s Paradise of having all
his wants supplied, yet grumbling that he had nothing! He was in a
particularly tiresome mood--perhaps, in spite of themselves, it was
impossible for his sisters to bear with him as patiently as usual;
perhaps the sight of his mother's pale face made him dissatisfied with
himself and cross because he would not honestly own that he was doing
nothing to help and please her. And the weather was very disagreeable,
and among Geoff's many "hates" was a very exaggerated dislike to bad
weather. About this sort of thing he had grumbled much more since his
return from a long visit to some friends in the country the summer
before, when the weather had been splendid, and everything done to make
him enjoy himself, in consequence of which he had come home with a fixed
idea that the country was always bright and charming; that it was only
in town that one had to face rain and cold and mud. As to fog, he had
perhaps more ground for his belief.

"Did you ever see such beastly weather?" were his first words to Vicky
one evening when the good little sister had rushed to the door on
hearing Geoff's ring, so that his majesty should not be kept waiting an
unnecessary moment. "I am perfectly drenched, and as cold as ice. Is tea
ready, Vic?"

"Quite ready--at least it will be by the time you've changed your
things. Do run up quick, Geoff. It's a bad thing to keep on wet
clothes."

"Mamma should have thought of that before she sent me to a day-school,"
said Geoff. "I've a good mind just _not_ to change my clothes, and take
my chance of getting cold. It's perfect slavery--up in the morning
before it's light, and not home till pitch dark, and soaked into the
bargain."

"Hadn't you your mackintosh on?" asked Vicky.

"My mackintosh! It's in rags. I should have had a new one ages ago."

"Geoff! I'm sure it can't be so bad. You've not had it a year."

"A year. No one wears a mackintosh for a year. The buttons are all off,
and the button-holes are burst."

"I'm sure they can be mended. Martha would have done it if you'd asked
her," said Vic, resolving to see to the unhappy mackintosh herself. "I
know poor mamma doesn't want to spend any extra money just now."

"There's a great deal too much spent on Elsa and Frances, and all their
furbelows," said Geoff, in what he thought a very manly tone. "Here,
Vicky, help me to pull off my boots, and then I must climb up to the top
of the house to change my things."

Vicky kn