ere a few boys about his own age--but Lisa was mistaken.

That afternoon, any one passing the low hedge which at one side was all
that divided the Villa garden from the road, would have seen a pretty
little picture. There was Baby, seated on the grass, one arm fondly
clasping Minet's neck, while with the other he firmly held the famous
money-box. He was dressed in his garden blouse only, but for some reason
he had his best hat on. And he kept looking about him, first towards the
house and then towards the garden gate, in a funny considering sort of
way.

At last he seemed to have made up his mind.

"Minet," he said to the cat, "him thinks we'll go now. 'Amember, Minet,
you've _p'omised_ to go wif him. If you get werry tired, Minet, him'll
try to carry you. If you could carry the money-box, and him could carry
you, then it would be _kite_ easy. What a pity you haven't got two more
paws, that would do for hands, Minet!"

Minet purred.

"Yes, poor Minet. Nebber mind, dear; but we must be going." And closely
followed by the cat, who had no idea, poor thing, of what was before
her, Baby made his way down the path to the garden gate. It was open, at
least not latched. Baby easily pushed it wide enough for his little self
to go through, and stood, with Minet and the money-box, triumphant on
the highroad.

"It were the best way, thit way," he said to himself. For there was
another gate to the Villa, leading out to the upper road. But this gate
was guarded by a lodge, and the "concierge," as they called the
lodge-keeper, came out to open it for every one who went in and out. And
"p'raps," thought Baby, "the concierge mightn't have let him through,
'cos, of course, her didn't know why him was going out alone with
Minet."

So Minet and he and the money-box found themselves out on the road on
their own account.

All the family was scattered that afternoon. Celia and Denny had gone a
long walk with their governess, Fritz was at school, mother and auntie
had driven to see some friends a good way off, meaning to call for Fritz
at his school on their way home. The servants, too, were all more busy
than usual on account of the ladies and gentlemen coming to dinner. Lisa
and Linley and Peters were all trying to make the strange servants
understand just how they were used to have the table at home, and giving
themselves a great deal more trouble than grandfather or mother would
have wished had they known about it. Lisa was very