efore
breakfus' to-morrer!'

'But it would be _you_ that would do it; and dad said we weren't to
touch them unless they were on the ground.'

'It wouldn't be me, it would be Nobbles,' insisted Bobby. 'I couldn't
reach up half so high.'

'Then if Nobbles does it,' said Mrs. Allonby, very quietly, 'I shall
have to punish him. I shall shut him up in a cupboard for a whole day.'

Bobby looked quite frightened.

'Me and Nobbles have never been away from each other, never once!'

'Then I should take care he does nothing naughty. After all, Bobby,
darling, he can't do anything unless you help him, can he?'

'No,' said Bobby slowly; 'and if him and me knocked those pears down it
would make a black mark on my robe, wouldn't it!'

'Indeed it would!'

'Then we'll 'cidedly not do it,' said Bobby with emphasis. 'I'm going
to try hard to be always good--for evermore!'

It needed hard trying, poor Bobby found, especially when he and True
both wanted their own way at the same time, and they could not make
those ways agree. But gradually they learnt lessons of forbearance and
patience, and mutually helped each other to be unselfish.

One morning Bobby had a letter brought him by the postman. He turned
it over with the greatest pride and interest. It had been redirected
to him by his grandmother.

'I've never had a letter from anybody,' he said.

'Oh, be quick and open it,' urged True, dancing round him. 'All sorts
of things happen when you get letters. It might be from the King, or
from a fairy godmother, or a princess!'

Bobby's fingers trembled as he opened the envelope.

'P'raps,' continued True, who was never wanting for ideas, 'you've got
a fortune left you, and a lot of money will tumble out.'

But it was only a letter, and though the writing was very clear and
plain, Bobby begged his father to read it to him.

The children had breakfast with their father always. Mrs. Allonby did
not leave her room till later in the morning.

Mr. Allonby read the letter through, and Bobby leant forward in his
chair listening to it with open eyes and mouth.

'MY DEAREST LITTLE BOBBY--

'Have you forgotten the sad lady in her garden, I wonder? The one you
comforted by your sweet quaintness and loving-heartedness? I have
often thought of you in this hot country, and now I am feeling rather
sad again, I thought I would cheer myself up by writing to my little
friend.

'I had such a happy time when I first came o