hands in his pockets and looked at the
conflagration with smiling patronage.

"Phosphorus pentoxide P2O5," he remarked coolly. "What a lark!"

"It wouldn't have been a lark if the Mouse had been stifled by the
nasty, horrid fumes," said Lettice angrily. "Get some water at once and
help us put it out, before the whole house is on fire."

"Water, indeed! Don't do anything so foolish. You mustn't touch it
with water. Here, it's only a square, pull the thing up and throw it
through the window into the garden. That's the best thing we can do,"
said Raymond, dropping on his knees and setting himself to pull and tear
with all his strength. Bob and the girls did their best to assist him,
for the Bertrands were accustomed to help themselves, and in a very few
minutes the carpet was lifted, folded hurriedly in two, and sent flying
through the window to the garden beneath. After which the tired and
begrimed labourers sank down on chairs, and panted for breath.

"This is what comes of chemical experiments," said Hilary severely. "I
shall ask father to forbid you to play with such dangerous things in the
house. I wonder what on earth you will do next."

"Have some tea! This sort of work is tiring. I'm going downstairs to
ring the bell and hurry Mary up," said Raymond coolly. It was
absolutely impossible to get that dreadful boy to realise his own
enormities!

CHAPTER FIVE.

A VISIT TO LONDON.

On Saturday afternoon Mrs Freer drove up to the door in an old-
fashioned carriage. She was a thin, little woman, not at all like her
big son, whom she evidently adored as the most wonderful specimen of his
sex, and full of gratitude for the kindness which had been shown to him.
Rex's letter had evidently been of a descriptive nature, for his mother
recognised each of the three girls, addressed them by name, and referred
to their special interests.

"How do you do, Miss Hilary? I hope my son's illness has not interfered
with the arrangements for your journey. How do you do, Miss Lettice?
How do you do, Norah? Rex has told me of your wonderful playing. I
hope you will let me hear something before I go."

Norah was never loath to play, and on this occasion was anxious to make
a good impression, so that Mrs Freer might gain her father's consent to
the proposed music lessons. At the earliest opportunity, therefore, she
produced her violin, played her favourite selections, and had the
satisfaction of seeing that M