[Frontispiece: NOBBLES WAS TIGHTLY GRASPED IN HIS HAND. ] 'Me and Nobbles' By AMY LE FEUVRE Author of 'Probable Sons, ' 'Teddy's Button, ' 'Jill's Red Bag, ' 'Odd, ' 'His Little Daughter, ' etc. London THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Beuverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard, E. C. 4. 1908 CONTENTS CHAPTER PROLOGUE I. --'MASTER MORTIMER' II. --'HE MAY COME TO-MORROW!' III. --THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURE IV. --HIS NEW FRIEND V. --NOBBLES' MISFORTUNE VI. --HIS FATHER VII. --HIS NEW HOME VIII. --A LETTER FROM ABROAD IX. --'SHE HAS LEFT US!' X. --'WE'RE GOING TO FIND A GOVERNESS! XI. --BOBBY'S VISITOR XII. --'A DELIGHTFUL TIME XIII. --THE WEDDING XIV. --'NEARLY DROWNED' XV. --THE OLD HOUSE AGAIN 'ME AND NOBBLES. ' PROLOGUE. [_To be skipped by children if they like. _] It was a very silent old house. Outside, the front windows stared gravely down upon the tidy drive withits rhododendron shrubberies, the well-kept lawn with the triangularbeds, and the belt of gloomy fir trees edging the high brick wall thatran along the public road. The windows were always draped andcurtained, and opened one foot at the top with monotonous regularity. No one was ever seen leaning out of them, or even pushing back thecurtains to widen their view. There was a broad flight of steps, and aponderous door which, when opened, disclosed a long hall, at the end ofwhich was a gaily flowered conservatory. Instinct made people treadgently upon the thick Turkey rugs that were laid upon the polishedfloor; there was a stillness in the house that seemed to chill one. Ifyou peeped into the big dining-room, the portraits upon the wall eyedyou with disapproval; the table, which was always laid with snowy-whitecloth and shining silver, seemed severely austere and formal; the highback chairs and the massive sideboards bade you respect their age. The drawing-room was quite as awe-inspiring, for the blinds were nearlyalways down, and it had a musty unused scent telling you that itsgrandeur was not for daily use. The library was gloomier still. Itswindows were of stained glass; books of the dingiest hue surroundedyou; they lined the walls; and the furniture and carpet matched them intone. Ghostly busts on pedestals, scientific machines, and a hugegeographical and astronomical globe added to its gloom. The sun had away of only hastily shining in when he could not help himself, and heleft it till the last moment just before he went to bed. He was notfond of that room, and there was no one in the house that was. Then there was the morning room, and this was where old Mrs. Egertonspent most of her day. She was a tall severe old lady with no sense ofhumour and a very strong will. She spent an hour after breakfast withher cook, for housekeeping was her hobby; then she sat at her tablewriting letters and doing her accounts till luncheon, after which shealways went for a drive. In the evening after dinner she read thepaper or some solid book, knitted, and retired early to bed. Herdaughter, Miss Anna Egerton, was very like her, only she was seldomseen indoors. She was full of good works, and was never idle, for shehad more business than she could possibly get through, and her dayswere so crowded that meals seemed quite an effort. The man of thehouse, Mrs. Egerton's son, was also always out, and when at home spenthis leisure moments in his smoking-room. London claimed most of histime, for he was in a government office, and went to and fro by train, thinking nothing of the hours spent twice a day in a railway carriage. 'A very dull house indeed, ' a lady visitor thought at the end of herfirst day there; and yet, in spite of its quietness, there were just afew indications of another element that puzzled her. Once she heard a patter of childish feet along the corridor past herdoor, but that was very early in the morning before she was properlyawake, so she thought she must be dreaming. Then, in a secluded pathin the shrubberies, she came across a child's glove and a toywatering-can, and as she was going downstairs to dinner, and waspassing a broad staircase window, she noticed upon its broad ledge alittle bunch of daisies. She looked at them and took them up in herhand. She fancied, as she noted the droop of their stalks, that shecould see the impress still upon them of a hot, childish grasp, and asshe mused, she distinctly heard a childish chuckle of laughter not faraway. 'Is your house haunted?' she asked Miss Egerton at dinner. 'Indeed it is not. Why do you ask?' 'There is no child in the house is there?' 'Yes, ' replied Miss Egerton, 'there is Vera's child. ' The visitor could not suppress her astonishment, and Mrs. Egerton, noting it, said with extra severity: 'I like children to be kept intheir proper place. He has a good nurse, who looks after him entirely. And I am thankful to say that the nurseries are at the top of thehouse, so we are not being continually reminded of his presence. ' 'He must be a very quiet child. ' There was no response. When Miss Egerton was alone with her friend shegave her a little more information. 'When Vera went abroad with her husband her child was only a few monthsold, and very delicate, so she was advised to leave him behind. Shesent him here at once, without first asking mother's permission to doso, and mother did not like it. We do not care for children; but he isno trouble. Mother visits the nurseries every morning and sees to hiscomfort and health. When poor Vera died she determined to keep him forgood and all. His father never writes to us, or shows the slightestinterest in his child. We don't know in which quarter of the globe heis. Of course a child in a house is rather a nuisance, but in anotheryear or two mother means to send him to a boarding-school. 'A child in the house. ' The words rang through the visitor's heart and brain. She began tolisten for the faint tokens of the little one's presence. Shemeditated a raid upon the nursery, and a sally forth from it with thechild into the old garden below, where she and he would enjoy laughterand play together. But a telegram called her suddenly away, and thequiet of the house and garden remained undisturbed. The footsteps still pattered at intervals; the hushed little voice andgurgles of innocent laughter still echoed from distant corners. Forthe child in the house was not a ghost, and his life is the one ofwhich I am about to tell you. Chapter I. 'MASTER MORTIMER. ' He was known by the name of 'the Child' by his relations, but his nursecalled him Master Bobby. He would say if he were asked himself: 'My name is Robert Stuart Allonby. ' And he would raise a pair ofwonderful brown eyes as he spoke, in anxious doubt as to whether hisname would be liked. Bobby showed a good deal of anxiety about different things. Hisfavourite sentence was always, 'I wonder, Nurse ----' and very often, noting the impatient frown on his nurse's face, he would stop there, and turn away to his favourite corner in the window-seat, which heshared with 'Nobbles, ' the comfort of his life. Bobby was a very small boy, but a big thinker, and he would have likedto be a big talker, but grown-up people were not interested in what hehad to say. So he talked in a rapid undertone to 'Nobbles, ' who alwaysunderstood, and who smiled perpetually into the earnest little face ofhis master. 'Nobbles' had been given to him a very long time ago by asailor-brother of Nurse's, who came to tea at certain periods, and whorelated the most wonderful stories of foreign parts. Jane, thehousemaid, always took tea in the nursery upon these occasions, and sheand Bobby listened with awed admiration to the handsome traveller. 'Nobbles' was only a walking-stick, with a wonderful little ivory head. It was the head of a goblin, Nurse declared, but Bobby loved it. Nobbles had very round eyes and a smiling mouth, two very big ears, anda little red cap on his head. Bobby took him to bed with him everynight; he went out walks with him; he always had him with him in hiswindow corner; and it was Nobbles who was treated to all the delicioussecrets and plans which only a very lonely little boy could haveconcocted. Bobby's nursery was at the top of the house; he reached it by the backstairs, and had to open a wooden gate at the top of them before hecould get to it. There were two rooms, one leading out of the other, and both looked out at the back of the house. Bobby spent hours by thewindow, and he knew every inch of the landscape outside. First there was a paved yard with a high wall on one side, with a greendoor in it, through which you passed into a walled kitchen garden. This door was kept locked in fruit time; the gardener, old Tom, keptone key, and Bobby's grandmother the other. Old Tom was generally working in the kitchen garden, and Bobby watchedhim from his window with keen interested eyes. Beyond this garden wasan orchard which ran down to the high-road. Bobby could not see thisroad from his window, for a tall row of elms hid it from his view. Inthe summer, when the windows were open, he could hear the hoot of themotors as they tore along it. But he could see for miles beyond thisroad. There was a stretch of green fields, two farms, and a range ofdistant hills, behind which the sun always set. And when he got tiredof looking at all this, there was the sky; and the sky to him was anever-ending joy. The clouds chasing each other across its infiniteblue, presented the most entrancing pictures to him. Monsters pursuingtheir prey, ogres changing their shape as they flew, castles dissolvinginto ocean waves, mermaids, angels, hunters, wolves, chariots andhorses. These, and hosts besides, all passed before him. When it was dark in winter-time he would clamber down from hiswindow-seat and content himself with his toys. The nursery was veryplainly furnished. It had a square table in the middle of the room;there was one cupboard for Bobby's toys, another for the nurserycrockery; a wooden rocking-chair, a low oak bench, and two rush chairs. The floor was covered with red cocoanut matting. The fire was guardedby a high wire screen, and above the mantelpiece hung a colouredillustration of the battle of Waterloo. Bobby knew every man and horsein it by name. He had his own stories for every one of them, and wasfound more than once dissolved in tears after looking at it. 'That captain under his horse is so dreadfully hurt, his bones isbroken, and he was going home to his little boy!' he would saypitifully, when Nurse would enquire the cause of his grief. Nurse was a tall thin woman with a severe voice and a soft heart. Butthough she adored her little charge she never let him know it, and theonly time she kissed him was when she tucked him up in his small bed atnight. Bobby was quite aware that the grown-up people in the house didnot care for him. This did not trouble him; he took it for grantedthat all grown-up people were the same. With one exception, however. In the depths of his heart he felt that his unknown father loved him. One night after saying his prayers, and repeating the Lord's Prayersentence by sentence after his nurse, he said: 'Who's "Our Father?" Is it mine own, who's far away?' 'Dear, no!' said the nurse, in a shocked tone. ''Tis God Almighty, upin heaven. ' 'Then I shan't call him "Father, " 'cause He isn't. ' 'For shame, you wicked boy! God is everybody's Father, He loves you, and gives you everything you want. ' 'Does fathers always do that?' 'Of course they do. Fathers always love their children, and work forthem, and care for them. And the great God is called Father because Heloves you. ' Bobby thought over this. And he hugged the thought to his heart thathe had two fathers, both far away, but both loving him. He knew thatGod was the nearest to him; he was told that He watched over him nightand day, and could always hear him when he spoke to Him. But his heartwent out to his earthly father in an unknown country. And he used tobe constantly picturing his return. On the whole, though he had very big thoughts, and fits of dreaming, Bobby was a happy, merry little soul. Sometimes he strayed along thebig passage and peeped through the green baize door which led down thefront stairs. He had a way of asking Jane what 'the House' was doing, 'the House' being his grandmother, and uncle and aunt, and theirvisitors. Occasionally he would make breathless little excursions ofhis own into the rooms which seemed so strange and wonderful to him. This was generally in the very early morning, or in the afternoon, wheneveryone was out of doors. Nurse would soon pursue him and bring himback to his proper sphere; but he would have a delightful time whilstthe chase lasted, and the very difficulties that beset hisinvestigations made them the more exciting. One bright spring afternoon he was turned into the kitchen garden toplay. Nurse had placed him under the charge of old Tom, for she wasbusy with her machine, making some holland overalls for him, and shewas glad to have the nursery to herself. Bobby was in the seventhheaven of delight. There was nothing he enjoyed so much as a talk withTom. 'And what's the first thing nice to eat that's coming out of theground?' he asked, his hands in his pockets and his legs well astride, as he watched Tom sowing some seed in long drills across the square offreshly dug ground. Tom looked at him with a twinkle in his eye. 'Spring cabbages, ' he said. 'But I mean fruit, not nasty vegtubbers! I sawed you taste a big whiteball, and then you frew it over the wall. ' ''Twas a turnip, likely. ' 'Let me taste a turnip. ' But Tom shook his head. 'Shall have your nurse at me a-sayin' I'm a-upsettin' your littleinside. Do you know who's a-comin' to-day?' 'No. Do tell me. Someone to the house?' 'It be Master Mortimer, the eldest son, who have been in furrin partsso long, him what hangs up in the hall along with the master. You'venever seed him. He went off straight from school to India. He were afavourit' of mine were Master Mortimer. ' 'And he's coming to-day? Oh, I do hope I shall see him. ' Bobby capered at the thought. ''Tis any time to-day may bring him. His ship comed in yester morn. ' 'I wonder if he's seen my father anywheres. ' 'Ah! Best ask of him. Master Mortimer be a merry young gen'leman, sure enough. But I reckon that time have sobered him!' 'Grown-up peoples aren't merry, ' said the small boy, ''cept Sam Conway, when he's drunk!' Sam Conway was the cobbler, who was the village drunkard. Tom shookhis head reproachfully at the thought of him. 'And that there old soaker did marry my aunt's darter!' He continued agrumbling discourse upon the evils of drink as he turned to his sowing, and Bobby danced away down to the bottom of the garden, where he openedthe door into the orchard and found his way to his favourite corner. This was an old apple-tree which grew close to the high wall thatseparated the orchard from the public road. It was an easy tree toclimb, and from a comfortable perch upon the topmost bough he couldlook out along the high-road. It was a broad, white, dusty road; onmarket-days he was never absent from this seat; he loved watching thefarmers' carts, and the carriers, and the droves of sheep and cattlethat passed along to the town. There were other days when he watchedthere, days when only motors whizzed by, or a few carriages and anoccasional cart rumbled along. But he never tired of his post, and hisface was always full of patient expectancy. He got up in the tree now, and 'Nobbles' was tightly grasped in his hand. 'It may be "Nobbles" that they'll come together. It's a ship he'llcome in same as Master Mortimer, and the ship comed in yesterday--Tomsaid so. ' His brown eyes scanned the horizon anxiously, and the hope that hadnever died yet in his childish heart leaped up anew. Nobbles was stuckinto a crevice in the wall, and his smiling, ugly little head staredout in the same direction as his master's. 'It may be a station fly, and it may be our carriage, and it may be amotor, ' pursued Bobby dreamily, 'but he's bound to come, I'm certainsure!' He was called into his dinner before a single carriage or cart hadpassed him. But his little face was radiantly bright as he satopposite his nurse and ate his hot mutton and rice pudding at thenursery table. 'I 'specs the House is very busy to-day, ' he remarked with a knowinglittle nod of his head. 'Which is Master Mortimer's room, Nurse?' 'Master Mortimer, indeed! Who's been talking to you of him I'd like toknow! You must be a good boy and stay quiet in the nursery. I'venever seen your grandmother so upset. She's proper excited, and won'tgo out for her drive this afternoon, and I'm helping Jane get out allthe old bits of furniture that used to belong in his room before everhe went abroad. 'Twas his only sending a telegram yesterday so suddenlike, and no letter nor nothing to prepare us, that has taken us soaback. He's to have his old room, the one at end of the passage. It'sgoing to rain, so you'd best stay in the nursery this afternoon, and Ishall be busy. ' Bobby promised to be good, but with the sounds of such an unusualbustle in the house what small boy could resist peeping through thegreen baize door occasionally to see what was going on? And at last, thinking the coast quite clear, he made one of his rapid rushes alongthe corridor and into the room that was being prepared for the guest. Here he gazed round him with innocent admiration. The room was barelyfurnished, but a fox's brush and some sporting-prints round the walls, one of which depicted a cock fight, interested him greatly. He wasstanding on tiptoe at the dressing-table opening some little chinapots, when approaching footsteps made him start. Then, as the doorhandle turned, he scrambled under the bed and lay still, hardly daringto breathe. It was his grandmother with Jane. She was speaking inrather an agitated voice. 'He slept in this room many years ago, Jane, and I wish things to be ashe left them. Yes, even this cricket bat that I have just found in theattic. He used to have it in the corner by the fireplace, and I wishyou to place it there now. ' She came up to the bed, smoothed the pillow with her hand, looked atthe pictures on the walls, sighed, then went away, and Jane followedher. Bobby crept out of his hiding-place feeling very guilty. Then heeyed the cricket bat, lifted it, but found it very heavy. 'He won't be able to play with it if he hasn't a ball!' he said tohimself. 