g-room door and ushered her
in, Fanny unconsciously moderated her usual hearty footstep and
endeavoured to make her entry as inconspicuous as possible.

Toni, who had not heard the cab arrive, jumped up hastily from her low
chair and ran to meet her cousin, while Andrews discreetly withdrew and
closed the door.

"Fanny! How glad I am to see you!" Toni hugged Miss Gibbs
affectionately. "I'd have come to meet you but I was so late with lunch
that I hadn't time."

"I found a cab waiting for me," said Fanny, returning her embrace. "You
were a dear to send it, Toni. You're quite a way from the station,
aren't you?"

"I suppose we are," said Toni carelessly. "But how are you, Fan? And
Auntie--and Lu and all of them?"

"Mother's first-rate and longing to see you when you can get up to town.
Everyone's all right," said Fanny comfortably. "Lu's been in mischief
again, though. She and some of the girls from her school played truant
t'other day and went to see a County cricket-match. You know cricket's
the craze this term, and they got their money stolen and couldn't get
home, and Lu didn't land up till ten o'clock at night!"

"You don't mean it! What did Auntie say?"

"She didn't say much then, 'cause Lu was cryin' and nearly dead with
tramping for miles; but next day she got a jolly good whipping and was
shut up on bread and water all over Sunday."

"Oh, poor Lu!" Toni felt very pitiful towards the hapless cricket
enthusiast. "After all, Fan, you and I once ran away to see the Boat
Race on our own!"

"Yes, and we got jolly well punished for it, too! I can remember Ma's
slipper to this day!"

"Well, you ought to be sorry for Lu!"

"Serve her right," said Miss Gibbs with sisterly severity. "Cricket,
indeed! What do girls want with cricket! Anyhow, she won't do it again
in a hurry--Ma saw to that!"

"And how's Josh, Fan?" Toni saw that no sympathy was to be looked for
from the culprit's sister.

"A 1. I say, Toni, where's Mr. Rose?" Fanny, regaining some of her usual
assurance, looked round her vaguely.

"He has had to go up to town. But I thought you wouldn't mind, Fan. I
want to show you the house and have a real good talk."

"My! It _is_ a house and no mistake!" Fanny gazed about the beautiful
room with frank admiration. "I thought the man must be going wrong when
he turned in here--and what lovely gardens you've got."

"Yes, they are jolly, aren't they? Well, shall we go over the house
before tea or after?