nnounced, and yet I have a good deal to do to it still.'

'Yes,' sighed mums,' I must do my best. But it is a pity. He says he is
anxious to see the children for himself--to make sure they are coming
round satisfactorily. Poor gran, and he doesn't say one word about that
unlucky brooch. He has been very good about it.'

'Perhaps he thinks every one concerned has been sufficiently punished
about it,' said father.

And Anne, who was down at breakfast with us, grew very red, and looked
down at her plate.

Well, gran came, and I think mums managed beautifully, though she must
have been pretty tired. _We_ rather went to the wall. That's to say _I_
did, for there was an end of all my nice quiet times with
mums--afternoon teas in the little drawing-room, and driving out with
her to shop. The doctor ordered drives for the girls now--for Anne, and
Serena, and Maud, that's to say,--so they took turns of it in the
victoria every fine afternoon. I didn't envy them the days gran went
too, for if there's one thing I hate it's the back seat of a victoria,
and it gives such a messy look to the turn-out, _I_ think.

Those days I was a good deal with Hebe, reading to her in the
afternoons, and sitting with her to make up for mums being so little
with her. Gran used to come sometimes, and I had to go on reading aloud
just the same, with him listening. I didn't like it at all.

But he was very kind. He never went out scarcely without bringing in
some present for some of us, especially Hebe--either fruit, or cakes,
not too rich, but very good, or new story-books, or some kind of puzzle
or game. He was really very jolly that time.

We were awfully pleased though when the day came at last for us all to
start. _We_ were to go first--the three girls, and nurse, and I,--and
mums, and Hebe, and Rowley were to go down to Ventnor the next day.
Father was to take them, for poor Hebe could scarcely walk yet Gran went
off on his visit the afternoon of _our_ day. He said he couldn't leave
till he had seen us off, and he actually came to the station with us--he
and his man. Fancy that!

And it was rather lucky for us, for he would have us travel first-class,
and mums had only meant us to go second. I must say first is ever so
much nicer, and it's rubbish of people to say they like second better.
It's only silly people, who are ashamed to say they do it for saving
reasons. I can't understand that sort of being ashamed.

Then gran tipped the gua