eople about don't take much interest
in it. They only know vaguely that it has changed hands lately, and
Eames says I am spoken of as the new Mr. Bolders, and not by my own
name."

"I see," said Elsa.

"And," continued Mr. Byrne, "of course Geoff will take it for granted
that it was by the coincidence of his getting taken on at my place that
we found him out. It _was_ a coincidence that he should have taken it
into his head to go down to that part of the country, through its being
on the way to Colethorne's."

"And you say that he is really working hard, and--and making the best of
things?" asked Mrs. Tudor. She smiled a little as she said it. Geoff's
"making the best of things" was such a _very_ new idea.

"Yes," replied Great-Uncle Hoot-Toot. "Eames gives him the best of
characters. He says the boy is thoroughly to be depended upon, and that
his work is well done, even to cleaning the pigs; and, best of all, he
is never heard to grumble."

"Fancy Geoff cleaning the pigs!" exclaimed Elsa.

"I don't know that I find _that_ so difficult to fancy," said Frances.
"I think Geoff has a real love for animals of all kinds, and for all
country things. We would have sympathized with him about it if it hadn't
been for his grumbling, which made all his likes and dislikes seem
unreal. I think what I pity him the most for is the having to get up so
dreadfully early these cold winter mornings. What time did you say he
had to get up, uncle?"

[Illustration: VICKY WRITING THE LETTER.]

"He has to be at the station with the milk before five every morning,"
said the old gentleman, grimly. "Eames says his good woman is inclined
to 'coddle him a bit'--she can't forget who he really is, it appears. I
was glad to hear it; I don't want the poor boy actually to suffer--and I
don't want it to go on much longer. I confess I don't see that there can
be much 'coddling' if he has to be up and out before five o'clock in the
morning at this time of the year."

"No, indeed," said the girls. "And he must be _so_ lonely."

"Yes, poor fellow!" said the old gentleman, with a sigh, "I saw that in
his face. And I was _glad_ to see it. It shows the lesson is not a
merely surface one. You've had your wish for him to some extent, Elsa,
my dear. He has at last known some hardships."

Elsa's eyes filled with tears, though Great-Uncle Hoot-Toot had had no
thought of hurting her.

"Don't say that, please," she entreated. "I think--I am sure--I only