cks and little twinkling eyes. "Did you think it was some one
else?" he said.

"Of course it could be no one but you. I was startled for the moment,
not thinking of you by that title. And have you come all this way
alone--without any----"

"Oh, you were thinking of that other time. There is a great deal of
difference since that other time. It is nearly a year since--and now I
do a great many things by myself," said the boy, looking at her keenly.
"I am let to go wherever I please."

"Because you are now old enough to take care of yourself," said Mrs.
Warrender, "with the help of Black."

"Yes," said Geoff, "how did you know? I have got Black. But there is
more in it than that. Would mamma have ruined me, if she had kept on
always coddling me, Mrs. Warrender? that is what the servants say."

"My dear, one never allows the servants to say things of that kind. You
should understand your mother's meaning much better than they can do."

"I see a great deal of the servants now," said Geoff--then he corrected
himself with a look of sudden recollection--"that is, I am afraid I
disobey mamma, Mrs. Warrender. I am rather fond of the servants, they
are more amusing than other people. I go to the stables often when I
know I oughtn't. To know you oughtn't, and yet to do it, is very bad,
don't you think?"

"I am afraid it is, Geoff. Don't you have any lessons now?"

"They say this is holiday time," said the boy. "Of course I am glad of
the holidays, but it is a little stupid too, not having any one to play
with--but I may come out a great deal more than I used to. And that is
a great advantage, isn't it? I read too, chiefly stories; but a whole
day is a very long time, don't you think so? I did not say where I was
coming this afternoon, in case the pony might get tired, or Black turn
cross, or something, but it appears Black likes to come to Highcombe, he
has friends here." The boy had come close to Mrs. Warrender's work-table,
and was lifting up and putting down again the reels of silk, the thimbles
and scissors. He went on with his occupation for some time very gravely,
his back turned to the light. At length he said, "I want you to tell me
one thing. They say Warrender is coming to live at our house."

"I am afraid it is true, Geoff."

"Don't you like it, then?" said the boy. "I thought if you did not like
it you would not let it be."

"My dear, my son Theo is a man. I cannot tell him what he must do as
your mother do