te.

"You flatter me," said the old gentleman, taking off his hat with a
flourish. "And now am I to tell you what I think of you?"

"Oh, please don't," said Bobbie, hastily.

"Why?" asked the old gentleman.

"I don't exactly know," said Bobbie. "Only--if it's horrid, I don't want
you to; and if it's nice, I'd rather you didn't."

The old gentleman laughed.

"Well, then," he said, "I'll only just say that I'm very glad you came
to me about this--very glad, indeed. And I shouldn't be surprised if I
found out something very soon. I know a great many Russians in London,
and every Russian knows HIS name. Now tell me all about yourselves."

He turned to the others, but there was only one other, and that was
Peter. Phyllis had disappeared.

"Tell me all about yourself," said the old gentleman again. And, quite
naturally, Peter was stricken dumb.

"All right, we'll have an examination," said the old gentleman; "you two
sit on the table, and I'll sit on the bench and ask questions."

He did, and out came their names and ages--their Father's name and
business--how long they had lived at Three Chimneys and a great deal
more.

The questions were beginning to turn on a herring and a half for three
halfpence, and a pound of lead and a pound of feathers, when the door of
the waiting room was kicked open by a boot; as the boot entered everyone
could see that its lace was coming undone--and in came Phyllis, very
slowly and carefully.

In one hand she carried a large tin can, and in the other a thick slice
of bread and butter.

"Afternoon tea," she announced proudly, and held the can and the bread
and butter out to the old gentleman, who took them and said:--

"Bless my soul!"

"Yes," said Phyllis.

"It's very thoughtful of you," said the old gentleman, "very."

"But you might have got a cup," said Bobbie, "and a plate."

"Perks always drinks out of the can," said Phyllis, flushing red. "I
think it was very nice of him to give it me at all--let alone cups and
plates," she added.

"So do I," said the old gentleman, and he drank some of the tea and
tasted the bread and butter.

And then it was time for the next train, and he got into it with many
good-byes and kind last words.

"Well," said Peter, when they were left on the platform, and the
tail-lights of the train disappeared round the corner, "it's my belief
that we've lighted a candle to-day--like Latimer, you know, when he was
being burned--and there'll be