of being
extravagant that she could scarcely give us enough to keep body and soul
together, and the things we had were not fit to eat. Nothing but milk
puddings and stewed fruit for a week on end. Then we rebelled. I
nipped her up in my arms one evening in the schoolroom, and stuck her on
the top of the little bookcase. Then we mounted guard around, and set
forth our views. It would have killed you to see her perched up there,
trying to look prim and to keep up her dignity.

"`Let me down this moment, Robert. Bring a chair and let me get down.'

"`Will you promise to give us a pie to-morrow, then, and a decent sort
of a pudding?'

"`It's no business of yours what I give you. You ought to be thankful
for good wholesome food!'

"`Milk puddings are not wholesome. They don't agree with us--they are
too rich! We should like something a little lighter for a change. Will
you swear off milk puddings for the next fortnight if I let you down?'

"`You are a cruel, heartless fellow, Robert Darcy--thinking of puddings
when Peggy is ill, and we are all so anxious about her!'

"`Peggy would die at once if she heard how badly you were treating us.
Now then, you have kept me waiting for ten minutes, so the price has
gone up. Now you'll have to promise a pair of ducks and mince-pies into
the bargain! I shall be ashamed of meeting a sheep soon, if we go on
eating mutton every day of the week.'

"`Call yourself a gentleman!' says she, tossing her head and withering
me with a glance of scorn.

"`I call myself a hungry man, and that's all we are concerned about for
the moment,' said I. `A couple of ducks and two nailing good puddings
to-morrow night, or there you sit for the rest of the evening!'

"We went at it hammer and tongs until she was fairly spluttering with
rage; but she had to promise before she came down, and we had no more
starvation diet after that. Oswald went up to town for a day, and
bought a pair of blue silk socks and a tie to match--that's the greatest
excitement we have had. The rest has been all worry and grind, and
Mellicent on the rampage about Christmas presents. Oh, by the bye, I
printed those photographs you wanted to send to your mother, and packed
them off by the mail a fortnight ago, so that she would get them in good
time for Christmas."

"Rob, you didn't! How noble of you! You really are an admirable
person!" Peggy lay back against her pillows and gazed at her "partner"
in great