long and
curling lashes, and whose vivacious face was set off by a thick mane of
deepest Titian red.

"Oh, Mummy," she announced breathlessly, "I've got invitations for
nearly all my animals while we're away at Eastbourne! Mucius Scaevola's
the most popular--everybody asked him, but I think he'll feel _most_ at
home with Daisy Williams. Vivian and Ada Porter will simply love to
have Numa Pompilius, but nobody seems to want Tarquinius Superbus, so I
shall turn him out in the garden, and he must catch worms for himself."

"Dearest child," said her mother, "what are these new animals of yours
with the extraordinary names?"

"They're the same old animals, Mums. I've rechristened them since I
began Roman History with Miss Heritage. Mucius Scaevola's the Salamander,
because they're indifferent to fire, like he was--though Miss Heritage
says it wouldn't be kind to try with Mucius. Numa Pompilius is the
Blind-worm--he used to be Kaa--and the Toad has changed from Nobbles to
Tarquinius Superbus."

"I can't understand how you can keep such unpleasant pets as reptiles,"
said Edna.

"Because I like them," said Ruby simply. "And Bobby Williams has
promised, as soon as it gets warmer, to come out on the Common with me
and catch lizards. _Won't_ it be lovely?"

"I hope you won't put one of them down anybody's neck, then, as you did
to Tommy Fletcher."

"That was Mucius," Ruby admitted cheerfully. "But I didn't mean him to
go so far down. And he was very good--he didn't bite Tommy anywhere."

"Little ladies don't play such tricks," said her Mother. "I hope Miss
Heritage doesn't encourage your liking for these horrid creatures?"

"Oh, she doesn't mind, so long as I don't take them out of the aquarium,
but she hates touching them herself."

"Did she come in with you?" her mother inquired, and was told that Miss
Heritage had done so, and had gone upstairs, whereupon Ruby was ordered
to go and take off her things, and stay quietly in the schoolroom till
it was time to come down.

"I don't know if you noticed it, Mother," Edna began, as soon as Ruby
had consented to leave them, "but Miss Heritage had a letter by the
afternoon post which seemed to upset her. I went rather out of my way to
ask her if she had had bad news of any kind, but she did not think
proper to take me into her confidence. Perhaps she might be more open
with _you_."

"My dear," said Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson, with much dignity, "I take no
interest whatever