ent at the Slade School. I
asked him some questions the other day, and he was _so_ kind! He has a
lovely chin. I expect we shall be great friends. Look at Philippa
growing pale with anxiety."

"It's all very well," cried Philippa irritably. "I like young men
myself, and wish we knew many more than we do, but we _must_ be careful.
I hope you girls will not make any friends until you have had time to
judge whether they are the sort of people we ought to know. I don't
want to preach. I hate preaching. It is very hard to be in the
position when it falls to me to say all the disagreeable things, but,
situated as we are, we can hardly be too particular. We want to make
friends who will be a help to us, not a hindrance, and whose influence
can never be hurtful to Barney when he is with us."

The mention of Barney brought a smile to each face, followed by sighs of
anxiety, for it was impossible not to realise that the reckless,
high-spirited boy would be a care as well as a pleasure. Stephen was
already looking out for a suitable opening in the City, and, with
Philippa's consent, had written to Mr Loftus to ask his assistance in
the search. As an influential shareholder in many large concerns it was
likely that he would be able to find a situation, and his kindness of
heart made it seem probable that he would put himself to some trouble on
the boy's behalf. So far no letter had been received in reply; but one
afternoon about five o'clock the electric bell sounded through the
little flat, and Hope ran to open the door to save trouble to the one
small servant who was wrestling with preparations for the evening meal.
She thought it might possibly be the postman with a letter from Miss
Caldecott to say how delighted she was with the new song; but instead
she found herself confronted by two life-size fashion-plates and, hidden
away behind flowing skirts and ruffling chiffons, one small and dejected
lord of creation!

The Loftus trio! Aunt Loftus come to pay her first call, on the very
occasion when Mary had set fire to the pretty lampshade, so that the
smell of burning pervaded the air, and a naked "chimney" took the place
of rosy frills; when Philippa had felt too tired to change her
morning-blouse, and naughty Madge had taken advantage of an idle hour to
wash her hair, and was even now stretched before the fire in all the
glory of a dressing-gown too old to be spoiled! Hope was speechless
with consternation, but w