ril to-morrow!" He looked at
William suspiciously. "And if you try any fool's tricks on me you'll
jolly well hear about it."

"I'm not thinkin' of you," said William crushingly. "I'm not goin' to
trouble with _you_!"

"Has she landed him?" said the friend.

"Not yet, and I heard him saying in the train that he was leaving town
on the 2nd and going abroad for a holiday."

"Well, she'll probably do it yet. She's got all the 1st."

"It's bedtime, William," called his Mother.

"Thank heaven!" said Robert.

William sat gazing into the distance, not seeing or hearing.

"_William_!" called his mother.

"All right," said William irritably. "I'm jus' thinkin' something
out."

* * * * *

William's family went about their ways cautiously the next morning.
They watched William carefully. Robert even refused an egg at
breakfast because you never knew with that little wretch. But nothing
happened.

"Fancy your going on April Fool's day without making a fool of
anyone," said Robert at lunch.

"It's not over, is it?--not yet," said William with the air of a
sphinx.

"But it doesn't count after twelve," said Robert.

William considered deeply before he spoke, then he said slowly:

"The thing what I'm going to do counts whatever time it is."

* * * * *

Reluctantly, but as if drawn by a magnet, Mr. Lambkin set off to the
President's house. William was in the road.

"She told me to tell you," said William unblushingly, "that she was
busy to-night, an' would you mind not coming."

The tense lines of Mr. Lambkin's face relaxed.

"Oh, William," he said, "it's a great relief. I'm going away early
to-morrow, but I was afraid that to-night----" he was almost
hysterical with relief. "She's so kind, but I was afraid that--well,
well, I can't say I'm sorry--I'd promised to come, and I couldn't
break it. But I was afraid--and I hear she's sold her house and is
leaving in a month, so--but she's kind--_very_ kind."

He turned back with alacrity.

"Thanks for letting me have the clothes," said William.

"Oh, quite welcome, William. They're nice things for a boy to dress up
in, no doubt. I can't say I--but she's _very_ kind. Don't let her see
you playing with them, William."

William grunted and returned to his back garden.

[Illustration: "GREGORIUS," SAID THE PRESIDENT. "HOW DEAR OF YOU TO
COME IN COSTUME!" THE FIGURE MADE NO MOVEMENT.]

For some time s