d
little ruffians you ever encountered, they are the worst, and there is
not a soul on board who can manage them except myself. Yesterday they
got so cross that I was almost in despair, and it was only by pretending
to be a wild buffalo, and letting them chase me and dig pencils into me
for spears, that I could keep them in any sort of order. When they grew
tired of the buffalo, I changed into a musical-box, and they ground
tunes out of me until my throat was as dry as leather. It kept us going
for a long time, however, for they all wanted to hear their own
favourite tunes, and were so charmed with the variations. I wish you
could have heard the variations! I was so proud of them. The scales
ran up and down just like a real musical-box, the tremolo and arpeggio
chords were fine, and as for the trills, they were simply entr-r-
rancing!" Peggy rolled the `r' with a self-satisfied enjoyment which
made Hector laugh in spite of his displeasure, and finished up with an
explanatory, "I could never expect Parker to pose as a wild buffalo.
She has far too much sense of dignity!"

"Oh, of course, I acknowledge that you have a wonderful knack with
children! Every one sees that," allowed Hector unwillingly. "It is
very kind and delightful of you to bother about other people as you do;
but what I complain of is the extent of your services, and--aw--the
nature of the recipients! Miss Ranger, for instance, is an impossible
person. What she calls herself I don't know, but she doesn't even begin
to be a lady. I heard her talking the other day, and she has a vile
accent, and not an `h' in her composition."

"She has enough responsibilities without them at present, poor soul, so
perhaps it's just as well. She has been ill ever since we started, and
has no friend nor servant to look after her. She fell on the floor in a
faint one day while she was trying to dress, and lay there helpless
until the stewardess happened to go in and find her. That sort of thing
sha'n't happen twice on board this ship, if _I_ can help it!" cried
Peggy with a straightening of the slim little back which seemed to add a
couple of inches to her height, and a toss of the head which convinced
Major Darcy that it was no use arguing further on this point. It was
astonishing how often he was forced to retire from post to post in
arguments with Miss Saville, and the consciousness that this was the
case gave him courage to enter yet a third protest.

"W