he long run? It sent me to a school that's done
me more good than Bolsover; and as for you--well, but for it you'd never
have had that sweet visitor this morning."

"Don't talk of that. That is one of the chief drawbacks to my going
back into civilisation, as you call it."

"A very nice drawback--if it's the only one--"

"It's not--there's another."

"What is that?"

"My babies!"

It was a strange, happy night, that last in the Storr Alley garret.
Jeffreys had begged Raby to let them stay where they were in peace for
that day; and she considerately kept their counsel till the morning.
Then she told her father the strange story.

"Two birds with one stone, and such a stone!" ejaculated the bewildered
colonel.

"Four birds, father--there are two babies as well."

"Whew!" said the colonel, "what a holiday I am having!"

"Poor father," said the girl, "it's too bad!"

"Oh, well. The more the merrier. What's to be done now? We'd better
charter a coach and four and a brass band and go and fetch them home in
state. If they'd wait till to-morrow we would have up a triumphal arch
too."

"How frivolous you are, father! We must get them away with as little
fuss as possible. I arranged with Mr Jeffreys that he would bring Mr
Forrester here in a cab this morning."

"And the babies?"

"He will go back for them afterwards."

"Well, as you like; but what about Percy and the Rimbolts?"

"Percy was to go out of town to-day, you know, and will not be back till
to-morrow. By that time we shall be able to find out what Mr Jeffreys
would like best."

"Oh, very good. We'll wait till his royal highness signifies his
pleasure, and meanwhile our relatives and friends must be avoided--
that's what you mean."

"No," said Raby, colouring; "but you know how easily frightened he is."

The colonel laughed pleasantly.

"All right, Raby; they shall be let down as easily as you like. Now
shall I be in the way when they come, or shall I make myself scarce?
And, by the way, I must go at once and get a perambulator, and feeding-
bottles, and all that sort of thing. How many times a day am I to be
sent out to take them walks?"

"You're too silly for anything," said Raby dutifully.

She was grateful to him for making things so easy, and for covering her
own ill-disguised embarrassment by this adroit show of frivolity.

There was no frivolity in the manner in which the gallant soldier
welcomed his old comrade's son, wh