'Perhaps he'll come and ask me for mine!' Very reluctantly he left the room and returned to the nursery, quiteunconscious that he had left behind him on the floor a tell-talereminder of his presence there. Ail that day Bobby watched and waited for the expected arrival. He wasbitterly disappointed that bedtime came before there were any signs ofhis uncle. Early the next morning he woke, wondering whether he hadcome, and when Nurse told him that it was past ten o'clock before hearrived, he eagerly enquired: 'And did he come quite by himself?' 'Of course, he did. I haven't seen him yet, but Jane says he'swonderful good looking. ' When Bobby was dressed and Nurse had gone downstairs to fetch somethingfrom the servants' hall, he ran to the green baize door and crept alongthe passage to his uncle's bedroom. He listened outside, hoping hemight hear a strange voice or cough, but there was silence. Then hepeered down into a shining pair of boots which had evidently just beencleaned and placed outside the door upon the mat. He wondered how long it would take for his foot to grow big enough tofill such a big boot. With a little chuckle of delight he slipped histiny feet into them and managed to walk one step forward without makingmuch noise. Finally, with another little snigger of laughter, hethrust his chubby hand into the pocket of his overall and produced twobright coloured marbles. He dropped one into each boot, murmuring ashe did so: 'For Master Mortimer, with mine own dear love. ' And then, rather aghast at his audacity, he fled along the passage tohis own territory, laughing softly as he went. After his nurserybreakfast he was turned into the kitchen garden again. He was neversupposed to play anywhere else, but he had a way of making littleexcursions into the shrubberies. There were a good many hiding-placesin the old gardens. He considered it quite fairplay to haunt the shadypaths and even to make daring rushes out upon the lawn when no grown-upwas there. 'Children must keep out of sight, ' had been dinned into hisears by his careful nurse, and as long as he did that, he consideredthat he played the game. He had no great desire to talk to anygrown-up person; he knew that he was voted a nuisance, and was quitecontent to watch them from afar. But this unknown traveller interestedhim greatly. He stole now into one of the shrubbery paths, and thensuddenly, coming towards him, he saw a tall dark man with bronzed skin, a heavy moustache, and merry blue eyes. This much Bobby noted from thedepths of a laurel bush in which he had taken refuge. He thoughthimself well hidden, and certainly his uncle was unaware of his closepresence. Suddenly, as he was passing him, close enough to touch hadhe so wished, an impulse seized Bobby to speak. Mr. Mortimer Egerton, sauntering lazily along in the morning sunshineand smoking his beloved pipe, was startled when he heard a lispingwhisper: 'Where's mine father? Did you see him?' It brought him to a standstill; there was a rustle in the bushes. Heprobed them with his stick, but could see nothing. Then he gave chase, and soon caught sight of a vanishing blue linen smock. 'I spy!' he shouted, and renewed his chase with vigour. But Bobby wasan experienced hider. He was small, and the bushes were thick andhigh. Keeping well under cover, he reached the kitchen garden, andheard his baffled uncle take a wrong turn into the rose walk thatstretched across the front lawn. Breathless and excited, the childreached Tom. 'He's run after me. He was the hunter and I was a tiger in the jungle!I seed him when he couldn't see me, and I likes him!' 'Which of course you is bound to do, ' was Tom's ready response. 'Master Mortimer allays twisted most folk round his little finger. ' 'I'll make him hunt me again, ' said Bobby, a flush on his cheek andfire in his eye. 'He couldn't catch me, Tom. I won't be catched byhim. ' 'Master Mortimer allays used to do what he'd a mind to, ' said old Tomagain. Bobby looked at him thoughtfully. He was beginning to be afraid ofthis uncle. Chapter II. 'HE MAY COME TO-MORROW!' That very same day in the afternoon Bobby was up in his apple-tree, when, to his consternation, he saw his uncle saunter into the orchard, shake hands with Tom, who was cutting the grass there, and begin ananimated conversation with him. Bobby curled himself up well out ofsight, and presumed upon his position, for when Mr. Mortimer came downto his corner and stopped for a moment under the tree, the little scampagain said, in as gruff a voice as he could assume: 'Have you seen mine father?' In one second Mr. Mortimer's great long arm had shot up through thebranches, and seized hold of one of Bobby's fat legs. 'Now, my little man, we'll meet each other face to face!' Terror succeeded Bobby's audacity. He found himself on the ground, but, alas! in his rough descent Nobbles had been dashed from his graspover the wall upon the high-road, and his anxiety over his darling'sfate overcame his terror. 'Oh, save him! Oh, save mine Nobbles! Oh, he'll be hurt, he'll be runaway with! Oh, please get Nobbles, and I'll never run away from younevermore!' Tears were crowding into his eyes as he spoke. 'Who's Nobbles?' asked the bewildered uncle. 'He's always lived with me for years--everlasting years!' repeated thetroubled child. 'I couldn't live without him! Why, a big dog may eathim up, or a motor run over him! Oh, save him quick!' It was Tom who understood and dashed through the gate at the far end ofthe orchard. In five minutes Nobbles was given into his hand, and aseraphic smile lit up his face as he hugged his treasure. His uncledid not smile. He sat down on one of the lowest limbs of theapple-tree and lit up his pipe. 'Is Nobbles fond of going off upon expeditions on his own account?' heasked gravely. 'Well, I _hope_ he doesn't, ' rejoined Bobby mysteriously. 'But I havemy suspecs of him, acause I always make him sleep with his head on mypillow close to me, and two mornings I've found him on the floor, andonce under the bed. ' 'Ah, ' said his uncle, shaking his head at Nobbles, 'I would quitebelieve it of him. You'll promise not to give him too hard a thrashingif I tell you where he was last night. He came into my room and had afight with my old cricket bat. He got the worst of it, and went backto your nursery to get some help. He brought along a ninepin, and theyfought two against one; the poor ninepin was nearly done for, and herolled away under the bed and fainted. Then Nobbles slunk off and lefthim in the lurch. And this morning the young villain thinks he willplay me a trick, so he put two marbles in my boots. He must have donethat in the early hours before you were awake!' Bobby's face was a study. Delight, horror, and confusion was depictedon it. He looked at Nobbles thoughtfully, then he announced: 'I didn't reely fight the cricket bat, I only felt him!' 'But I am talking of Nobbles. ' 'He is wicked sometimes, ' said Bobby, eyeing him wistfully, 'but Ididded it all mine self to you. ' Then his uncle gave a hearty laugh. 'You and I are going to chum up, ' he said, lifting him on the bough byhis side. 'Now tell me more. I want to know you and Nobbles. ' Bobby's tongue was unloosed. For the first time in his short life hehad found a grown-up person who did not consider him a nuisance. Hepoured out a strange medley into his astonished and amused uncle'sears. Imagination was much mixed up with fact, but the one theme thatwas the centre of the child's life was his absent father. 'I know he will come for me one day and take me away with himself! Ifinks every night when I'm in bed about it. He'll knock at my doorsudden, and I'll say, "Come in. " And then I'll see him!' He gave a little wriggle of ecstasy as he spoke. 'He'll take me straight away. P'raps a cab will be at the door, or amotor, and we'll go off to the countries over the sea. Me and Nobbleslie very quiet and listen for the knock when we're in bed. I finks Ihears it often, but it's been a mistake. ' 'But I think I should be frightened to go off with a strange man in themiddle of the night, ' said his uncle, making a grimace. 'I wouldrather have him arrive in the middle of the day. ' 'Well, sometimes I'd like him to. Just let me climb a little bithigher. Would I knock you down if I took hold of your solder verygently to help me? I want to show you the straight long road he'llcome along. There!' He had swung himself upon the bough above, his uncle having been equalto bear his weight. And now, with eager face, he pointed out the white dusty high-road thatwent like a streak of light between rows of flat green meadows, anddisappeared at the top of a hill on the horizon. 'He'll come!' he whispered into his uncle's ear; 'and I shall saygood-bye to the House and go. I'm only waiting. He'll come along thatroad. I come here to expec' him every day. ' Not a vestige of doubt in the eager happy voice. His uncle looked athim in wonder. 'How do you know he hasn't forgotten you? You have never got a letterfrom him, have you? And he mightn't want to be bothered with a smallboy. ' But no shadow came across Bobby's earnest, trustful eyes. 'He's my father. He likes me acause I belongs to him. He's the personthat likes me in the earth, and God is the other Person. He's up inheaven, but I belongs to Him too. And God likes me very much!' There was supreme self-satisfaction in his tone. His uncle smiled. 'Your theology doesn't sound right to me. I was always told that itwas only very good boys that were liked by God. ' 'Yes, that's what Nurse says; but God says diff'unt to Nobbles and me. He talks to me sometimes when I'm in bed. He says He'll always like mefor ever and ever, amen!' There was no irreverence in his tone--only triumphant assurance; andhis uncle was silenced. 'And so I'm just expecking, ' went on the small boy; 'and he may cometo-morrow while you're here. ' 'That would be first-rate. Now, where shall I find you when I want agame of hide and seek? Where's your nursery?' Bobby pointed to the window, which was plainly in sight from theorchard. 'But how do I get to it?' 'Through the green door. ' 'Of course I do. Now I come to think of it, that is our old nursery. We were shut away from the rest of the house by the baize door. Here'syour nurse looking for you. Good-bye for the present. I'm going outwith your grandmother. ' He left Bobby looking after him with wistful eyes. 'He's just my sort, ' he announced to his nurse in his old-fashionedway. 'Me and Nobbles and him will like each other very much. ' 'Who are you talking about?' asked Nurse. And Bobby answered, 'MasterMortimer. ' It was two or three days before he saw his uncle again, for he went upto London on business. Then he entranced the child by taking him downto the river to fish. That was a red-letter day to Bobby; his tonguenever stopped until he was told he would frighten the fish away, andthen he sat on a fence and gazed at his uncle with adoring eyes. As hetrotted home very tired, but very happy, insisting upon carrying twogood-sized trout, he said, 'I shall do this every day with father, andwe'll cook our brekfus ourselves. ' 'May he never disappoint you!' Mr. Mortimer murmured the words, and happily Bobby did not hear them. That evening he and Nobbles were too excited to sleep. In rehearsinghis day to himself, Bobby began to think of many such blissful times inthe future; he pictured them to Nobbles, his father being thecentre-piece. And then he stopped talking and began to listen for theknock that was to come. There was great silence in the nursery. Nursehad gone downstairs to her supper, leaving the night-light as usualupon the washing-stand in the corner of the room. Suddenly Bobbysprang up, his cheeks flushed a deep crimson, his little heartgalloping wildly, There was no possible mistake this time. A sharprat-tat on his door. 'Come in!' How often he had rehearsed his answer to the knock! Why was it thathis voice was so husky? Why were his knees trembling so? He was outof his bed now, standing in the middle of the room, a pathetic littlefigure with his pink bare feet and tumbled curls, and Nobbles claspedin his arms. The door opened. Bobby drew a long, shivering sigh. A huge, black-bearded man in a striped blanket came in. He carried a gun, andan axe was fastened to his belt. He was very tall, and his voice wasvery gruff. 'Are you Robert Stuart Allonby? I have come to take him away. ' In an instant, with outstretched arms, Bobby sprang forward, 'Father!I'm ready!' That was all he said; but as the big man lifted him up Bobby buried hisface in the bushy black beard and clasped him round his neck, and aquiver ran through his little body as he whispered in a fervour of joy, 'I'll come with you. Why have you been so long? Oh, father, darling, take me quick, and never let me come back to this old house again. ' 'Are you ready to camp out amongst fierce Indians in the wild woods?' 'I'll love to. ' 'Where the wolves prowl round at night?' 'I'll be with you. ' 'You'll have to ride a wild pony; you will be out in the rain and cold. You'll have to cut down trees and earn your bread. Sometimes you'll behungry and cold and tired; there'll be no one to look after you. You'll have to rough it. So you want to come? Now? Right away?' 'Right away!' repeated Bobby, squeezing tighter round the stranger'sneck. 'I'll be with you, father. You'll never leave me again!' There was such infinite trust and tenderness in the child's voice thatthe big man wavered, put Bobby down on the floor, tore off his beardand blanket, and revealed himself as Master Mortimer. 'Upon my wordyou're a plucky little 'un!' Bobby stared up at him with horror-struck eyes. For the space of amoment his uncle felt thoroughly ashamed of himself, much as if he weremeeting the gaze of a faithful dog he was ill-treating, for the look onthe child's face was a broken-hearted one. He stood there with aquivering lip in perfect silence; then turned, crept into his bedagain, and lay down with his face to the wall. Nobbles was left upon the floor. His uncle took a quick step up to the bed. 'Sorry, old fellow; it was a piece of fun. I didn't think you wouldtake it so hard. Did you really think it was your father? I hoped Imight put you off him. ' Bobby did not raise his head; he was terribly ashamed of tears, but hislittle chest was heaving with the bitterness of his disappointment, andhe had stuffed a corner of his pillow into his mouth to stifle his sobs. His self-restraint made his uncle feel more uncomfortable. He sat downby his bed and lifted him out bodily upon his knees, and he tried tosoothe him as a woman might. 'I declare, if you were a little older you and I would go off on a tourround the world and search for this runaway father of yours. ' This idea was a risky one to propose, but he felt desperate at thesight of the child's grief. Bobby raised his eyes for the first time. The tears did not hide thedawn of hope springing up in them. 'I'm old enough, ' he said, choking down a sob; 'please take me. ' 'It wouldn't do, and we might miss him; he might arrive after you hadgone. ' 'Me and Nobbles could go and look for him our own selves, ' Bobby saidvery thoughtfully. 'We would just ask and ask till they told us wherehe was. ' His uncle began to feel uneasy. 'No, that's quite the wrong way about. He must come to you, not you go to him. ' 'But, ' said Bobby pitifully, 'he never comes, and I'm tireder andtireder of waiting. ' 'You go to sleep, and perhaps you'll dream where your father is. Dreams are rummy things, and Nobbles is wanting his sleep, I know. ' Bobby was deposited in bed with his beloved stick, and his eyelidsbegan to droop at once. In a minute or two, worn out with hisexcitement and consequent depression, he was fast asleep. His uncle picked up his masquerading attire and left the roommuttering, 'I never will play the fool again; it doesn't pay. ' A day or two after this his Uncle Mortimer departed. Bobby was veryunhappy at losing him, for uncle and nephew were close friends, and nota day passed without their spending some of it together. The unclepromised to look for Bobby's father and send him to him as quickly aspossible, and the child's hopes rose high, and he firmly believed thathis father's return home would be hastened. Upon the morning that his uncle left, Bobby's grandmother called him toher when she came into the nursery for her usual visit. 'I want to speak to you, ' she said, putting on her gold spectacles andsitting down in Nurse's easy chair. Bobby stood before her, his hands clasped behind his back. 'Are you not happy with us?' was the question put to him next, a littlesharply. 'Yes, gran'ma. ' 'Who has been talking to you about your father?' Bobby was silent. 'Answer me, child. ' 'I dunno--Master Mortimer. ' 'Do you mean your Uncle Mortimer? He has only just come here. Youhave some absurd fancy in your head about your father fetching you awayfrom us. ' 'Yes, gran'ma. ' 'It is quite ridiculous. Your father would not think of doing such athing. You have been given over to me entirely, and he doesn't troubleabout you in the least. I expect he forgets that he has a son. Do youunderstand me?' 'Yes, gran'ma. ' 'I am only telling you this for your good. The sooner you stopthinking about such a foolish thing the better. ' 'Yes, gran'ma. ' 'You ought to be a very happy grateful little boy. You have a kindnurse and a comfortable home, and everything to satisfy you. Soon youwill be going to school, and I hope you will try to grow up a credit tous. ' 'Yes, gran'ma. ' 'Can't you say anything but "yes"?' Mrs. Egerton's tone was a little impatient. 'I don't know nothing but "yes" to speak, ' faltered Bobby, hanging hishead. 'You seem to have talked fast enough to your uncle. ' Mrs. Egerton regarded him closely for a minute. Bobby began to feelmore and more uncomfortable. Then his grandmother got up with a littlesigh. 