ulling his
uncle breathlessly into the sitting-room and shutting the door. 'Oh,
we do want you to sit down and talk to us; me and Nobbles is 'normously
glad to see you!'

'Ah! where is that young gentleman? I see he looks gayer than ever.
Now give an account of yourself and this wonderful father of yours.'

Mr. Mortimer Egerton was taking off his great-coat as he spoke. He
stepped out into the narrow hall and hung it up deliberately on the
hall pegs there; then he returned to the sitting-room and sat down in
the one easy-chair that it possessed, and pulled Bobby in between his
knees.

'Let us see what freedom and fatherly care has done for you,' he said.
'Now, then, tell your story. Did your father come to you in the good
old style? Is he here now?'

Bobby began to tell his tale very rapidly and eagerly, with shining
eyes and burning cheeks. Occasionally True corrected or added to his
statements.

Mr. Egerton listened with laughter in his eyes; gravity settled there
when he heard of Mrs. Allonby's death; but when he heard of the find of
the governess he was enchanted.

'And now,' he said, 'would you like to hear my news? Do you remember
Lady Isobel, Bobby?'

'Of course I do. She sended me a beautiful picsher of the gates.
She's coming home from India very soon.'

'Very soon, indeed! She arrived yesterday.'

'Oh, Master Mortimer!'

Bobby's rapt tone made his uncle laugh.

'Why does Bobby always call you Master Mortimer? Aren't you his
uncle?' enquired True.

'It's a way he has. We understand each other. Well, I'll go on with
my news. Lady Isobel thinks it would be very nice to live in the old
house, Bobby, where we saw each other first, so we've arranged to live
there together.'

'In grandmother's house?' questioned Bobby, with perplexed eyes. 'I
don't fink it's a nice house enough for Lady Is'bel.'

'Oh, we'll make it nice; we'll have boys and girls to stay with us to
play hide-and-seek with. We'll chase each other round every room.'

'And knock over the big chairs,' cried Bobby, 'and slide the banisters,
and make as much noise as ever they likes? Oh, Master Mortimer, will
you ask me to spend a day?'

'A good many days after we're settled in.'

'And when will that be?'

'Well, you see, we shall have to get married first, and that takes
time. I think you'll have to come to the wedding.'

Bobby's face was a picture of shining joy.

'I finks your news is lovely. Me and Nobbles