d the next afternoon at Halling Park, the Freres' home. They
were to come early, between two and three, and their Mother and Sybil
would drive over to fetch them about five. Some other friends of Mrs.
Frere's were expected too, which would give Mrs. Kingley an opportunity
of meeting her new neighbours.

"Must we have our best things on then, Mamma?" asked Helena, rather
dolefully.

Mrs. Frere glanced at her. It was full summer-time--late in June. The
little girl looked very nice in a pretty pink-and-white cotton, though
it could not have passed muster as perfectly fresh and spotless.

"No," she said, "a clean frock like the one you have on will do quite
well--or stay, yes, a white frock would be nicer. And tell Nurse that
the boys may wear their white serge suits--it is so nice and dry
out-of-doors I don't think they could get dirty if they tried."

And, as I have said already, the little Freres were not at all "wild"
children.

To-morrow afternoon came at last, and with it, to the delight of Helena
and her brothers, the expected guests. They arrived in a pony-cart,
driven by Hugh, who seemed quite in his element as a coachman, and they
all three jumped out very cleverly without losing any time about it.
Mrs. Frere and _her_ three were waiting for them on the lawn, but anyone
looking on would have thought that the Kingleys were the "at home" ones
of the party, for they shook hands in the heartiest way, and began
talking at once, while the little Freres all seemed shy and timid, and
almost awkward.

Their Mother felt just a little vexed with them. Then she said to
herself that she must remember how very seldom they had had any
playfellows, and that it was to be expected they would feel a little
strange.

"I daresay you will enjoy playing out of doors far more than in the
house, as it is such a lovely day," she said. "Your Mamma and Sybil will
be coming before very long, will they not?" she added, turning to Freda.

"About four o'clock," Freda replied; "but I don't want four o'clock to
come too soon; we should like a good long time for playing first."

Mrs. Frere smiled.

"Well, it is scarcely half-past two yet," she said. "When four o'clock
or half-past four comes, I daresay you will _not_ feel sorry, for you
will have had time to get hungry by then."

"All right," said Freda; "come along then, Nelly," for she had already
caught up Helena's short name. "Hugh and Maggie and I have got heaps of
fun in our hea