'You are not a bit like your mother; you are an Allonby all over. Nowdon't let me hear any more of this nonsense! Your home is with me; wenever talk to you about your father, because we do not even know if heis alive. He has never written or taken the slightest interest in youafter your poor mother sent you to us. ' She got up and rustled out of the room. Bobby looked after herperplexedly. Why didn't his grandmother want him to have a father, he wondered? Andwhat else could he say but 'yes' to her? If he had said 'no, ' shewould have been angry. Grown-up people were very difficult tounderstand. He turned to Nobbles to console him. He always smiled athim, and loved him. Chapter III. THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURE. And so the house slipped back again to its gravity and silence, and thechild played about in the shrubberies and sat in the apple-tree gazingwistfully up the dusty high-road. And deep down in his heart the hopestill lingered that his father would appear one day. Spring turnedinto summer, and Bobby spent most of his days out of doors. Oneafternoon his nurse took him to a farm. She was great friends with thefarmer's wife, and Bobby loved a visit there, for he was allowed towander about round the farm and watch the farm hands in their variousoccupations. This afternoon he crossed a field to see a young colt. He was laughing heartily as he watched its frisky antics, when from thelane that was on one side of the field, a big black retriever appeared, barking furiously. Bobby was not accustomed to dogs. 'The House' kept none, and with hisheart in his mouth he turned and fled. The retriever pursued him, evidently showing by his gambols that he wanted to play. Somehow orother Nobbles slipped from his grasp as he ran, and in an instant thedog had seized hold of him and, bounding over the hedge, carried himaway in his mouth. This awful tragedy brought Bobby to his senses. He was panic-strickenno more, but scrambled as fast as he could into the lane. He was thepursuer now; the big black dog was trotting slowly up the road, and hetrotted as hard as he could go after him. It was of no use to call after the robber. Once Bobby did so, but thedog only turned his head to look at him, and then began to trot fasterthan ever. Bobby's short legs did not make rapid progress. Soon hebegan to feel dreadfully tired. Up the lane, out on the highroad, upanother side road, and finally through some big iron gates towards anold red-brick house that stood in the midst of bright flowerbeds andgreen lawns. The big dog led his pursuer deliberately on, and Bobby, heated and footsore, had no thought but to follow. There was a lady sitting at tea under some shady trees upon the lawn. The retriever made his way straight to her, and dropped the stick ather feet. Bobby came shyly forward, and the lady looked at him insurprise. She was dressed in deep mourning, and had a very sad face, and, though she looked young, her hair was as white as snow. 'Who are you, little boy; and what do you want?' 'I'm Bobby, and that dog took away Nobbles. I've runned after him'bout twenty miles!' He picked up his beloved stick, kissed the ugly little smiling face, then produced a very small handkerchief from his pocket and beganwiping Nobbles all over very carefully. The lady looked at him with a puzzled smile. 'You look hot and tired, ' she said; 'sit down, and I will give you somestrawberries and cream. ' Bobby's eyes brightened. He sat down on the grass and looked up at thelady. 'Is that dog yours?' he asked. 'Yes; his name is Lucky. That's a funny name, isn't it? It was verynaughty of him to run away with your stick. I must punish him by notgiving him any cake. ' She shook her head at Lucky, who was sitting up on his haunches withhis tongue hanging out, watching his mistress with beseeching browneyes. Bobby looked at him severely. 'He is a robber! Poor Nobbles must have thought he was being taken offby a lion. I expec' he was dre'ffully frightened. You see, Nobblesisn't just a stick at all. ' 'What is he? I see he has a wonderful head!' 'Yes; he's Nobbles. ' He paused, then added impressively: 'He's my'ticylar friend; we always live together. He understands all I say, but he can't speak. ' 'I see. ' The lady smiled upon him very pleasantly, then she handed him adelicious plate of strawberries, and Bobby set to work at once. Hethought he had never tasted anything so nice, and in the middle of ithe looked up a little anxiously. 'Poor Nobbles can't eat at all. It's such a pity. He doesn't grumble, but when I have anyfing _very_ nice he looks in his eyes as if he couldcry; only he doesn't, for he never leaves off smiling. ' 'He's a splendid little friend to have, ' the lady said cheerfully. 'Iwonder where you live?' 'In the House, with nurse and grandmother. ' He heaved a sigh. 'Weshall have to go back soon. ' 'I suppose you know the way; but you're a very little boy to be outalone. ' 'I had to run after Lucky; Nurse was at Mrs. Tikes'. ' 'Tikes' Farm? That is some way from here. ' 'Is it twenty miles?' 'No, but it is nearly two. I expect your nurse will wonder where youare. ' 'I expec' she will; but I likes being here. Are you a proper grown-upperson?' 'How do you mean?' Bobby frowned; he couldn't always put his thoughts into words. 'You talk so nice to me; I can't talk to grown-up people, acept MasterMortimer. At least I can say "Yes" and "No" to them. That's whatchildren should talk, grandmother says. ' 'I'm so glad you think I talk nice to you. I can't talk to grown-uppeople either. I live alone here--so alone now--so alone!' She sighed, and fell into such deep thought that Bobby wondered if shewould ever speak to him again. At last he ventured: 'I've got a father coming for me one day. ' 'Have you really? Tell me about him. ' So Bobby told her of his never-fading hope, and she listened andsmiled, and then ordered her pony-trap round, and tucking Bobby inbeside her, drove him along the road by which he had come. They verysoon met Nurse toiling along, with a heated, anxious face, and Bobbybegan to feel rather ashamed of himself. But the lady seemed to putmatters straight at once with her soft voice and pleasant smile. Andthen she stooped and kissed the small boy by her side. 'I should like you to come and see me very often, ' she said. 'I usedto know your grandmother long ago, before I went out to India. Do youthink, ' she added, turning to Nurse, 'that he would be allowed to cometo me?' 'I'm sure, ' said Nurse, hesitating, 'that if you were to invite him----' 'Then I invite you, Bobby, at once to come to tea with me the day afterto-morrow. I will write a note to your grandmother. ' Bobby's eyes shone with delight 'Me and Nobbles never go to tea with anybody, ' he said. 'Do you thinkgrandmother will say "yes"?' 'I hope she will. ' She nodded at him brightly, then drove off; and Nurse looked after herwith a curious interest upon her face. 'That's the rich young widow, Lady Isobel, I've heard talk about. Sheshuts herself up, and won't go out nowheres. ' 'Oh, no!' corrected Bobby. 'She wasn't shut up; I sawed her in thegarden. ' 'She's had a deal of trouble, ' Nurse went on, more to herself than toBobby. 'Her husband and only child and favrit sister were all drownedsudden in a boat out in them foreign rivers, and she come home, andfound her old father dyin'; and she haven't got a relation left, and ithave turned her head, and no wonder!' 'When peoples die, ' said Bobby thoughtfully, 'they go away and nevercome back; don't they, Nurse? Jane says they're put under ground inthe churchyard, but you told me the angels take them up to God. ' 'Don't bother your little head about such things, ' said Nurse hastily. 'And don't you be a naughty boy and run away from me again. I feel asif I shall never get cool. I'm regular done up, and 'twas only achance I took the right road; but one of the farm hands saw you runnin'along. ' The next day was Sunday. Bobby never went to church in the morning, but very often his nurse took him in the afternoon. And Sunday morningwas his opportunity to slip through the green baize door and wanderover the house, for his grandmother and uncle and aunt always went tochurch, and the house was empty. Nurse did not mind his doing it, aslong as he did not get into mischief. This morning he wandered intothe dining-room; the family portraits on the walls always attractedhim. Jenkins, the butler, was arranging the table for lunch, and eyedhim morosely as he appeared. 'Now then, this ain't your nursery, you know, ' was his greeting. Bobby was so accustomed to this speech that he paid no attention to it. He sauntered round the room with Nobbles in his hand, and his eyes wereriveted on the stern and gloomy faces looking out of their frames. 'Mr. Jenkins, ' he said very politely, 'will your picture be put upthere when you're dead?' 'Law, no!' said Jenkins testily. 'What a silly child you be! Tis onlygrandees can have their picters taken. ' 'Has my father had his picture taken?' 'More'n I can say. He don't belong to this house. Your mother'spicter were taken, and the mistress keeps it locked up. She werewonderful fond of Miss Vera. ' Bobby was not half so interested in his dead mother as in his livingfather. 'I don't belong to the House, ' he murmured to himself. 'Father has gota big house somewheres where he'll take me when he comes home, andeverything in that house will belong to me and father--all mine own!' He reflected for a minute with shining complacency upon this idea. Then he looked up at the pictures again. 'I'm so glad they're all dead. I shouldn't like to see them going upand down stairs. I'm sure they'd scold me!' 'Don't you be abusin' your elders, Master Bobby; and liking them deadbe not a right state o' mind at all. ' 'But dead people are very happy in heaven. Nurse says so. Wouldn'tyou like to be dead, Mr. Jenkins?' Jenkins put down the glass he was polishing, and pointed sternly to thedoor. 'Now you go off, Master Bobby, and don't you be asking imperentquestions. ' Bobby trotted off. There was no love lost between him and Jenkins. Hepeeped into the drawing-room, then found his way to the library, andhere he wandered about for some considerable time. The plaster bustswere always a puzzle to him. Why had they no eyes? Were they bornblind? Why had they no bodies? Had their heads been cut off? Theseand many other questions he would ask Nobbles, who could only grin athim by way of reply. Then he began to pull out some books in the bookcase. He could notread very well himself, though he spent half an hour with Nurse everymorning over a reading-book. But he loved pictures, and he knew therewere books with pictures in them. Once he had found a wonderful bookhere. It was bound in brown leather, and had filigree brass cornersand clasps studded with blue turquoises. He had opened it and foundpictures on every page, and the front page was illuminated in the mostbrilliant colours. His Aunt Anna had come into the room and taken itfrom him. 'That is a most valuable old Italian Bible, ' she said. 'You are toolittle to be trusted with it. You must wait till you grow bigger. ' Now as he caught sight of it he said to Nobbles very gravely: 'I'm grown bigger now, Nobbles. We'll look at it. That was years agowhen Aunt Anna said that. ' It was a heavy book to lift. He dragged a footstool close to thebookcase, then placed the Bible very carefully upon it, and sat down onthe carpet in front of it prepared to enjoy himself. First he fingeredthe little blue stones in true childish fashion, then he laid his cheekon the soft leather binding, and told Nobbles it smelt just sweet. Andthen with the greatest reverence he opened the clasps and began to lookat the pictures. They were wonderful! But some of them ratherfrightened him. The angels with their big wings he loved, but therewas an awful picture of the ark floating over stormy waves throughtorrents of rain, and drowning people holding up their arms to be takenin; and there was one of a boy being tied to a heap of stones and hisold father, with knife uplifted, just going to kill him. Bobby did not like the look of that at all; and then noticing that, scattered through the book, were a few very beautifully paintedpictures, he turned over the pages to find them first. At last he cameto one at the very end of the volume that arrested his attention andheld him spellbound. It was shining with gold and glory, and was the picture of two goldengates guarded by white angels with glittering golden wings. Inside thegates was a broad golden road lined with avenues of fruit-laden trees, and crowds of white-robed people and children were walking along it, some dancing and singing, some playing harps and blowing trumpets, someresting under the trees, but nearly all making their way to a big treeladen with golden fruit that stood on the edge of a flowing river. Inthe distance was a beautiful golden city, which seemed to be sendingits rays of light right up to this tree and surrounding it. Every facewas smiling, every person seemed entrancingly happy, and all of themwere dressed in white, and nearly all wore golden crowns on their heads. Bobby drew a long breath. 'It's Fairyland!' he whispered to Nobbles. 'Oh, I wish me and youcould walk straight in and be there! I would love to pick those goldenapples, and to blow those trumpets, and to play about with the childrenby the water. ' He gazed with wistful longing in his eyes; then from the inside of thegates his glance tell upon a dark corner outside in the picture. Andthis was the angel shutting out a little group of people who werebegging to be let in. They were dressed in filthy rags, their faceswere wretched, and several were weeping bitterly. No light from thegolden city seemed to fall upon them, and Bobby noticed, through thedarkness that seemed all round them, that their feet were close to theedge of a precipice. As he looked at them the tears came into his eyes; and when he heardNurse's voice call to him he started violently. He could hardlybelieve he was in the library, and was going up to his sunny nursery. He had been in the picture for such a long time, and so very far away. Very carefully he put the Bible back in its place and ran out of theroom. 'Nurse, ' he said a little later, as he was eating his dinner in thenursery, 'do you know a story in the Bible about some big lovely gates, and angels, and a street all gold, and trees with gold apples, andlovely flowers, and everybody smiling, and then, outside the gates, some poor, unhappy crying people being shut out in the dark and rain?It's rather near the end of the book. ' 'Oh, I expect it's a picture of heaven, ' said Nurse, 'and the wickedpeople being shut out. ' 'But, ' said Bobby, with anxious eyes, 'are many bodies shut outside ofheaven? Can't they never get in?' 'Now, eat your dinner and don't talk so much! There are no wickedpeople in heaven. It is only good little boys who go there. ' An awful fear clutched at Bobby's heart, but he could not put it intowords. He had taken it for granted that everybody who died wentstraight to heaven. The picture of those weeping men and women outsidethe gates, and the sad stern face of the angel who was shutting themout, haunted him. He was very quiet indeed; and when Nurse took himoff to church a little later, he never spoke a word. They walked alongthe high-road for a short distance, then turned up a lane with highbanks and hedges, and at last came to the little country church, withsome shady elms and beeches casting cool shadows across the sunnychurchyard. It was a children's service, and the Sunday-schoolchildren were filing in before them. Bobby followed his nurse up tohis grandmother's pew. It was very near the pulpit, and when sittingdown Bobby could not see over the top of it. He was not very fond ofchurch. It was a long time to sit still, and Nurse would not let himtalk to Nobbles. In fact she had threatened more than once to leaveNobbles behind when they went to church if he persisted in playing withhim. To-day Bobby was pleased by hearing one of his hymns sung that he knewby heart, and when the clergyman began to talk in the pulpit of thisvery hymn he could not help listening. There's a Friend for little children Above the bright blue sky, ' said the clergyman. 'Now I am going to talk to you about seven thingsyou have above the sky. Will you say them after me? A Friend, a rest, a home, a crown, a song, a robe, and a harp with palms of victory. 'Bobby's attention was fixed for a time as the clergyman spoke of theseone by one. He described heaven with all its glories, and Bobby noddedhis head as he listened. 'Me and you have seen it, Nobbles, ' he whispered. 'We sawed it in thepicsher. ' When the robe and harp were described Bobby drew a long breath ofdelight. It seemed all so certain that he was going to be inside thegates one day. He went into dreams after that, and then started in hisseat as he heard the very solemn closing words of the sermon: 'Soremember, dear children, you must have your white robe on _before_ youenter those golden gates, or they will close upon you, and you will beleft outside. ' Poor Bobby thought and thought of these words as he trotted home withNurse; but he felt that if he asked for them to be explained Nursewould only tell him to be quiet. When he was in bed that night he confided his fears to Nobbles. 'Me and you may be shut outside, like those peoples, if we don't havethose white gowns. How can I get one, Nobbles, dear? I wonder if myfather would give me one! And I wonder if you can buy them, and wheresthey comes from!' Tired out with such conjectures, he fell asleep. Chapter IV. HIS NEW FRIEND. It was four o'clock, and Bobby was sitting out upon the lawn with hisnew friend, Lady Isobel. His grandmother at first told Nurse that sheconsidered him too small to accept such an invitation; but Nurse foronce spoke up for him, and said she thought it would do him no harm. It appeared she knew Lady Isobel's housekeeper, and was not sorry tohave an excuse for taking tea with her. So Bobby and Nobbles, withsmiling faces, presented themselves at the appointed time, and LadyIsobel greeted the small boy most affectionately, Nurse went off to thehouse, and then he lost all shyness, and was soon the greatest friendswith the sad-faced woman. It was not very long before he told her ofthe beautiful picture he had seen. 'I wish I could read about it, ' he lamented, 'but it's in a far awaylang'age, Nurse says. ' 'But if it is the Bible your nurse could read it to you. ' 'No, it's a diffent Bible. ' He described the cover to her and the pictures. Lady Isobel seemedquite interested. 'I should like to see it, ' she said. 'It must be a very valuable one, Bobby. I expect some old monks must have painted the pictures in it. I had a prayer-book once illuminated by them. They had plenty of timein those days to give to painting, and they did it beautifully. ' 'What's a monk?' asked Bobby. 'A man with a bald head in a gown, who lives in a house away from theworld, and makes it his business to be good. ' 'In a gown?' repeated Bobby. 