opening on to it was ajar, and in another moment the
figures of two ladies could be seen standing just in the aperture, and
seemingly looking out as if uncertain what they were going to do.

"They have come," thought Geoff. "They'll be out here in another
instant. I can't help it if it _is_ silly; I should _hate_ ladies and
gentlemen to see me working here like a common boy;" and his face grew
crimson with the thought.

He hurried his things together, and was looking round to see if he could
not make his way out of the grounds without passing near the house, when
a quick pattering sound along the gravel startled him. A little girl was
running towards him, flying down the sloping path that led from the
terrace she came, her feet scarcely seeming to touch the ground, her
fair hair streaming behind.

"Oh!" was Geoff's first thought, "how like Vicky!"

But it was his first thought only, for almost before he had time to
complete it the little girl was beside him--_upon_ him, one might almost
say, for her arms were round him, her sweet face, wet with tears of
joy, was pressed against his, her dear voice was speaking to him, "Oh,
Geoffey, Geoffey! My own Geoffey! It's I--it's your Vicky."

Geoff staggered, and almost fell. For a moment or two he felt so giddy
and confused he could not speak. But the feeling soon went away, and the
words came only too eagerly.

"How is it? Where have you come from? Do you know the new squire? Where
is mamma? Why didn't you write?"

And, laughing and crying, Vicky tried to explain. Did she know the
new squire? Could Geoff not guess? Where were they all? Mamma, Elsa,
Frances, Great-Uncle Hoot-Toot--where should they be, but in the new
squire's own house? Up there on the terrace--yes, they were all up
there; they had sent her to fetch him. And she dragged Geoff up with
her, Geoff feeling as if he were in a dream, till he felt his mother's
and sisters' kisses, and heard "the new squire's" voice sounding rather
choky, as he said, "Hoot-toot, hoot-toot! this will never do--never do,
Geoff, my boy."

They let Vicky explain it all in her own way. How Great-Uncle Hoot-Toot
had come home from India, meaning to take them all to live with him in
the old house which had come to be his. How disappointed he had been by
Geoff's selfish, discontented temper, and grumbling, worrying ways, and
had been casting about how best to give him a lesson which should last,
when Geoff solved the puzzle for him by