s Bibby, "not--not quite good, I am sorry to
say. He--I have been obliged to leave him by himself in the
sitting-room."

"Oh dear," said Kate, "poor little chap; what has he done?"

Miss Bibby looked helplessly from one little girl to the other. She
could not actually repeat the terrible language, and yet she did so
badly need help in the emergency.

"He--I regret to say he quite forgot himself and used some naughty
words," she said. "What would you do in my position, Miss Kinross?"

"Oh," said Kate with a comfortable smile, "I'd let him out. He's such a
little fellow."

"But he hasn't said he is sorry," said Miss Bibby anxiously. "I told him
that when he rang the sitting-room bell I would go at once, for I should
know it meant he was sorry."

"And hasn't he rung it, the young scamp?" said Kate, smiling.

"Well, yes, he did, several times," admitted Miss Bibby unhappily; "but
when I opened the door he said he had rung to say he wasn't sorry."

Kate laughed outright.

"What a man he will make!" she said admiringly.

Miss Bibby looked as if she did not quite follow the train of reasoning.

"So I took the bell away," she continued, "and told him I would come
every half hour and ask through the door if he was sorry. The second
half hour is nearly up."

"Oh," said Kate impulsively, "let's go and peep through the verandah
window. Half an hour is a frightful time, Miss Bibby; he will have cried
himself sick. Think what a baby he is!"

They tiptoed round to the verandah, the little girls at their heels, and
they peeped cautiously through the window.

Max was riding his tricycle. He had arranged the furniture to suit
himself--a little table here, a chair there, and the rest of the things
pushed out of the way; and he was earnestly practising some sharp turns
and curves, in and out, out and in of the articles he had stood about.
He had his tongue a little way out, a sure sign of the undivided
attention he was giving the work. The way he manipulated the handles,
the command he had over the little machine was really admirable.

Kate was convulsed.

"Why--why," said Miss Bibby, "how did he get his tricycle? It certainly
was not there when I went in last. Who gave him his tricycle?"

"I did, Miss Bibby," said Lynn meekly. "I didn't think you'd mind."

"Oh, Lynn!" said Miss Bibby.

"But he looked so lonely," said the little girl piteously.

Miss Bibby went round at once to the other door and demanded "Trike,"