'A white one? Me and Nobbles want toknow about white gowns, acause you can't get inside the gates if youhaven't got one on, and'--his lips quivered--'I don't want to be shutout, I reely don't!' 'I'm sure you needn't be afraid of that, ' said Lady Isobel, smiling, though she sighed at the same time. 'I have always been told that itis people's own fault if they are left outside. ' 'I want to be certain sure I'll get inside the gates, ' repeated Bobby, distress in his brown eyes. 'Me and Nobbles means to be there. Ifinks my father will help me get in. ' 'I'm sure he will, ' said Lady Isobel, cheerfully. 'Now would you liketo come round my garden with me? Shall we pick some flowers for yournursery? Do you like flowers?' Bobby assented eagerly. 'The House has a good many, ' he said, 'but me and Nobbles never hasnone 'cept the daisies, and Tom always cuts them off d'reckly theycomes up. ' He trotted after her along a gravel path that was edged by thickborders of flowers; roses climbed over arches across their heads. Asmile came over his face as he gazed at the flowers to the right andleft of him. 'Nobbles is rather naughty, sometimes, ' he said, looking up into LadyIsobel's face with twinkling eyes. 'He does love to cut off flowers'heads, and I can't stop him. He cutted off 'bout a hundred dandelionsone day in the orchard, he _would_ do it, and when I looked at themtheir necks were bleeding white milk, and I picked up all the heads, and I made Nobbles dig and dig their graves, and we buried them all. ' Lady Isobel tried to look shocked. Bobby had a bewitching smile, and twinkles of humour all over his facewhen he was giving free play to his imagination. He continued with aslow shake of his head as he looked down upon Nobbles meditatively. 'I tells him he mustn't be so fond of cutting off people's heads. Yousee he loves fighting. He's been a soger over the sea. He went intobattle and cut off twenty fousand en'mies one day!' Bobby stole a look up through his long lashes at Lady Isobel to see howshe took this. Then he gained courage, and proceeded: 'Nobbles tells me I needn't never be 'fraid of lions or tigers orvillage boys, for he'd whack them all round, and the cocks and hens allrush away when they see me and Nobbles coming! Once in the land wherethe Indians are, Nobbles walked out in the night by hisself--he alwayswalks when nobody sees him you know--and he met an army coming froughthe jungle. They was all black men, and they were coming to kill allthe white people and burn their houses; he just told them to get in one'normous line, and he swished, and swished, and cut off their headsjust like the dandelions, and then he walked back to bed and nextmorning, when everybodies knew what he'd done, they all called outhurrah, and gave him a gold crown. Nobbles said it hurt him, so heleft it in a tree, and he likes his red cap best!' 'He looks very brave, ' said Lady Isobel. 'May I hold him in my hand?' 'Just for one minute you may; but Nobbles doesn't like no one butme--no one 'cept father. Nobbles reely loves him!' It was the same with all Bobby's stories; they invariably turned uponhis absent father. Lady Isobel walked by his side and wondered much ifthe absent father knew what a wealth of love and devotion was awaitinghim in his little son's heart and hopes. Bobby enjoyed every minute of that visit of his. He talked withoutstopping; and Lady Isobel's grave sadness began to melt away. WhenNurse at length came respectfully out of the house to take him home, she found the young widow and the child engaged in a merry game of'touch-wood. ' 'Oh, Nurse!' cried Bobby reproachfully, 'we're having such fun. Inever has anyone to play with me like this?' 'You shall come another day, ' said Lady Isobel stooping to kiss theeager radiant face. 'I don't know who has enjoyed the time most, youor I!' The anticipation of another such treat sent Bobby home in smilingcontent, but it was some time before he saw Lady Isobel again, for afew days afterwards he was laid up with a mild attack of measles. His grandmother and nurse were at first much concerned about him, thenwhen the little invalid began to recover they regained their usualstolid composure. It was a very new experience to Bobby; at first hecould not understand it, and thought he was going to die; then hedeclared that Nobbles felt much worse than he did, and the doctor mustsee him. The doctor, a grey-haired old man, humoured him, assured himthat Nobbles must certainly lie in bed with him and be dosed, whereuponBobby's smile shone out and he murmured: 'Nobbles and me is both very ill indeed. ' 'Nurse, ' he said, 'if I die, shall I go to heaven? I can't if Ihaven't a white robe. Do tell me how I can get it. ' 'You're not going to die, Master Bobby; you're getting well fast. ' 'I'm mis'rable and very ill, ' said Bobby in an injured tone. 'Nobblesand me both is, and I want to see my lady!' This cry was continually upon his lips, and at last one afternoon nurseopened the door and ushered in Lady Isobel. 'I am sure it is very good of you, my lady, to come to him; he isgetting a bit fretful now that he's better. ' Bobby held out his arms with an eager cry to the first grown-up personwho had shown a liking for him. Certainly his Uncle Mortimer had beeninterested in him, but he had never kissed him or petted him. 'You aren't afraid you'll catch the measles?' he asked as Lady Isobelkissed his little up-turned face. 'Not a bit afraid, ' she said cheerily; 'and I think the doctor wouldsay you were past the infectious stage now. Has the time seemed dulland long?' 'N-o-o, ' replied Bobby slowly. 'I like my beef-tea and jelly, and sodoes Nobbles; but I'm tired of looking at my picsher-books, and I wantto see those lovely picshers in the beautiful Bible downstairs. Couldyou fetch it for me to look at?' Lady Isobel hesitated, and turned to Nurse. 'He's been on so for those pictures, ' she said, 'that I think I'llventure to go and ask the mistress now. ' Nurse left the room and soon returned with the treasured book. 'His grandmother says he can look at it with you, and then I must putit back again, as it's a valuable book. ' Nurse deposited the Bible upon Bobby's bed, and left the room. Lady Isobel took it carefully up and looked at the title-page. 'It is a treasure, Bobby. It is an old Italian Bible--Martini'stranslation, of course. I know Italian, and used to spend a good dealof my time in Italy when I was a girl. Now show me your wonderfulpicture. ' Bobby took hold of the Bible with flushed eager face, and turned toalmost the last page of it. Then he drew a long sigh of admiration ashe held it up to her. 'Isn't it beautiful?' 'Beautiful indeed, ' said Lady Isobel, gazing upon the richlyilluminated page with enjoyment. I don't wonder you like it, Bobby; itis a dream of glory. ' 'It isn't a dream, it's a true picsher, ' corrected Bobby. 'Nurse sayseveryfing's true in the Bible. Please read me what it says underneath. ' 'I will translate it for you; you would not understand the foreignwords: '"Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, thatthey may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gatesinto the City. "' Bobby listened as if his life depended on the words. 'Tell me what it means. Does it tell me how to get a lovely whitedress, like the people going up that beautiful road? What Lamb does itmean?' His little finger was pointing to the white-robed group in thepicture. For a moment Lady Isobel paused. She read the verse again slowly. 'I think it means this, Bobby, that no one has a right inside thosegates except those who have had their sins washed away by the Lamb ofGod. ' 'Who's the Lamb of God?' asked Bobby in a hushed voice. 'Does God keepsheep and lambs in heaven?' 'It is one of the names of our Lord Jesus Christ, Bobby, dear. I don'tknow how to explain it to you; but long ago people used to offer upinnocent little lambs to God as a sacrifice for sins. ' 'What's a sacrifice?' Lady Isobel was not accustomed to a child's questions. She hesitated. 'It is an innocent thing suffering for a guilty, at least the Biblesacrifices were. I suppose they were just to picture the greatsacrifice on Calvary. How can I put it simply? Sin made everyoneblack and wicked, Bobby, and God had to shut up heaven's gates and keepit outside. Nothing with sin upon it can be in heaven. These peoplein the picture who are being turned away are looking black and dirtyand miserable, because their hearts are full of sin. ' 'They want white dresses, ' said Bobby, 'then they could go in like theothers. The clergyman said in church--I 'members it quite well--thatwe must have white dresses on first afore the angel would let us froughthe gates. And me and Nobbles wants to get frough!' 'Yes, ' said Lady Isobel softly, 'you are quite right, Bobby, that'swhat the text says, we must be washed white first before we have aright to go in. ' 'How?' 'I am trying to tell you. God wanted us to come into heaven, so Jesussaid He would come down upon earth and be punished instead of us. Youwill understand when you grow older what a big thing it was for Him todo. But He died for us, Bobby; He gave His life-blood for us; and itis by His death our sins can be washed away and our hearts made clean. That is what it means by washing our robes in the blood of the Lamb. Jesus was the Lamb, and our hearts must be washed white in His preciousblood. ' 'But it says robes, ' said Bobby, with a puzzled frown. 'Does heartsmean robes?' 'I think it is like this, darling. Our hearts are black and soiledwith sin. When they are washed clean it is just like a white coveringover them, a white dress; and God looks down upon them, and says "thatperson can come inside the gates, because I see a clean white robe overhim. "' 'I see!' said Bobby, with quick comprehension. 'My heart has to have awhite robe inside me, not outside; and the angel at the gate looksright frough me and sees it. ' 'That is it, Bobby. ' 'And how can I get it white?' 'You must just ask Jesus Christ to wash it in his blood. ' 'Will He do it to-day? I would like it done now. ' He eyed the picture thoughtfully, then a pleased smile crept over hisface. 'And then I shan't never, never be turned away. The angel will say, "Come in Bobby; I'm very glad to see you. " And I'll walk up the roadand be so happy!' Lady Isobel did not speak for a moment. In explaining the old Truthsto Bobby they seemed fresh to her own soul. Bobby had no difficulty in laying hold of them. Even now he was clasping his hands devoutly, shutting his eyes andbowing his head. He looked up for one moment. 'Nurse says I must say my prayers in bed. I've always said them to Godafore. I think I'll say this one to Jesus. ' 'Do, dear. It will be just the same. ' So Bobby spoke aloud. He had not yet got to the stage of praying insilence. 'Please, Jesus, I want my heart washed white, _quite_ white, please, sothat I shan't be outside the gate. And please will you do it now, forI don't like waiting, and tell me when you've done it, so that I cansay thank you. ' There was great silence in that room. The earnestness of the childmade the grown-up person very grave. She had never yet in her life come to this crisis. And then in a veryfew minutes came an emphatic 'Thank you very much, ' from Bobby's lipsas he wriggled down amongst his pillows with a sigh of satisfaction. 'I feel Jesus has done it, ' he said, with a nod of his curly head. 'Hejust put His hand on my heart, and it all turned white. ' 'I'm so glad, darling. ' Lady Isobel stooped to kiss him with tears in her eyes. 'And now, Bobby, you must always try to be a good boy, and love JesusChrist, and do what He tells you to. Isn't there a little hymn: Oh, dearly, dearly has He loved, And we must love Him too, And trust in His redeeming blood, And try His works to do. ' Bobby nodded again. 'I says that to Nurse sometimes, but I never does understand it. Andnow let's look at the other picshers; but first, please, say the textto me again. ' Lady Isobel repeated it, and Bobby repeated it after her with quietsatisfaction: '"Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, thatthey may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gatesinto the City. "' Then he wanted to know about the tree of life; and when at length LadyIsobel left him she said to Nurse: 'He is an extraordinary child, Nurse. I feel as if I had been teachingin Sunday-school. I have never done such a thing before in my life!' Chapter V. NOBBLES' MISFORTUNE. Bobby was soon up and about again, but he had a great disappointmentwhen one day his friend, Lady Isobel, came to him to wish him good-bye. 'I am going back to India, ' she told him; and though her face was graveher eyes were glad. 'Oh!' cried Bobby, clasping her round the neck. 'Take me with you, andthen I'll look for my father. Don't go away and leave me, youunderstand so!' 'If I had not met you I don't believe I should be going, ' said LadyIsobel with a smile and a sigh. 'We have helped each other, Bobby. Ihave discovered that I was fast getting a very selfish woman, and soI'm going to join an old friend of mine in India who has a school forlittle black children and women, and I'm going to try to make themhappy by telling them about your picture of the beautiful golden gates. Do you think I will be able to explain it properly?' 'Yes, ' said Bobby, interested at once; 'same as you did to Nobbles andme. They've got black bodies as well as black hearts, haven't they?Nurse's brother tells me about black peoples. But, oh! I don't wantyou to go. Everybodies I like goes away; and my father is such a'normous time coming!' 'Poor little Bobby!' She caressed his curly head with her hand, and added: 'I will keep a sharp look-out for this father of yours, and send himhome to you when I find him. ' 'That's what Master Mortimer said; but he's never sent him. ' 'Never mind! He'll come back one day, ' and with that rather doubtfulconsolation Lady Isobel kissed him and said good-bye. Bobby felt very unhappy for a few days after she left, then began tomake the best of it, and turned more than ever to his belovedcompanion, Nobbles. One afternoon he sat up in his favouriteapple-tree watching the white high-road. Presently two boys came alongchasing a poor miserable-looking little dog whose tail was tied to anold saucepan. The boys were pelting the saucepan with stones, and moreoften than not the stones hit the dog, and a yelp of pain was theresult. Bobby's eyes blazed. He forgot his smallness; he only thought of thetortured dog. Shaking Nobbles furiously at them, he leant over the wall and shouted: 'Stop it, you cowards! I tells you to stop! If you don't, I'll comeand make you!' The boys looked up and laughed at the irate little figure. 'Come on!' they cried. 'We're ready for you, little 'un!' The dog had fled into a ditch now, and cowered beneath some bramblebushes. The boys began to pelt him with stones to make him come out, and Bobby scrambled down from his tree. 'Come on, Nobbles, ' he said; 'we'll drive them off, me and youtogether!' He ran to the orchard gate, clambered over it (for it was locked), andwas soon standing over the dog protectingly. 'You shan't touch him. I'll hit you if you do!' The biggest of the boys laughed at him, and advanced to seize thecrouching dog. Bobby was so angry that he sprang forward and hit him sharply on theshoulder. In an instant the boy, who was a bully by nature, hadwrenched his precious stick away from him, and began to belabour him sounmercifully with it that in a moment poor Nobbles was snapped in two. And at this juncture Bobby's aunt came upon the scene. She wasreturning from the village, and hastened to stop what she believed wasa village fight. Her astonishment was great when she saw her smallnephew. The village lads at once took to their heels. Bobby, in anagony of fright and woe, stooped to pick up the two pieces of his stickwhich had been flung upon the ground, and the wretched little dog creptout of his hiding-place. 'Bobby, what is the meaning of this? You fighting with boys on thehigh-road! Where is your nurse?' Bobby was beside himself with passion and grief. He held out hisbroken stick. They've killed mine Nobbles! I hate them! I wish I could kill themdead! They was teasing the poor little dog, and me and Nobbles ran outto make them stop, and he took Nobbles away, and he beat me withNobbles, and broked him dead! And I hate him!' Bobby literally was beside himself with grief. He flung himself downon the grass by the roadside, clasping the remains of Nobbles in hisarms, and sobbed in the most bitter and heart-broken fashion. Miss Egerton occupied herself with releasing the dog from the saucepan. It seemed to know who had befriended it, for it crept up to Bobby andbegan to lick his curly head with a little whine of sympathy. ThenMiss Egerton spoke very sharply: 'Get up at once, Bobby, and don't be such a baby! Come indoors with meto Nurse. No, little dog, you are not to follow us; go home, and keepout of the way of boys in future. ' Bobby was too overwhelmed with the fate of Nobbles to think of the doghe had rescued, so he followed his aunt through the orchard and garden, and flung himself into the arms of his nurse, who, hearing his sobs, came to meet him. 'He's dead! He's broken in two! Oh, mine Nobbles! mine Nobbles!' 'Here, Nurse, take him up to the nursery. He has been trying to act aschampion to an ill-used dog, and come off rather the worse in theencounter. You must not let him stray into the road by himself. Idon't know what his grandmother would say if she had seen him just now. ' Nurse picked up Bobby as if he were a baby and carried him upstairs. 'Hush! now, Master Bobby. Tell me what you've been doing. Let me seeNobbles; I expect he can be mended. ' Hope leaped into Bobby's heart; he put the two pieces of stick upon thetable. Nurse, seeing his grief, pointed triumphantly to Nobble'slittle smiling face, which was quite uninjured. 'Nobbles is all right, ' she said. 'We can have a new stick put intohim, and he will be better than ever. Look! he's smiling at you totell you not to cry. Boys of your age ought never to cry; you don'twant to be a baby. ' Nurse got her work-basket out, and very cleverly tied Nobbles togetherwith a bit of tape. 'There!' she said, laying him in Bobby's arms. 