two large green stains on her white skirt, in the middle of the
front seam, where she had knelt on the dewy grass. Her face of dismay
as she pointed downwards evoked a laugh from the two men, but Mr
Rendell checked himself, glanced over his shoulder towards where his
wife paced to and fro, and said quickly--

"Better run upstairs, dear, and change it. No need to be distressed;
you have plenty more, I suppose, and it will wash."

Nan groaned in a sepulchral fashion, and shook her head.

"You don't understand! It's an evening skirt with trimmings, not an
ordinary pique. My very best too! I put it on because Mr Vanburgh was
coming, and now it's spoilt!"

"Oh, surely not! Don't say that; it makes me feel so horribly guilty.
Let me try if I can rub it off," cried the visitor eagerly; and, before
Nan could protest, out came a superfine hemstitched handkerchief, and
Gervase began rubbing the damaged skirt with such vigour, that the
stains grew larger and larger, and increased their borders so rapidly
that they met and blended in one great whole. His face lengthened with
horror as he withdrew his handkerchief, and gazed upon the results of
his labour; and Nan said dismally--

"Thank you so much! It's much worse now! Wish I were old enough to
wear black always, and not be bothered. My life's a burden to me
because of my clothes!"

"For the mother's pride the child must suffer pain!" cried Mr Rendell,
laughing. "That is what Kitty said, isn't it, when her mother insisted
on pinning down the end of her collar? Better confess at once, Mops,
and get it over! Tell your mother she can send it to the cleaner's, and
I'll stand the racket."

"Come and tell her yourself. D-oo, ducky darling! Sweetest father in
all the world, come and plead for me!" coaxed Nan, hanging on to his
arm, and rubbing his face with her soft cool cheek, while he affected to
push her away, and in reality allowed himself to be led where she would
take him.

Mr Vanburgh followed, stroking his moustache to conceal his smile, and
Mrs Rendell's quick eyes saw their approach, and fixed themselves
sternly upon Nan's ruined skirt.

"Another accident, Edith, worse luck! The grass would get damp, and
Mops and I were so interested in looking at our plant that we forgot
everything else, and--"

"So I observe! It is a pity, but I am not surprised. What can one
expect from Nan, but destruction!" Mrs Rendell spoke with melancholy
resignation, whil