But he was surprised when he had a letter from his old nurse telling
him that his uncle and aunt were going to leave the house, and his
Uncle Mortimer coming home from India to take possession of it.

'I should like to see Master Mortimer again,' Bobby said; 'me and
Nobbles was so very fond of him.'

'I don't know what he will do with himself in that big house,' said Mr.
Allonby. 'He ought to get married if he settles down there.'

'It is not a very nice house,' Bobby asserted gravely; 'it's so stiff
and partic'lar, and all the chairs and furnesher are so proper. I
always have to go on tiptoe. But Master Mortimer did used to play
hide-and-seek with me in the garden. But I don't want never to go back
again.'

'It's time you were at school, sonny; your grammar doesn't improve. I
wish I could hear of someone who would teach you; but I'm afraid it
must be school.'

Now True and Bobby had decided together that school was a horrible
place, and at all costs they must try to keep from going to it. They
had many an anxious talk about it, and at last, one morning after Mr.
Allonby had gone out for the day and left them to their own devices,
True announced her plan.

'We'll find a nice kind of governess ourselves, Bobby. Come and look
out of the window. Why, there must be millions and billions of
governesses in London! We'll go out by ourselves and find one. Wait
till Margot has gone down to the kitchen, and then we won't say
anything to anyone, but will go out and get one.'

Bobby clapped his hands. 'I should fink they would keep some in a
shop,' he said; but True did not feel at all sure about this.

They accomplished their design most satisfactorily, and, wrapped up in
their warm coats, they slipped downstairs and down into the street
without being noticed.

'Now where shall we find one?' enquired Bobby.

'We'll go in a 'bus,' said True. 'I've brought some pennies, and the
'busman will tell us where to go.'

'Let Nobbles call one,' said Bobby eagerly; 'that's what father always
does, holds up his stick, and they waits till we get in.'

So Nobbles was waved frantically in the air when the first 'bus
appeared.

And though it was not at the proper starting point, the driver saw the
two small children and good-naturedly pulled up for them. They were
helped in by the conductor. There were only three other people inside,
an old lady, a young girl, and a man. The shining, radiant faces of
True and Bob