'Be gentle with him, and he'll last like that till we get him mended; and now tell me allabout it. ' The story was told; and Nurse was proud of her charge's pluck. Whenshe undressed him that evening and found marks across his back andlegs, which told of the beating he received, she declared she wouldfind out the names of the cowardly bullies who had done it, and getthem richly punished. But Bobby made light of his own hurt; he gotinto bed and clasped Nobbles to him, and after a long whisperedconversation he suddenly called for Nurse. 'How does a heart get broken, Nurse? Jane said her mother died of abroken heart. ' ''Tis sorrow that does it generally, ' replied Nurse. 'Now you go tosleep, like a good boy. ' But Bobby's brown eyes were very wide awake, and shining with a greatlight behind them. 'Nobbles isn't dead, Nurse; he's very, very hurt; but he's told me justhow it was. That wicked boy took hold of him and made him hit me, andthat just broked his heart in two. He couldn't bear to hurt me, so hebroke his heart and snapped in two, because he wanted to stop it. Itwas sorrow that did it!' 'Oh! I see, ' said Nurse, smiling. 'Now don't talk any more, like agood boy. ' Bobby drew Nobbles' ugly smiling little head close to his. 'I lovesyou, Nobbles, darling, I loves you; and we'll make you quite bettersoon; it is only your body, you see. Oh, I loves you for breakingyourself in two, so that you couldn't hurt me!' And then, tired andexhausted by his emotions, Bobby fell asleep, and Nobbles lay andsmiled by his side. The next morning Nurse informed him that she was going to drive intothe neighbouring town to do some shopping for his grandmother, and hewas to go with her. This was a great treat to the small boy, and it only happened on veryrare occasions. 'And if you bring your stick with you we'll see if we can get itmended. ' So Bobby climbed into the dogcart with his nurse in the greatestdelight, and John, the groom, drove them the five miles to the town. When they arrived there, Nurse good-naturedly took him first to alittle old man who mended umbrellas, and Nobbles was produced for hisinspection. Bobby stood by trembling for his verdict, and Nurse saidto the man, Jim Black by name, 'He's so terrible set upon his stickthat we thought perhaps you might mend it. 'Tis the head he values;it's his favourite toy. ' Jim Black turned Nobbles' little head round in his hand with a smileupon his lips. 'Be this here a Chinyman?' he asked Bobby. 'Oh no, ' said Bobby gravely, shaking his head. 'He came from over thesea; but he understands my English. He's dreadfully hurt; and hedoesn't want to have a new body, it will feel so strange to him. ' The old man winked at Nurse. 'Ah, well, we'll see whether we can mendhis old body first. ' He was untying Nobbles' bandages, and when he came in two, he inspectedboth pieces with great solemnity. 'What be you going to do with him? Keep him in a glass case?' 'Oh no; he always lives with me, and comes with me everywheres. ' Bobby looked up at the umbrella-mender with serious alarm in his eyes. 'Then this here broken body be of no manner of use. You leave him withme and I'll give him a good stout stick, and he'll be better'n new. ' 'You won't hurt him doing it?' 'Bless your heart, he be proper enjoyin' the thought of it. Look athis smile! Ah, well! If so be that we could get new bodies so easywhen ours be smashed up it would be a foine thing--eh, Nurse?' Nurse assented with a smile; then telling the old man they would callagain, she took Bobby out into the street and began her shopping. Andthe shops and the people were so full of interest to Bobby that after ashort time he dismissed Nobbles from his mind and began to enjoyhimself. His crowning treat was lunch at a confectioner's, and thensoon afterwards the groom appeared with the cart, and they called forNobbles on their way home. Bobby's hand shook with excitement as heheld it out for his treasure. And certainly Jim Black had been verysuccessful over his task. Nobbles' head was firmly fixed upon a verystout brown cane, and he looked very pleased with himself. But it wassome time before Bobby could get accustomed to the change in him, andmore than once he asked his nurse doubtfully if she thought he was justthe same Nobbles as he used to be. 'I does hope Nobbles isn't very uncomf'able. I was telling him lastnight he must be very kind to his poor new body, for it must be alittle shy of him at first. And he said' (here the twinkle came intoBobby's eyes as they stole a look at Nurse's impassive face), 'Nobblestelled me he'd soon make him mind him; and the first thing he wants himto do is to lick that big boy who hit me. ' 'Oh, you mustn't talk of fighting; it's only wicked boys who do that. The Bible says, "Forgive your enemies. "' Bobby looked thoughtful. 'Shall I get my white robe dirty if I fight? My friend who read thetex' to me said wicked things made white dresses dirty. ' 'Of course they do. Good boys never fight. ' 'I don't think I'm a good boy, ' said Bobby, shaking his head. 'Me andNobbles would love to knock that boy down; but I don't want to dirty mydress--I reely don't. ' The very next day after this conversation, whilst he was sitting in hisapple-tree, Bobby saw the big bully coming down the road. He hastilyhad a whispered consultation with Nobbles, and then, leaning over thewall, shouted to him to stop. Feeling secure in his position, he shookNobbles threateningly at him. 'Do you see my stick? We wants 'normously to come down and lick you, but we aren't going to; but if you dare to touch me ever again I'lltell my father when he comes home, and he'll punish you well. ' 'Yah, baby!' yelled the bully, taking up a stone to fling at him. Bobby hastily scrambled down from his perch and ran indoors. Somehow or other the mention of his father brought a forlorn longing tohis small heart He saw his grandmother go off for her daily drive, andcrept silently into the big hall. Sitting down at the foot of thestairs he heaved a big sigh. 'Oh, I wish he'd come! I can't do without him no longer! I'm sure, certain sure, I could find him if I went to look for him. ' For a long time this idea had been simmering in his head. Thisafternoon it took shape and form. ''Sposing, Nobbles, my father has forgotten the house? Why, one day hemay drive right past it; and if I was out there to stop him, how lovelyit would be!' Bobby leapt to his feet. The front door was open; down the drive hesped to the big iron gate which led out to the high-road. And then theimpulse seized him to go up the road himself and ask anyone comingalong if they had seen his father drive by. 'Just fink, Nobbles, we shall see him coming along in a grand carriagewith lots of horses; and he'll stop, and the horses will stop, and thecoachmens; and he'll open his arms, and me and you will run straightinto them; and we'll go right away, galloping on the road to abeautiful big house, and every room--_every_ one, Nobbles--me and youwill have for our own, and we'll never, never go back to the Houseagain, never till I'm a very old man with a white beard, and have tolean very heavy on you, dear Nobbles; and then we'll come to make avisit, and we'll come in the big front door, and sleep in the bestspare room, and I'll say, "This is where me and Nobbles lived when wewas waiting for father. "' Talking rather breathlessly in this fashion, Bobby trotted along theroad, perfectly oblivious of the fact that he was not allowed to wanderout on the high-road alone. His little heart was bent upon bringinghis long waiting to an end. There was no reason to his childish mindwhy his father should not appear any day. Every day he expected him, and it seemed a delightful and natural thing for him to be runningalong to meet him. From a trot he soon subsided into a walk. It was ahot day, the road was dusty, and few vehicles passed him. At length hepaused to rest, and it was at this juncture that some drovers, takingsome refractory cattle to market, came along behind him. Bobby was in the act of picking a bracken fern from the hedge withwhich to fan his face when he heard an alarmed shout. Turning his headhe saw that a young bull had broken loose from his captors and wasmaking a dash along the road towards him. For an instant he did not realise his danger, then another shout fromthe men, 'Get out of his way!' made him step aside. The bull hadcaught sight of him and lowered his head with an angry bellow. And then, to the horror and amazement of the drovers, they saw thesmall child turn and walk into the middle of the road, where he stoodconfronting the animal with upraised stick. At this identical moment the hoot of a horn and whiz of a motor washeard coming down the road. It slackened speed behind Bobby; then thelittle fellow never quite knew what happened, but it swerved past himand literally charged into the enraged bull, driving him into thehedge. For an instant the car seemed as if it was going to overturn, then it righted itself, and came to a standstill. Bobby was soonsurrounded by a good many people, and for a moment he was a littledazed. A gentleman was stooping over him, a tall man with very bright eyes, abronzed skin and short curly golden hair. He was the owner of themotor; and the three cattle-drovers were all eagerly talking andexplaining. 'Why didn't you run away, little chap?' the gentleman said; 'don't youknow that you were just on the point of being tossed by the horns ofthat bull?' 'Oh no, ' Bobby said in a confident tone, recovering himself; 'I wasgoing to whack him 'cross the nose--least Nobbles was. Nobbles cankill bulls if he likes!' He held out his stick with pride, then looked pityingly at the fallenbull, whose master was surveying it with some dismay. 'Is the poor cow quite dead? I was awful 'fraid when I saw you knockhim over. ' The gentleman looked at Bobby very strangely, then turned back to hiscar. 'True!' he called, 'come and speak to this little boy. I've never seensuch pluck before. Tell him he needn't waste his pity on the bull, which would have killed him had we not prevented it!' A little girl, with a mop of unruly brown hair escaping from a quaintsun-bonnet, was still sitting in the car and regarding the scene withbig awestruck eyes. In a moment she jumped out and approached Bobby. She was only half a head taller than he was, and now gazed at him withsoft, sweet grey eyes. 'Poor little boy!' she said. 'What's your name?' 'I'm not a poor boy, ' said Bobby with head erect; 'me and Nobbles willbe walking on, for we're in a partic'lar hurry. ' A sudden panic had seized him that this gentleman might take him homeagain; he had a great dislike to be the centre of a crowd, and thecattle-drovers were all surrounding him now, gesticulating and talkingloudly. And Bobby was rather shy of other children; he generally feltstrangely antagonistic towards them. This little girl's gentle pity, and her desire to know his name, frightened and annoyed him. He turned his back upon her and hurried off, with very little idea ofthe danger from which he had been saved. But he had not gone a hundredyards before, to his consternation, he met John, the groom, drivingback from the town in the dogcart. He pulled up instantly. 'Why, Master Bobby, you ain't by yourself all this way from home?' 'Me and Nobbles are here, ' said the small boy with dignity. It did not take John long to get out and lift the little runaway up tothe seat beside him, and Bobby was soon being driven home with acrestfallen unhappy face. 'Everybodies always stops me when I want to do fings!' he complained toNurse when she took him to task for being so naughty. And Nurse was so angry with him that she made him stand in the cornertill teatime. 'For you're not a bit sorry, and will be sure to run away againdirectly you get a chance, ' she said. Bobby turned his face to the wall with heaving chest. 'I wants to find my father, ' he said. He little knew how very close he had been to the end of that search. Chapter VI. HIS FATHER. 'Master Bobby is wanted in the drawing-room. ' Jane brought this message up just as the nursery tea was being clearedaway. 'Are there visitors?' enquired Nurse. 'Yes; a gentleman. ' It was only on rare occasions that the child was sent for. Nurse wasin a flutter at once, putting on his best brown velvet suit, with hislittle cream-silk shirt, and brushing out his curls with great skilland care. Bobby did not like the summons at all. He remembered the last time hehad been in the drawing-room. It was to see an old clergyman who hadpatted him on the head and asked him if he knew his Catechism. He hadwriggled away from him, and upset a vase of flowers upon a table near, and had been sent upstairs in disgrace, his grandmother declaring that'children were always out of place in a drawing-room. ' 'It's another old gempleum, Nurse. I don't like them at all. ' But when he opened the drawing-room door he saw his grandmother sittingin her stiffest sternest attitude, and, seated opposite to her, thetall man with the bright eyes and the curly hair who had rescued himthat afternoon from the bull. Bobby's heart sank into his boots at once. So he had come to telltales of him to his grandmother. He had had one scolding and apunishment from Nurse, now he would get another! 'Come here, Bobby, ' said his grandmother coldly. 'Your father has cometo see you. ' He could not believe his ears. For an instant he gazed wildly anduncomprehendingly at the stranger, who turned and held out his hand. 'Why, upon my word! You're the little chap who withstood the furiousbull! Come along. No wonder I felt as I did when I saw you!' How often had Bobby rehearsed this scene to himself! He had picturedhimself flinging himself with a glad cry into the arms of his father, and that father gathering him to his breast and smothering him withkisses. How different was reality to fancy! He was too dazed by thesuddenness of the discovery to do more than stare stupidly up at hisfather, who drew him gently to him and kissed him on the forehead. Then he heard his father tell his grandmother about the bull, and Mrs. Egerton said: 'What possessed you to do such a naughty thing as to go out on thehigh-road alone, Bobby? You might have been killed, and we should nothave known where you were. What made you do it?' Bobby looked up at his grandmother with big frightened eyes. 'I went to meet my father, ' he faltered. Mr. Allonby gave a short laugh; his grandmother looked quite horrified. 'You know that is an untruth, ' she said. 'Your father must be quiteshocked to hear you. ' Bobby did not attempt to defend himself. His under lip quivered, andin his small heart was a passionate desire to prove himself innocent ofa lie. His eyes turned to his father, who was looking down upon him with astrange gravity, but though he wanted to speak he could not. 'Never mind, ' his father said cheerfully, 'he did meet me, and I cannotyet take in the strange coincidence of it. If I hadn't come by when Idid---- Well, it does not bear thinking about. Did you know you had afather living, Bobby? For your grandmother seems to have thought I wasdead. I suppose my long silence has seemed inexcusable, but I ampositive that I wrote twice after your daughter's death, Mrs. Egerton, and to neither letter received any reply. Then I went off with anexploring party through South America, and have been out of touch withcivilisation for the past five years. Last summer I took up life againin Canada, and only came home three months ago. I have been ill twomonths of that time. ' There was silence. Bobby felt uncomfortable; why, he did not know. His father looked at him again and sighed. 'Well, I see he is cared for, Mrs. Egerton, and had better fall in withyour wishes. My wife----' 'Your present wife need not be brought into our discussion. ' Mr. Allonby rose to his feet, for Mrs. Egerton's words were bitter andproud. 'I'll see the boy once again before I leave this part, and now I'llwish you good afternoon. ' 'I'm coming with you, Father. ' Bobby's voice rang out eagerly, expectantly. He had not a doubt butthat he would be taken away at once. His father looked at him astonished, then smiled and shook his head. 'Oh no, my boy; you belong to your grandmother, not to me. I hear youare going to school soon. I dare say you will find some boys there whowill be as hard to tackle as a run-away bull. ' At this juncture Bobby's aunt entered the room, and the little boyslipped away unnoticed to the hall. His small soul was full ofagonised dismay and bewilderment. Was this to be the end of all hishopes and expectations? His father did not want him; he said he didnot belong to him. This last assertion was like a stab. Bobby stoodlooking out of the front door, which was open, into the sunny gardenbeyond, and there the sight of his father's small motor standingpuffing away upon the drive filled him suddenly with a desperateresolve. 'I won't be left behind. I will go with father. I don't belong tothis old House. I don't belong to grandmother. I belongs to him forever and ever. Amen!' He darted down the steps towards the motor. Then a fear smote him. The little girl. Who was she? Where was she? But the motor wasempty, there was no sign of her. He climbed into the car, and inanother moment was safely tucked out of sight under the seat. He hadbeen accustomed to hide in out of the way corners in his grandmother'spart of the house. He had often, when making secret excursions on hisown account, been nearly surprised by the 'grown-ups. ' Sometimes hehad lain almost breathless under a chintz-covered couch, or crouchedbehind a curtain till the moment of danger was past. His whole soulwas in revolt against his father's decision. He pitifully thought thatif only he explained things to his father, if only he was granted afair hearing, without feeling the cold disapproving gaze of hisgrandmother upon him, he might win his case. So he lay, grasping Nobbles tightly in agony lest he should bediscovered and dragged out of his hiding-place. It seemed hours to himbefore he heard his father's voice and step, and his parting words tohis aunt, who had accompanied him to the hall door, were not reassuring. 