hich no one used except himself. It always
had the effect of making them stiff and self-conscious; so now Rupert
limped more than usual, Sylvia dropped her gloves, which she was
carrying because they had too many holes to be wearable, and Rumple
lurched against a pile of books that lay at the edge of the table and
brought the whole lot to the floor with a crash.

"Sorry," murmured Rumple, diving hastily to recover the volumes, and
promptly knocking his head against that of Billykins, who was also
grovelling for the same purpose, while Nealie plunged into the business
of their visit, hoping to divert the attention of the master of the
house from the awkwardness of the boys, poor things; but Sylvia giggled
in quite a disgraceful fashion, then blinked hard at a bust of Apollo
which stood on a bookshelf opposite, and tried to look as if she were
appreciating the admirable way in which it was sculptured.

"We have come down to see you to-day to ask you if you will please send
us out to New South Wales to our father," said Nealie, holding her head
at an extremely haughty angle, just because she was so very nervous.

"Good gracious! I wonder what you will want next?" gasped Mr. Runciman,
who had probably not been so much astonished for a very long time.

"It would really be taking a great load of worry from you, sir," put in
Rupert eagerly, thrusting himself abreast of Nealie and leaning on his
stick while he talked. "A large family, as we are, would be a valuable
asset in a new country, while here we are only an encumbrance and a
nuisance. Besides, we should like to be with our father."

"Quite so, quite so; but think of the expense!" murmured Mr. Runciman,
as he rubbed his hands together in a nervous manner. He said the first
thing which came into his head for the sake of gaining time. The
proposition was sufficiently staggering, but on the other hand it might
be worth consideration.

"I am afraid that we must be a heavy expense to you now, sir, seeing
that we have to be fed and clothed," replied Rupert, with a deference
that was really soothing to Mr. Runciman, who smiled graciously and
waved his hand as much as to say that the matter was too trifling to be
considered.

"You will let us go, won't you, air, because we want to build the
Empire?" burst out Billykins, thrusting himself in between his elders
and looking so flushed and excited that Mr. Runciman, who had no son of
his own, could not be so repressive as he f