il the actual arrival of the Trimblett family, which,
piloted by Mr. Hartley, made a triumphant appearance in a couple of
station cabs. The roofs were piled high with luggage, and the leading
cabman shared his seat with a brass-bound trunk of huge dimensions and
extremely sharp corners.

A short, sturdy girl of seventeen jumped out as soon as the vehicles
came to a halt, and, taking her stand on the curb, proceeded to
superintend the unloading. A succession of hasty directions to the
leading cabman, one of the most docile of men, ended in the performance
of a marvellous piece of jugglery with the big trunk, which he first
balanced for an infinitesimal period of time on his nose, and then
caught with his big toe.

[Illustration: Marvellous piece of jugglery 272]

"What did you do that for?" demanded Miss Trimblett, hotly.

There is a limit to the patience of every man, and the cabman was
proceeding to tell her when he was checked by Mr. Hartley.

"He ought to be locked up," said Miss Trimblett flushing.

She took up a band-box and joined the laden procession of boys and girls
that was proceeding up the path to the house. Still red with indignation
she was introduced to Joan, and, putting down the band-box, stood eying
her with frank curiosity.

"I thought you were older," she said at last. "I had no idea father was
married again until I got the letter. I shall call you Joan."

"You had all better call me that," said Miss Hartley, hastily.

"Never more surprised in my life," continued Miss Trimblett.
"However--"

She paused and looked about her.

"This is George," she said, pulling forward a heavy-looking youth of
sixteen. "This is Ted; he is fourteen--small for his age--and these are
the twins, Dolly and Gertrude; they're eleven. Dolly has got red hair
and Gerty has got the sweetest temper."

The family, having been introduced and then summarily dismissed by the
arbitrary Jessie, set out on a tour of inspection, while the elders,
proceeding upstairs, set themselves to solve a problem in sleeping
accommodation that would have daunted the proprietor of a Margate
lodging-house. A scheme was at last arranged by which Hartley gave up
his bedroom to the three Misses Trimblett and retired to a tiny room
under the tiles. Miss Trimblett pointed out that it commanded a fine
view.

"It is the only thing to be done," said Joan, softly.

"It isn't very big for three," said Miss Trimblett, referring to her
own room,