'I must see him once again before leaving this part; but I'm quitesatisfied that you can do better for him than I can. ' Then he jumped into his car, and in a moment they were gliding down thedrive and out upon the high-road. A little exultant feeling came toBobby when they were once away and going at full speed. His heartthumped loudly; he was extremely uncomfortable and dared not change hisposition, but he could not help whispering to Nobbles in triumph: 'We're on, Nobbles, and we never will go back to the House again. ' It did not seem very long before the car stopped. Bobby heard men'svoices talking, but he did not move until his father had left the car. Then he peeped out and saw him going into the principal hotel of themarket town. When he had disappeared through the door Bobby crept fromhis hiding-place, and, strangely enough, though there were two or threeostlers standing by, he escaped observation. He was very disappointedto find they were no farther away, for he dreaded being taken back tohis grandmother again. Then his natural hopefulness came to his aid. 'Father will keep me when I tells him how I want him; and if he tellsme to go home I'll come out and hide under the seat. Me and Nobblesdon't mean to leave him now we've found him. ' He pushed the hotel door open, but there was no sign of his father. Nothing disconcerted, Bobby opened every door he saw and peeped insidethe rooms, and when he did not find him downstairs, he climbed upstairs. And at last he was successful. In a comfortable sitting-room hisfather was just in the act of drawing an easy-chair to the window, andthe little girl was by his side. 'Did you see him, dad?' she was asking eagerly. 'Did you see your ownlittle boy? And what was he like? Do tell me. ' Mr. Allonby dropped into his seat with a heavy sigh. 'Not a bit like his mother, True. Very like what I was at his age, I'mafraid. ' 'I belongs to you, father. ' Bobby could keep silence no longer. Decision and some reproach was inhis tone. His father started from his chair as if he had been shot. The little girl laughed and clapped her hands. 'You brought him as a s'prise, dad. You brought him to play with me!' 'On my honour I didn't, True. It's some magic, I think. Come here myboy. How on earth did you get here?' Bobby marched up to his father. He wanted to show what a man he was, but his lips quivered, and his hand grasping Nobbles quivered too. 'I comed in your carriage under the seat. I didn't tell an untroof. Idid walk out on the road to meet you. I've been waiting years and_years_ for you to come for me. ' Then his self-control gave way; he grasped hold of his father's coatand burst into tears. In an instant his father had lifted him upon his knee, and that wasBobby's happy moment. He tried to check his sobs. 'I belongs to you; I don't want to go back to the House nevermore; meand Nobbles have come to stay. ' Mr. Allonby put his hand on the curly head that was now burrowingitself into his waistcoat pocket. 'This is quite a surprise to me, my sonny. Bobby you're called, areyou not? Aren't you happy with your grandmother?' 'I belongs to you, ' Bobby repeated pitifully. 'I knewed you would comefor me one day. _Every_ day I've expecked you. I told Master Mortimeryou couldn't be lost. I knewed you couldn't. ' He raised his face to his father's now, triumphantly, trustingly, andthat look decided his fate. 'You do belong to me, Bobby, and we'llfind a corner for you somewhere; but I mustn't kidnap you in thisfashion. I'll take you back to your grandmother, and talk to her aboutit. She'll be alarmed about you. ' Bobby began to cry again in an agitated fashion. 'I can't go back! Me and Nobbles won't! If you take me back I'll bepunished. The House doesn't want me; and Nurse can come and live withus, father; she'll understand. She know's how I've been looking foryou _every_ day. ' 'But what made you look for me? Who put such an idea in your head?' Bobby stopped his tears to consider, and a slow smile spread over hisface. 'I reely believe it was Nobbles, ' he said, holding up his stick to hisfather admiringly. 'It was ever so many years ago, ' he added hastily. 'Me and Nobbles have always talked about you coming to fetch me awayone day. I fink it was Nobbles who told me first. ' Mr. Allonby gazed at his little son with a comical look of dismay. Then he put him down from his knees and took a few quick turns up anddown the room. At last he turned to the little girl, who was staringat Bobby in silence. 'I want your mother's advice, True; she says I am always makingblunders. I think I'll send a note back to Bobby's grandmother, andinstead of staying here the night we'll motor straight back to motherand ask her what we had better do. We'll take Bobby with us. I don'tknow whether that will be right though. I'm afraid you ought to goback, little chap. ' Mr. Allonby looked very much worried. Bobby shook his heademphatically. 'Me and Nobbles couldn't never go back. We belongs to you. ' 'Oh, bring him to mother, dad. She'll love him; he looks so lovely. And isn't he very like that little boy who got nearly tossed with abull yesterday?' 'He's the same; that's the extraordinary thing. Yes, I'll send thenote, and we'll take him along to mother. His grandmother can send forhim from there if she wants him. ' Mr. Allonby walked to a writing-table and began to write a letter infurious haste. True put out her little fingers and stroked Bobby's velvet sleeve. 'What a nice coat you've got on!' Boy-like, Bobby did not think much of his clothes. 'Who are you?' he asked curiously. 'Dad's little girl. ' 'Father has no one but me, ' said Bobby, with scarlet cheeks. 'I'm hisown proper boy. ' 'Yes, ' said True meekly, 'I know you are. I don't think I'm quite aproper child, because my own father is dead, but dad is my next one, and mother's my _very_ own. She doesn't belong to you at all, only to_me_. ' The relationship puzzled Bobby, and did not altogether please him. Hehad been so accustomed to think of himself and his father quite alone, that this little girl and her mother seemed quite unnecessary. Conversation languished between them until Mr. Allonby had finished hisnote; then he left the room, found a messenger to take it at once, andthen for the next ten minutes all was bustle and confusion gettingready for the return journey. 'If we are quick we shall get home by nine o'clock, True, ' Mr. Allonbysaid as he wrapped a heavy rug round Bobby and tucked him in by hisside in the car. Five minutes afterwards they were going swiftly up the high-road. ToBobby it all seemed a dream. He grasped Nobbles tightly, but no fearassailed him. He had prepared himself too long for the possibility ofgoing off with an unknown father to be much disturbed now. And the strangeness of his journey fascinated him. True on one side ofhim, his father on the other--both strangers to him a few hours ago. They passed in the dusk the identical spot where he had stoodconfronting the bull that same afternoon. It seemed to be a year ago. True looked out as they passed, rather sleepily. 'That's where dad charged the bull! Oh, it was horrid! I thought wewere going to be smashed up!' Bobby snuggled closer to his father's side, and Mr. Allonby saidshortly: 'We won't think any more about that, True. ' It grew darker as they flew along; trees by the roadside began to turnblack and grim. A belt of pinewood looked as if it contained a band ofrobbers ready to spring out upon any unlucky passer-by. The light from their lamps seemed to cast strange shadows across theroad. They passed through two or three villages where the lights fromthe cottage windows looked to Bobby like fallen stars. True soon wentto sleep, but the small boy sat looking out with wide awe-strickeneyes. He had never been out at night before, and everything he saw wasabsorbing. Mr. Allonby did not speak. He was very doubtful as towhether he had acted wisely in taking Bobby off in such a fashion, andwas more than half inclined to turn back and hand him over to hisgrandmother again. He looked down upon him with a mixture of affectionand anxiety. At last, meeting the steadfast gaze of two bright browneyes, he said: 'Well, what do you think of your father, Bobby?' 'You aren't the same as I finked about, ' responded the child readily. 'Tell me how I am different. ' 'I finked you would be a big man with a black beard, who would take meto live in a cave in the mountains, or fight with the Red Ingines. Nurse's brother said he expecked you would be like that. ' 'You want a life of adventure and travel!' Mr. Allonby's eyes sparkled, though he was staring in front of him andmaking his car go beyond the limited speed at this juncture. 'Then you're a proper son of mine, Bobby, and I won't let you go. We'll do some travels together. ' And we'll leave the little girl at home, ' suggested Bobby. His father laughed aloud. 'True? Bless her heart! Do you know where I first met her, Bobby?Careering on a wild prairie; run away on a half-broken colt, and beenlost for two days; and when I took her back to her mother----' He stopped and smiled to himself in the darkness. 'Ah, well! That was a good day in my life, and better ones followed. No, you and True must be friends. Truant is her name by rights, forher mother never could keep her indoors or at home. Now, Bobby, lookahead! Do you see those lights? We go through the town; and justoutside is our home--a very tiny one at present, for we move about; butwe'll find a corner for you. ' He slackened speed. Slowly they passed through the streets of anold-fashioned cathedral town. Soon the houses became more scarce, andat last they came to a standstill before an iron gate in a wall. Truewoke up, and she and Bobby were bundled out. 'Go up to the door; I'll take the car into the shed and join you. ' True pulled Bobby after her up a narrow gravel path. It was dark, butthere was a sweet smell of mignonette and of roses. Bobby was dimlyconscious of two old-fashioned borders of flowers edging their path. Alight shone out of a casement window on the ground floor which wasopen. True ran up to it and put her head in. 'We're back, motherums, and we've brought dad's little boy with us. ' Then she thumped impatiently upon the door till it was opened by anoldish woman. 'Now, Miss True, be quiet; and who's this without a hat?' 'I'm going to take him to Mother, Margot. Let us pass. ' The tiny hall seemed almost like a doll's house to Bobby. He hungback; sudden shyness seized him. 'I think I'll wait for my father, ' he said. True released his hand, and dashed into the front room. Margot lookeddown upon him in puzzled wonder, but a step outside made her smile. 'Ah! Here's the master, ' she murmured; and Mr. Allonby's hand was uponBobby's shoulder the next instant. 'Now, little chap, come and see your new mother. ' Chapter VII. HIS NEW HOME. Bobby's eyes blinked nervously at his father's words. A 'new mother'had never been in his calculations at all. A mother of any sort meantvery little to him; he had never come across one, and vaguely put themin the same category as his grandmother and aunt. He clung hold of hisfather's hand tightly, and then the door was opened, and Bobby's brainreceived the first impression of cosy warmth and comfort, which neverfaded from him in after-life. The room was small compared with hisgrandmother's rooms, but, oh! so different. There was a tiny fireblazing in the grate, a little black-and-white terrier lay basking onthe hearthrug, a lamp in a corner of the room, covered by arose-coloured shade, shed its light on a pretty pink and white chintzcouch underneath it, and upon this couch, leaning back amongst pinkcushions, was Bobby's stepmother. True was already sitting upon afootstool, and her head was in her lap, her mother was stroking backher hair gently and tenderly. Mrs. Allonby looked to most people amere laughing high-spirited girl, with wonderful black hair andmischievous face and eyes, but that was generally the side she showedto outsiders. To her husband and child there was deep, never-dyinglove in her looks and tones; and Bobby caught a glimpse of this, smallboy as he was, when she turned her face towards her husband. 'Come along, wanderer, and confess! Have you been guilty of stealing, and where is your prize? Oh, what a little darling!' She opened her arms to Bobby, and True made way for him. Bobby foundhimself smothered with kisses; he was shy no longer, for he felt theatmosphere of love around him. Standing, with his hand in his stepmother's, he heard his fathertelling his story, and all the time his eyes were roaming round theroom taking everything in with admiration and delight. There was acanary in a cage, a globe of goldfish, bowls of pink and white roses, pictures and books, comfortable easy-chairs, and in the corner adelicious-looking table, spread with a white cloth and shining silver, with a large dish of strawberries in the centre, a junket, and arich-looking plum-cake. Then his eyes came back to his stepmother. She was clad in a white gown, but a crimson wrapper round her seemed tomatch in colour the roses pinned to her breast, and her cheeks viedwith them in hue. 'And so you have kidnapped your own little son! And he himself helpedyou to do it! How can you leave your dear old granny, my boy? She hasloved you and cared for you all these years. Is it kind to run awayfrom her?' Bobby looked up wonderingly. 'I couldn't never be kind to grandmother, ' he said; 'she wouldn't likeit. And it's only fathers who love anybodies; Nurse told me theyalways did. ' 'And not mothers? Ah! you poor little atom, I forgot that you have notknown your mother. ' 'How's the back?' asked Mr. Allonby, looking at his wife with a smile. 'Oh! very good to-day; I've been following you in thought all the time. You see, Bobby, I have to lie here on my back, and my truant andwanderer go out to seek adventures, and come back and amuse me bytelling me all they have seen and heard. Then I mend them up, and sendthem out again, and that's how we spend our life. ' 'Motherums hasn't always lived on her back, ' put in True eagerly. 'Sheused to gallop everywhere on a lov-elly black horse till she got herfall. That was a dre'fful day!' 'So "dre'fful" that we will never talk of it, ' said Mrs. Allonbyquickly. 'Now, True, darling, take Bobby to Margot, and she will get acomfy bed for him in dad's dressing-room. And when he is quite tuckedup in it he shall have a basin of bread and milk and go fast asleeptill to-morrow morning, for I'm sure it is long past his properbedtime. ' Bobby looked longingly towards the table, and Mrs. Allonby noted it. 'That is for father only; he is going to have some hot meat directly;but I think he can spare you six strawberries. True, you can have sixtoo. Bring a plate over here and eat them together. ' So the two children sat down on the rug together, and Bobby felt hewould like to stay there all night. But a little later, when he wasgoing upstairs to bed, he felt very sleepy, and his head had not beenupon his pillow for five minutes before he was fast asleep. He was wakened the next morning by True's voice. 'Oh, do wake up! We've had breakfast already. And oh! you funny boy, you've got your walking-stick in bed with you. ' Bobby resented her tone. 'It isn't a stick, it's Nobbles, ' he said. 'Me and Nobbles alwayssleep together. ' He fingered Nobbles' red cap lovingly, then held him out for True'sinspection. 'He comed from over the sea. He's really alive, though he neverspeaks; but he finks a lot, and whispers to me, but nobody but me canhear him. ' True gazed at Nobbles' smiling face with fascination. 'What does he tell you?' she asked. Bobby's slow smile came. 'He told me last night he liked this house very much; and--he ran awayfrom me in the night--he very often does--he goes up the chimleys, andthe wind takes him journeys. He went to the House to see how Nurse wasgetting on. ' 'Did he? To your grandmother's house? What did she say?' Bobby considered. 'She said to Nurse, "I reely can't be troubled with the child, Nurse;it's your place to look after him. "' 'And what did your nurse say?' 'She wented down to the kitchen and ate some apple tart. And thenNobbles said he came away "'cause nobody wanted me back, " and I'm nevergoing to leave my father no more!' 'Dad is going to see your grandmother now. Motherums told him he oughtto. Do get up and come and see my rabbits. Oh! Here is Margot!' Margot appeared with a breakfast tray, and Bobby lay still and ate anegg and some bread and butter with relish. 'The mistress said you was not to be called, for you were tired out, 'said Margot, by way of explanation. 'And when you've had your bath, and dressed, you can go to her room and see her. Can you dressyourself?' 'I'm nearly sure I can, ' said Bobby bravely. But he was forced to let Margot assist him more than once; and whenready at last, paused before leaving the room, looking up into her facewith a little uncertainty and doubt. 'Do you think they'll all like me here?' he said. 'Bless the child, this be a real home to everyone, though it be small. I've been with the mistress for twenty years. She were a wild slip ofa girl when I took service out in 'Merica. She lost her mother whenshe were eight, and I mothered her after, for her father were a properne'er-do-weel, and were always moving from one ranch to another. MissHelen took after her mother, and got everyone's love. And then herfather got her to marry a rich old settler, so that some of his debtsmight be paid, and he died within a twelvemonth of the marriage, andMiss Helen kept the property together and did for her father till hebroke his neck riding an unbroken horse, and Miss True was all the bitof comfort she had left. She could have married over and over scoresof times; but not she; till Mr. Allonby found Miss True one day andbrought her home, and then I knew how things would end. And when shewould gallop off with him on her big horse, with her laugh and jest, Ilittle thought she'd ever live to lie on her back and never move again. ' The old woman paused. Bobby had not been following her. He onlyrepeated the question, which was an all-important one to him: 'Will they be sure to like me?' 'The mistress has the biggest heart in the world, my dear, and themaster never says a cross word to nobody!' Bobby felt cheered by her tone, and his doubts utterly vanished when hewas held in the close clasp of his stepmother. 'We are going to keep you, Bobby, and I must be prepared to see twosmall children go off every day with my Wanderer. We are going to makethis summer a holiday, to build up and strengthen your father, who hasbeen very ill, and next winter, if we are spared, we must all set towork in earnest. Lessons and school for the little ones, real hardwriting for your father and me. Now, darling, True is calling to youfrom the garden. Run out to her, and the air and sunshine will bringcolour into those pale cheeks of yours. ' 'Me and Nobbles likes to be darlings, ' Bobby informed True a short timeafterwards. 