.

'Do you think we have behaved ourselves well?' he asked him.

'Oh, I think it's been lovelly!' exclaimed Bobby with rapt eyes.
'Haven't you enjoyed it 'normously? Me and Nobbles have.'

'Let's see Master Nobbles! I really believe, Bobby, that he has had
something to do with this wedding. It was he who took you to see Lady
Isobel, remember, and she says it was the result of a certain text of
yours that took her out to India. If I hadn't met her--well, who
knows. Anyhow, I'm a lucky man to-day.'

Bobby was enchanted to think that Nobbles had a share in the wedding.
When Lady Isobel bent over him to wish him good-bye, she said:

'I shall look forward to see you soon again, Bobby darling. We're only
going to be away about three weeks, and then we're going straight to
your old home. I don't think I shall like to go into your empty
nursery and not find you there. God bless you, my sweet!'

She had kissed him and was gone. Bobby felt inclined to cry for the
first time. Then rice was put into his hand to fling after the
carriage, and his spirits rose again.

Miss Robsart took them home, and all the way she and they talked over
every detail of their enjoyable time. Even Margot acknowledged that,
for a quiet wedding, it was very well done, and that the bride did look
the sweetest lady that she had seen for a long time. It was natural
that after such excitement the next few days seemed dull and flat, but
gradually the children settled down to their lessons, and the weeks
went quietly by.

One afternoon Margot took them for a walk in Kensington Gardens. This
was always a treat to them; they would pretend they were in the
country; and though the trees were bare and lifeless, and there were no
flowers in the neatly kept beds, the round pond and the grass and the
long walks, which were so good for races, were a great delight to them.
They soon found their way down to the pond; for though it was a cold
day it was a sunny one, and several men and boys were launching small
sailing-boats. Bobby stood looking on with great fascination. There
was one boat which took his fancy. She was painted scarlet, and had a
miniature Union Jack attached to her mast. A little boy, not much
older than himself, was the owner, and he, with a young maid-servant,
was watching her journey across the pond with some anxiety.

Suddenly a gust of wi