universal knowledge--that he would
have dearly liked to give her a lesson or two.

"Not everything," says his father. "For example, she cannot understand
that I am the happiest man in the world; she imagines I should be better
off if she was somebody else's wife and somebody else's mother."

"Whose mother?" demands Tommy, his eyes growing round.

"Ah, that's just it. You must ask her. She has evidently some _arriere
pensee_."

"Freddy," says his wife in a low tone.

"Well! What am I to think? You see," to Tommy, who is now deeply
interested, "if she wasn't your mother, she'd be somebody else's."

"No, she wouldn't," breaks in Tommy, indignantly. "I wouldn't let her,
I'd hold on to her. I--" with his mouth full of strawberry jam, yet
striving nobly to overcome his difficulties of expression, "I'd beat
her!"

"You shouldn't usurp my privileges," says his father, mildly.

"Barbara!" says Joyce, at this moment. "If you have decided on going to
London, I think you have decided wisely; and it may not be such an
expense after all. You and Freddy can manage the two eldest children
very well on the journey, and I can look after baby until you return. Or
else take nurse, and leave baby entirely to me."

Mrs. Monkton makes a quick movement.

CHAPTER XXXII.

"And I go to brave a world I hate,
And woo it o'er and o'er;
And tempt a wave and try a fate
Upon a stranger shore."

"I shall take the three children and you, too, or I shall not go at
all," says she, addressing her sister with an air of decision.

"If you have really made up your mind about it," says Mr. Monkton, "I
agree with you. The house in Harley street is big enough for a regiment,
and my mother says the servants will be in it on our arrival, if we
accept the invitation. Joyce will be a great comfort to us, and a help
on the journey over, the children are so fond of her."

Joyce turns her face to her brother-in-law and smiles in a little
pleased way. She has been so grave of late that they welcome a smile
from her now at any time, and even court k. The pretty lips, erstwhile
so prone to laughter, are now too serious by far. When, therefore,
Monkton or his wife go out of their way to gain a pleased glance from
her and succeed, both feel as if they had achieved a victory.

"Why have they offered us a separate establishment? Was there no room
for us in their own house?" asks Mrs. Monkton presently.

"I dare say they thought