'We aren't darlings with Nurse or grandmother. ' When his father returned, Bobby approached him, almost trembling tohear his fate. 'Well, little chap, ' Mr. Allonby said, 'it has been rather a stormyscene, but I've got you for good and all. And if I had known yourgrandmother considered children such a trouble I never would have leftyou with her all this time. Your nurse is going to drive over thisafternoon and wish you good-bye. She will bring your clothes. Do youthink you will get on with us without a nurse? We are very poor folk, you know, until I write this big book of travels that is going to bringus fame and money, and then--well, you ask True what will happen. ' Bobby smiled contentedly. Things had not turned out quite according tohis expectations, but he was well pleased to have a little playfellowin True, and though she adopted a slightly superior and motherly airwith him, she was a deferential listener to any of Nobbles' exploits. She had no difficulty in believing that he was alive; in fact she wasquite ready to explain his existence in a manner quite new to Bobby. 'You see, ' she said, 'a wicked fairy must have turned him into a stick. He really was a very brave good prince, but he set free a beautifulprincess, who had been a prisoner in the wicked fairy's house, and theway he did it was dressing in her clothes and staying behind while sheput on his and rode away. Then the wicked fairy was so angry when shefound out the trick that she turned him into a stick and said he muststay like it till someone broke the spell. ' 'What's a spell?' asked Bobby. 'Oh, there are lots of spells. The sleeping beauty was in one, youknow. The spell was that she would sleep till a prince kissed her. What we've got to do is to find out the spell for Nobbles, and when wedo the right thing to him he'll wake up, and come alive, and be aprince again. ' Bobby thought over this with a perplexed brow. 'But then he might ride away from me to find the princess, and I shouldbe 'fraid of a grand prince. I like Nobbles best like he is!' 'Oh, but wouldn't you like him to be able to run about and take off hislittle red cap and bow? He wouldn't be any bigger you know; he comesfrom a country where they are all very tiny, and perhaps he will haveforgotten all about the princess and will like to stay with you best. ' 'I'll ask him to-night when we're in bed all about it. He'll be sureto tell me. ' And Bobby's face brightened at the thought. After all, Nobblesbelonged to him, not to True, and if he didn't choose him to be aprince he need not be one. Bobby's interview with Nurse was rather a trying one. He could hardlyunderstand why he should be blamed. 'You knewed my father would come one day, Nurse. I had been expeckinghim every day, and of course I belongs to him, and I had to go afterhim. I was so 'fraid I might lose him again. And I can go all overfather's house and sit in every room, and I've got a new mother and alittle girl to play with, and they calls me "darling!"' Then Nurse astonished him by clasping him in her arms and bursting intotears. 'I never thought you'd have left me. I've been as fond of you as ifyou'd been my own child. It's put me terrible about, losing you sosudden. Why, I meant to stay with you till you went to school. ' Bobby began to get tearful at once. He had a tender little heart, andto see Nurse cry was a great calamity. He was honestly sorry to partwith her; but his father filled his heart, and, childlike, the newscenes and life around him were entirely engrossing him. When Nurse had gone he was called to his father, who was sitting withhis stepmother. True was still playing in the garden. 'I feel I must make acquaintance with my small son, ' Mr. Allonby said, perching him on his knee. 'How is it you have thought such a lot about me?' 'I always knewed you would be nice, ' said Bobby, with a slow shake ofhis head. 'I knewed fathers were. ' 'How many fathers have you known?' 'Only God, ' said Bobby, simply and reverently. 'He is my other Father, isn't He? And He's always good and kind to me. ' Mr. Allonby exchanged glances with his wife. 'You are a little character, I see. Tell me more. Are you a very goodlittle boy?' 'Nurse says no boys are ever good, ' said Bobby, not seeing the twinklein his father's eye. 'I s'pose when I get to be a father I shall be. ' Mr. Allonby began to laugh. His wife shook her head at him. Bobby knitted his brows, then turned questioner. 'Did you fink I would be like what I am, father?' His tone was anxious. He added hurriedly: 'I'm not a baby now, I can walk miles and miles, and I'm going to dressmyself all alone to-morrow. ' 'That's right. I want my son to be plucky and independent andhonourable. If you're that sort I shall be quite satisfied. What doyou say, Helen?' Mrs. Allonby looked at Bobby rather tenderly. 'I don't think he needs to be very independent yet, ' she said. 'What does it mean?' asked Bobby. 'And what does honourable mean?It's plucky when you hurt yourself and don't cry, isn't it?' 'Independent is doing things for yourself and standing alone. Honourable is everything a gentleman ought to be--truthful, honest, andstraight, with right thoughts about everything. I think you're plucky. You're not afraid of anything, I hope. ' Bobby did not answer for a minute. He had heard enough to fill hissmall brain with fresh thought. 'I'm not afraid of anybody if I have Nobbles with me, ' he said. His father laughed again, then put him off his knee. 'I have letters to write. Run away now and play with True. ' So Bobby went, revolving many things in his mind. And an hour later, when he was getting tired of romping with True, he sat down on thegrass underneath an apple-tree. 'I like Nobbles to be good, ' he confided to True; 'but I'm 'fraid hecan't be ind'pendent. He's plucky, he's afraid of nobody, and loves togive anyone a good beating; and he's quite, quite straight, so he'shon'rable, but he can't stand alone, or do things for himself. ' 'Can't he? You give him to me. I'll make him stand up. ' True had seized hold of Nobbles and stuck him triumphantly two inchesinto the ground, where he stood smiling at them. Bobby did not approve of this treatment. 'You're not to touch him. He doesn't belong to you. ' 'He's only a stick!' True's tone was scornful. For the first time Bobby began to feel angrywith her. 'He's my Nobbles, and I like him much better than you. ' He hugged his stick and walked off. True pursued him. 'He's only a stick, ' she repeated. 'I could break him in half if Itried!' 'You're a horrid girl, and I wish my father would send you away. Youdon't belong to him and me at all!' 'You don't belong to us!' cried True excitedly. 'Dad and me alwaysgoes out together, and we'll leave you behind. We don't want you atall. We was ever so happy before you came. You'd better go back tothat old House of yours. We don't want you!' It takes so little to make a quarrel. Fiery little True rushed intoher mother in a passion of tears, declaring that she hated Bobby andwould never play with him again; and Bobby was found some minutes laterby Margot lying face downwards in the garden crying as if his heartwould break. 'I'll never be happy again. She says I don't belong here, ' he sobbed. Peace was made at last, for Margot took him straight into Mrs. Allonby, who talked to both children as only she could talk, lovingly, gently, but very firmly. When girl and boy were both safely tucked away in bedthat night, she said to her husband: 'Oh, Frank, shall we have a divided house?' 'Never!' he said cheerfully. 'Both these youngsters have had thingstheir own way. Now they will have to give and take, and it will dothem each a power of good. ' She smiled, and her anxious look disappeared. 'If we are of one mind it will be easy, ' she said. And her husband replied: 'Your mind and will rule this household, darling. I shall leave myboy's training to you. ' Chapter VIII A LETTER FROM ABROAD. 'They look like the gates in the City. ' Bobby and True were lying upon the grass under a shady group of trees. They had been out motoring with their father all the morning, and hadstopped to have their lunch up a by-road. They had had a merry meal, and then after it was over Mr. Allonby told them they had better staywhere they were whilst he took his motor back to the neighbouringvillage to get some slight repairs done to it. 'It is very warm, so stay here quietly, and don't wander far from thisplace, or I shall not find you again. ' He went. For a short time they amused themselves quietly by theroadside. Then they thought they would like to see where the road tookthem, and walked up it until suddenly they were stopped by some verytall white iron gates. They peeped through the bars of them. Therewas a small lodge inside, but there seemed no one about. A long, broad, beautifully-kept drive went straight up to a white, turretedhouse in the distance. It looked almost like a castle. They tried toopen the gates, but they were locked. Then they threw themselves downupon the grass outside, and Bobby thoughtfully said, as he eyed thegates in front of them: 'They look like the gates in the City. ' 'What city?' asked True. 'It's a Bible city. Do you know about the gates kept by angels? Theylead up to heaven, and the road is just like that in there, only thereare people walking up them in white dresses. We shall have to getfrough them some day. 'It'll be very nice, ' said True comfortably. Bobby looked at her, and his mouth pursed itself up gravely. 'Everybodies don't get frough. Some are shut outside. ' 'Oh! Why?' 'Because they haven't white dresses on. My grandmother has a beautifulBible with beautiful picshers in it, and the picsher of the lovelygates says: "Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of theLamb, that they may have right to the tree of life, and enter in froughthe gates into the City. " I learnt that tex'. Lady Isobel teached itto me. ' 'What's the tree of life?' asked True. Bobby pointed inside the gate to a big beech-tree halfway up the drive. 'It's like that, but it has lovely golden apples on it. And the angelsstand at the gate, and won't let nobody frough with a dirty dress. ' True glanced at her brown holland frock, which was smeared with green. 'My frocks never keep clean after half an hour, ' she said with a littlesigh. 'You have to get a nice white frock from Jesus, ' went on Bobby, pleasedwith his role as teacher. 'He washes your dirty one in His blood. You know, when He died on thecross, that's how He shed His blood. And it turns all dirty thingswhite and clean. Lady Is'bel teached me it did. ' 'I don't believe Jesus Christ really washes frocks, ' said True. 'I'venever heard He does. It would be--be like a washerwoman. ' Bobby leant across to her eagerly. 'You don't un'stand prop'ly. It's a inside white frock over ourhearts. Nobody sees it but Jesus and the angels at the gate--and God. Our hearts are quite dirty and black till we ask Jesus to wash them andput the white dress on. Why, I had mine done long ago--d'reckly Iheard 'bout it. You ought to have yours. You'll never get inside thegates if you don't, and it would be quite dre'fful to be shut out. 'When is it?' asked True, deliberating. 'When is what?' 'The gates being opened. ' 'I think it's when you die, you want to get frough, ' said Bobby. 'Then I can wait till I die!' said True. 'What a silly girl you are!' Bobby's tone was almost contemptuous. 'I'm not silly. ' 'Yes you are. Fancy waiting when you can have it now. Why, you mightdie in a hurry, and then Jesus might be doing something else, andmightn't come to you in time. I'm all ready now. The tex' says I've a_right_ to go in at the gates _now_, if I wanted to. ' He stopped talking, for up the lane came a carriage, and it stopped atthe gates. Both the children sprang to their feet. They saw a woman in a whiteapron hurry out from the lodge and open the gate; they saw the carriagepass through and the gates close again. Then Bobby spoke very solemnly: 'Did you see who was in the carriage? A lady in a _white_ dress, andshe had a _right_ to pass frough. ' 'You are a funny boy, ' said True with a little laugh. 'She belonged tothe house, and she's just going home. ' 'Well, ' argued Bobby, 'I belong to the golden City, and I shall have aright to go in--the tex' says so; and I shall be going home; becauseyou know, True, God is my other Father, and God lives at home inheaven. ' There was silence, then True said: 'We had better go back to dad. I'll ask mother next Sunday about thosegates, and see if you've told me true. She always talks good to me onSunday afternoon. ' Bobby turned away from the white gates with reluctance. 'Would it be wicked to play at going in at those gates?' he asked. 'Wemight come another day by ourselves and try to get in. ' 'So we will, ' said True. 'It couldn't be wicked if we play what's inthe Bible, because everything is good there. ' They returned to the spot where Mr. Allonby had arranged to meet them. He was just appearing along the road, and when they were tucked safelyin the car again Bobby said: 'Who lives inside the big white gates up that road, father?' 'I don't know, my boy. I don't know this part of the country. ' 'How far are we from home?' asked True. 'About twenty miles. ' The children sighed simultaneously. Then True said: 'We'll never get there, Bobby. ' 'P'raps we shall pass some other white gates nearer home, ' he suggested. 'Why do you want them?' asked their father. Bobby laid his hand on his coat sleeve impressively. 'They're so like the gates into heaven, father. ' Mr. Allonby looked startled. 'Have you been there, sonny?' 'No; but I've seen them in a picsher. ' 'Well?' 'I was splaning to True about them. ' Bobby was a wee bit shy of his father. He could not talk quite freelyto him yet. He was so terribly afraid of being laughed at, and Mr. Allonby was not good at hiding his amusement at some of his son'squaint speeches. 'It's kind of Sunday talk, ' put in True eagerly, 'about angels, andwhite dresses, and washing. ' 'Ah!' said Mr. Allonby, 'then you must take your puzzles to the angelof our house. She will tell you all you want to know. ' 'That's mother, ' said True in a whisper to Bobby. 'She's father'sangel. He is awful 'fraid she will get some wings and fly away oneday. ' Other topics engrossed their small minds; but upon the next Sundayafternoon, when they were both sitting by Mrs. Allonby's sofa and shewas giving them a Bible lesson out of her big Bible, True brought upthe subject. 'Will you read us about the gates of heaven, mother? Bobby says he'llbe let inside, and I shall be shut out. ' 'No, I didn't. ' 'Yes, you did. ' 'We won't have any quarrelling. What do you want to hear about?' 'The gates, ' said Bobby, 'the beautiful gates. It's the last page ofthe Bible. I know it is. Will you read, True, the tex' about having aright to enter? It begins, "Blessed----"' Mrs. Allonby had no difficulty in finding it. She read very slowly. 'Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right tothe tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City. ' 'There!' said True, 'it doesn't say anything about washing, Bobby. ' Bobby looked sorely perplexed. 'Lady Is'bel teached it to me out of the Talian Bible. "Blessed arethey that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, that they may haveright to the tree of life, and may enter in frough the gates into theCity. " That's my tex', I know it is. ' Mrs. Allonby smiled at his disconsolate face. 'It is another version, Bobby. ' 'But isn't it true?' he questioned. 'You see it's so 'ticular to me, 'cause I've had my robe washed. I knows I have, and I thought I wasquite ready to go in. ' 'You're quite right, darling. Listen to this verse about the City. "There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth. " No onecan be allowed in if they are stained with sin, no dirt, no impurity. We must have had our hearts washed white before we can go in. OnlyJesus can do this; but we must not think that is all we have to do. What makes our hearts dirty and black?' 'Being naughty, ' said True. 'Yes. We must ask Jesus to help us do His commandments, so as to keepour hearts clean. The two go together; and it is very important theyshould. If Bobby says his heart is washed by Jesus, and then quarrels, and loses his temper and wants his own way, I shall know something isnot right. Remember you must be washed, and you will want to be washedevery day again and again, but you must try to keep clean by doing Hiscommandments. Everyone you break leaves a stain upon your robe, andgrieves your Saviour. ' 'Oh dear, oh dear!' sighed Bobby, 'He'll get quite tired of me, I knowHe will. I think I'm much wickeder here than I was at grandmother's. ' 'And I'm wickeder since you came to us, ' said True, nodding her head athim. 'You do make me so awful angry by things you say!' Bobby looked quite crushed. 'Isn't it quite certain I'll be let inside?' he asked. Mrs. Allonby smiled. 'Thank God you can be quite certain of that, Bobby. It doesn't dependon what we do, but upon what Jesus did for us. Let me tell you alittle story. Two little girls were going to be taken out to tea oneafternoon with their mother. Their names were Nellie and Ada. Theywere dressed in clean white frocks, and told they might walk up anddown the garden path till their mother joined them. "But don't go onthe grass, " she said, "or you may soil your frocks. It has beenraining, and it is wet and muddy. " For a short time they walked up anddown the path as good as gold. Then Ada saw a frog hop away over thegrass. She forgot her mother's command, and ran after it. The grasswas slippery; she fell, and her clean frock was all smeared and spoiltby muddy streaks. Her mother came out and was very vexed. "Now, Ada, you will have to stay at home. I can't take you in a dirty frock. Itwill serve you right for being so disobedient. " Ada cried and sobbed, and said she was sorry, and begged to be taken. But her mother saidno. Then Nellie, who loved her sister, and was an unselfish littlegirl, said: "Mother, dear, do take Ada, she is so sorry; let me stay athome, and then she can wear my frock. " At first the mother wouldn'thear of this, but Nellie begged so hard that at last she consented. Ada's dirty frock was taken off her and Nellie's clean one put on her. She went to the party and Nellie stayed at home. Now don't you think, as she walked along with her mother, that she would be very careful notto dirty Nellie's clean frock? I think she would be more careful thanever. Jesus Christ kept His robe pure and spotless. He never sinnedat all, so His robe is put over us, and we can enter the gates. Butoughtn't we to be very careful not to sin, just to show Him how wevalue our robe, how we love Him for being so kind and good to us?'Mrs. Allonby paused. Bobby nodded his head very solemnly at her. 