baby of us all, but it only makes him laugh. Once, you know, he
would have been awfully angry if we had even hinted at it.

"Do you know, I really think that the real reason he was so cross
and sharp with us that last week was because you were going away;
for now the wrench of parting is over, he is quite light-hearted
again. You know how he always hates showing his feelings.

"He is so altered now, you can't think. He has actually only once
been up to the city since you left, and then he came home at four
o'clock, and he seems to quite like to have us all about him.
Generally he stays at home all the morning and plays at soldiers
with baby in the dining-room. You would laugh to see him loading
the cannons with real powder and shot, and he didn't care a bit
when some of it made holes in the sideboard and smashed the
looking-glass.

"We had such fun the other afternoon; we played at brigands--papa
and all of us. Papa had the upper conservatory for a robber-cave,
and stood there keeping guard with your pop-gun; and he wouldn't
let the servants go by without a kiss, unless they showed a written
pass from us! Miss McFadden called in the middle of it, but she
said she wouldn't come in, as papa seemed to be enjoying himself
so. Boaler has given warning, but we can't think why. We have been
out nearly every evening--once to Hengler's and once to the Christy
Minstrels, and last night to the Pantomime, where papa was so
pleased with the clown that he sent round afterwards and asked him
to dine here on Sunday, when Sir Benjamin and Lady Bangle and
Alderman Fishwick are coming. Won't it be jolly to see a clown
close to? Should you think he'd come in _his_ evening dress? Miss
Mangnall has been given a month's holiday, because papa didn't like
to see us always at lessons. Think of that!

"We are going to have the whole house done up and refurnished at
last. Papa chose the furniture for the drawing-room yesterday. It
is all in yellow satin, which is rather bright, I think. I haven't
seen the carpet yet, but it is to match the furniture; and there is
a lovely hearthrug, with a lion-hunt worked on it.

"But that isn't the best of it; we are going to have the big
children's party after all! No one but children invited, and
everyone to do exactly what th