h shade over his
features, but the little bouquet in his buttonhole came out very well.
"Where did I get them? I didn't buy them, if you mean that. They were
given to me."

"Who gave them to you?"

"And then women say it isn't fair to call them curious!" Bertie put
his head on one side, dropped his eyelids, looked out of the corners
of his eyes, and smiled, fingering an imaginary curl.

"Not that nasty Miss Bryant? She didn't!"

"She did, though."

"The wretch! Then you sha'n't wear them one moment more." Bertie
eluded her attack, and stood laughing on the other side of the table.
"Oh, Bertie!" suddenly growing very plaintive, "why did you let me
smell the nasty things?"

"They are very nice," said Lisle, looking down at the poor little
violets. "Oh, we are great friends, Lydia and I. I shall have buttered
toast for tea to-night."

"Buttered toast? What do you mean?"

"Why, it's a curious thing, but Emma--isn't her name Emma?--always has
to work like a slave when you go out. I don't know why there should
be so much more to do: you don't help her to clean the kettles or the
steps in the general way, do you? It's a mystery. Anyhow, Lydia has
to see after my tea, and then I have buttered toast or muffins and
rashers of bacon. Lydia's attentions are just a trifle greasy perhaps,
now I come to think of it. But she toasts muffins very well, does that
young woman, and makes very good tea too."

"Bertie! I thought you made tea for yourself when I was away."

"Oh! did you? Not I: why should I? I had some of Mrs. Bryant's
raspberry jam one night: that wasn't bad for a change. And once I had
some prawns."

"Oh, Bertie! How _could_ you?"

"Bless you, my child!" said Bertie, "how serious you look! Where's the
harm? Do you think I shall make myself ill? By the way, I wonder if
Lydia ever made buttered toast for Thorne? I suspect she did, and that
he turned up his nose at it: she always holds her head so uncommonly
high if his name is mentioned."

"Do throw those violets on the fire," said Judith.

"Indeed, I shall do nothing of the kind. I'm coming to Standon Square
to give my lessons this morning, with my violets. See if I don't."

The name of Standon Square startled Judith into looking at the time.
"I must be off," she said. "Don't be late for the lessons, and oh,
Bertie, don't be foolish!"

"All right," he answered gayly. Judith ran down stairs. At the door
she encountered Lydia and eyed her with lofty disapp