'Me and Nobbles will 'member that story. I'll tell him it in bed. Youknow sometimes I make Nobbles do naughty things, but sometimes'--herethe twinkle came into the brown eyes--'sometimes Nobbles puts naughtythings in my head. He whispers them to me in bed. ' 'That isn't Nobbles, ' said True, in her downright fashion, 'that's theDevil, isn't it, motherums?' 'No, ' asserted Bobby, 'it's Nobbles, all by himself. P'raps Satan mayhave whispered to him first. Shall I tell you what he wants me to doto-morrer?' 'Oh, do!' True's eagerness to hear Bobby's inventions got the betterof her. Mrs. Allonby said nothing. She liked the children to talkfreely before her, and she gained a good deal by being listenersometimes. 'You know those top pears on the wall what _won't_ fall down? Nobblessays if I get on a chair and reach up he'll hit them down, and then Ican pick them up. We was finking about doing it first thing beforebreakfus' to-morrer!' 'But it would be _you_ that would do it; and dad said we weren't totouch them unless they were on the ground. ' 'It wouldn't be me, it would be Nobbles, ' insisted Bobby. 'I couldn'treach up half so high. ' 'Then if Nobbles does it, ' said Mrs. Allonby, very quietly, 'I shallhave to punish him. I shall shut him up in a cupboard for a whole day. ' Bobby looked quite frightened. 'Me and Nobbles have never been away from each other, never once!' 'Then I should take care he does nothing naughty. After all, Bobby, darling, he can't do anything unless you help him, can he?' 'No, ' said Bobby slowly; 'and if him and me knocked those pears down itwould make a black mark on my robe, wouldn't it!' 'Indeed it would!' 'Then we'll 'cidedly not do it, ' said Bobby with emphasis. 'I'm goingto try hard to be always good--for evermore!' It needed hard trying, poor Bobby found, especially when he and Trueboth wanted their own way at the same time, and they could not makethose ways agree. But gradually they learnt lessons of forbearance andpatience, and mutually helped each other to be unselfish. One morning Bobby had a letter brought him by the postman. He turnedit over with the greatest pride and interest. It had been redirectedto him by his grandmother. 'I've never had a letter from anybody, ' he said. 'Oh, be quick and open it, ' urged True, dancing round him. 'All sortsof things happen when you get letters. It might be from the King, orfrom a fairy godmother, or a princess!' Bobby's fingers trembled as he opened the envelope. 'P'raps, ' continued True, who was never wanting for ideas, 'you've gota fortune left you, and a lot of money will tumble out. ' But it was only a letter, and though the writing was very clear andplain, Bobby begged his father to read it to him. The children had breakfast with their father always. Mrs. Allonby didnot leave her room till later in the morning. Mr. Allonby read the letter through, and Bobby leant forward in hischair listening to it with open eyes and mouth. 'MY DEAREST LITTLE BOBBY-- 'Have you forgotten the sad lady in her garden, I wonder? The one youcomforted by your sweet quaintness and loving-heartedness? I haveoften thought of you in this hot country, and now I am feeling rathersad again, I thought I would cheer myself up by writing to my littlefriend. 'I had such a happy time when I first came out, Bobby. Do you rememberthe picture of the golden gates? I found the little black children andwomen here were so interested in hearing about it that I set to workand drew and painted a big picture after the fashion of that beautifulone in your grandmother's Bible. I used to draw a good deal when I wasa girl, but my attempt is very poor when I think of the original. Still the children here were so delighted with it that I wondered ifyou would be too. So I set to work to paint another, and this one iscoming to you through the post. Perhaps Nurse will hang it up in yournursery for you. How is Nobbles? Give him my love. I hope he doesn'tcut off the heads of the poor flowers now. He will be older and wiserI expect. Are you still sitting up in bed at night and fancying youhear your father's knock? Or do you sit in your apple-tree and thinkyou see him coming along the road? How I hope he will arrive home oneday and take you by surprise! I have not forgotten that I am to try tofind him for you, and curiously enough I heard his name mentioned theother evening when I was dining with some old friends of mine. And whodo you think was talking about him, Bobby? Your Uncle Mortimer. Isn'tit funny that I should meet him out here? I knew him when I was alittle girl, but of course he did not remember me. There was a MajorKnatchbull, who had met your father in South America, but he had notseen him for several years. I told your uncle that I wanted to findyour father, and then we discovered that we had both promised the samesmall boy to do so. How I hope we shall succeed in our quest! Now Imust tell you why I am feeling sad. I have not been well since I cameout here, and the doctors tell me that I must not stay in India. Sothat means I must give up my work, which I was beginning to love, andcome back to my empty house and home. Will you come and comfort me ifI do? It won't be just yet, for I shall stay out here till the rainyseason is over. Good-bye, my darling. If you can write me a littleletter I shall be so glad to get it. Your Uncle Mortimer has justasked me to go for a ride with him, so I must stop. Your very loving friend, ISOBEL GRANTHAM. ' 'Well, ' said Mr. Allonby, 'that letter comes from a nice woman, Bobby. Who is she? And how many people have you set to work looking for yourmissing father?' Bobby looked up gravely. 'Only her and Master Mortimer. I likes them both 'normously. Isn't ita long letter? And, oh dear! if she's home I shan't see her. ' 'Would you like me to take you back to your grandmother?' Bobby slipped down from his chair and caught hold of his father's handwith imploring eyes. 'Father, dear, you won't do it, will you? You'll never let me leaveyou?' Mr. Allonby took him upon his knee and gave him one of his rare kisses. 'I'm afraid I'm not good enough to be your father, sonny. You expectsuch a lot from me, and I can only give so little. I shall be aterrible disappointment to you all round. ' But Bobby laid his curly head against his father's shoulder and claspedhim round the neck. 'I belongs to you, and you belongs to me, ' he said, with infinitesatisfaction in his tone, and Mr. Allonby answered, with a littleembarrassed laugh: 'And finding's keeping, my little boy. We'll hold together for thepresent, at any rate. ' Chapter IX. 'SHE HAS LEFT US!' Of course Lady Isobel's letter had to be answered, and the wonderfulnews told of Bobby's change of home. His letter took him a long timeto write, and True helped him a great deal. Mrs. Allonby sent it as itwas, with all the imperfections of spelling and many a blot anderasure; but she added a little note herself, as Bobby's left much tobe explained. 'MY DEAR LADY FREND-- 'Me and Nobbles is kite wel, so is True. Father came at last. Hetuked me in a motor home. I have a knew mother. She is very nice. Wesaw sum reel wite gates, but they was loked. We mene to find sum more. Me and Nobbles runned away and hid under the sete. We did not go backno more. Plese come and see me in this house, and giv Master Mort'mermy best luv. I warnt to see him agen. I went in the rode to mete myfather and he comed, but I did not no him. Thank you verry much forthe piksher. I shall like it wen it comes and so will True. Shespells my leter for me. Your loving boy, BOBBY. ' And when the letter was sent, Bobby set himself to watch for hispicture. It came very soon, and to his eyes was a miracle of beauty. Mrs. Allonby had it framed for him and hung up over his bed in thedressing-room. He was never tired of looking at it, and what pleasedhim most was a little boy about his own age just being let inside thegates by a kind faced angel. 'Look at his white dress; not one tiny spot, Nobbles, ' he wouldexclaim. 'That's me going in, and I shall walk right up the street toGod like that. ' There was a dark corner in the picture, and two weeping people beingturned away. In fact it was as nearly like the original as it couldbe, only it was much bigger, and the gates were lovely in their goldand white paint. True admired it as much as he did, and would often come and stand andlook at it with delight and awe. 'I wonder if I have a right to go inside, ' she said. 'I love having aright to do things, then no one can stop me. ' 'It's wearing a white robe gives you right, ' said Bobby. 'Yes, and doing the Commandments, ' responded True quickly; 'that's thediffercult part. But I mean to be inside, not outside, I tell youthat!' Many delightful excursions did the children have with their father, butthe summer days began to shorten and the sun appeared less often, andMrs. Allonby kept them more at home. She herself did not get stronger. Her appetite failed. Gradually she came downstairs less, and kept inbed more. Mr. Allonby grew careworn and anxious, the doctor appearedvery often, and still Bobby and True played together gleefully, withlittle idea of the black shadow that was going to fall upon their happyhome. Then one bright sunny morning True asked Mr. Allonby if he would givethem a ride in his car. He looked at her for an instant in silence, then said slowly: 'No, we must do without motor drives now; I am going to sell it. ' 'Sell it! Oh, dad, you mustn't!' 'I must, ' he said; 'I want to give your mother all the comfort and easeI can, and we are poor people. Besides, I shall have no heart foranything now. ' 'Why?' questioned True. 'Don't ask so many questions, ' Mr. Allonby said sharply, and he was soseldom vexed with them that the children looked at each other withdismayed faces. Later that morning Mr. Allonby was wandering moodily up and down hisstrip of garden smoking his pipe; his head was bent, his hands looselyclasped behind him. Suddenly he felt a soft little hand take hold ofone of his. 'Father, dear, do tell me about your sad finks. I know they're sadfrom your face. ' It was Bobby. His father looked down upon him for a minute, thenwithout a word led him into a field which ran up at the back of theirgarden. He paced the whole length of the field with his little sonbefore he spoke again, and then, leaning against a five-barred gate, hesaid heavily: 'I can't hold up against it, sonny! I was a worthless creature tillshe took me in hand, and now, when she is making something of me, whenwe are going to peg away together at the book which is going to makeour fortune, she is going to leave me. I can't live without her! Ishall go to the dogs!' 'Is it mother you mean? Oh, father, we won't let her leave us! Whydoes she want to go?' 'She doesn't; it is cruel fate. Bobby, my boy, life is an utterfailure. Oh! I don't know what I am saying, or why I am talking likethis. Your mother is dying fast, can't you see it? I hoped she wasgetting stronger, but the doctor says it has only been her strong willthat has got her downstairs at all. Oh, Helen, you're too young, toofull of life and spirit to be taken! I will not believe it!' He folded his arms on the top bar of the gate and dropped his head uponthem with a groan. Bobby stood perfectly still; the news was soastounding, so bewildering, that he could hardly take it in. 'Is mother going through the golden gate now?' he asked. There was no answer. Then Bobby climbed up on the gate with a longingdesire to comfort his father. He had never seen a grown-up person introuble before, and it was with the greatest effort he preventedhimself from bursting into tears. 'Father, dear, don't cry! It's a lovely thing when God calls people. Mother tolded us herself last Sunday it was. And p'raps God will takeher for a visit, and then send her back again. Is she reely going intoheaven soon? Oh, wouldn't it be nice if we could all go with her! MayI run and tell True; and may we just ask mother about it a little?' 'Leave me, child! Run away!' And when his pattering footsteps haddied away Bobby's father said in bitterness of spirit: 'Heartlesslittle scamp! He is enjoying the sensation of it!' But he misunderstood Bobby. The child had never seen death, and didnot understand it in the least; his vision was steadfastly fixed on thelife hereafter. What wonder that the glories of it eclipsed thepresent shadow! True received his news first incredulously, then stamped and stormed inhelpless passion. 'Mother shan't die! She shan't be put in the ground! Bobby, we'llkeep her from going. Oh, mother, mother! we couldn't live without you!' A burst of tears followed, in which Bobby joined her from verysympathy. Then softly they stole up the steep narrow stairs to theirmother's room. They met Margot at the door. 'Oh dear!' she sighed, as she saw their faces, 'I s'ppose your fatherhas been and told you. The missis is quite nicely this morning, andwants to see you. Now if you go in, no tears, mind--nothing to makeher sad. You must make believe you're glad she's going, same as I do. ' A husky sob broke in the faithful servant's voice. She signed to thechildren to go in, and turned away abruptly herself. Hand in hand, on tiptoe, they stole to their mother's bedside. Surely she was better with such a pink colour in her cheeks! Shesmiled brightly at them, but her voice was weak and low. 'I haven't seen you for two days, darlings! Tell me what you've beendoing. ' 'I've been in the field with father, ' said Bobby, taking one of Mrs. Allonby's hands in his, and very gently raising it to his lips to kiss. 'We've comed to tell you that we are very glad you're going through thegates, but we would like you to ask God to let you come back to us verysoon. ' Sudden tears came to Mrs. Allonby's eyes. 'I think you must come to me, ' she said almost in a whisper. 'We should like to do that very much, said Bobby bravely. 'True and meare ready, we fink. ' 'But, darlings, ' went on Mrs. Allonby, 'you must not feel impatient ifGod does not send for you just yet. I want my little daughter to growup to be a comfort to her father, to keep the house tidy, do hismending, have comfortable little meals for him, and let him always feelhe has a home and a little daughter waiting for him. ' 'And me?' questioned Bobby eagerly. 'What must I do for him? Ibelongs to him besides True. ' 'You belong to him more than True does. I want you to be his littlecompanion. Go out with him, talk to him, tell him about your lovelypicture, let him feel he cannot get on without you. Oh, Bobby, dear, you love your father with all your heart and soul! Show it to him byyour life. I want you two to be inseparable. I shall pray you may be. ' A glorious light dawned in Bobby's eyes. He caught Mrs. Allonby'smeaning. 'I'll die for him if I can, ' he said fervently; and deep down in hisheart he meant what he said. True stood looking at her mother with sadly pathetic eyes. 'When are you going, mother? Oh, I think God might do without you alittle longer. I won't pretend I want you to go; I won't. ' 'My little girl, I know you don't want me to leave you; and at first Ifelt just like you do. But I have been lying here talking to God, andHe has been talking to me, and now I know that He makes no mistakes, and is doing the very best for all of us by taking me now. I shalllook for you and father, and one day we shall be all together again, Ihope, in that beautiful country that now seems so far away. ' There was a little silence in the room; then Mrs. Allonby turned toBobby. 'Bobby, dear, will you say me that verse in that old Italian Bible ofyour grandmother's? Somehow, now I am so near the gates, it seems tobring me more comfort than our English version. I have so often brokenGod's commandments. But the other--is so simple--so comforting!' Bobby repeated his favourite verse with glad assurance. '"Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, thatthey may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gatesinto the City. "' 'Yes, ' said Mrs. Allonby when he had finished, 'when we come near thegates, Bobby, and all our life rises before us with all our sins, it isthe thought of the Lamb's precious blood that brings us peace andcourage. I like the verse about doing His commandments for life; butfor death your verse is far and away the best. ' The children could hardly follow this. True climbed upon the bed andsat close to her mother. 'Is it a very nice thing to die, mother?' she asked. 'My darling, it is nice to feel that our dear Saviour is holding metight. "Lo, I am with you alway, " He says to me. And so I am content. ' 'Oh, ' said Bobby, 'I should like to see the gates open and let you in. Will you walk up the street by those lovely trees? And will you cometo the gates to meet us when it's our time?' Mrs. Allonby smiled her answer, and Margot now crept softly in and toldthe children they must go. 'I must have a kiss from each of them, ' Mrs. Allonby said feebly. 'Idon't think--I never know, Margot, whether I shall get through anothernight. ' So they kissed her, and reluctantly left the room. That was a strange, long day to them. Mr. Allonby came in and spent the rest of the day inhis wife's room. The children had to go to bed without wishing himgood-night. Bobby unhung his picture and placed it on thedressing-table opposite his bed, where he could look at it. In theearly morning he lay gazing at it with fascinated eyes. He followed inthought his mother's arrival there, her entrance through the gates, andher triumphal march up to the shining, golden throne in the distance. He seemed to hear the blast of trumpets, the rapt singing of the angelsattending her, and he was completely lost in his vision when he wassuddenly roused by his father's entrance. He looked strangely untidyand wretched, his little boy thought. Bobby was peculiarly susceptibleto outside appearances. His father was dressed in his ordinary tweedsuit, but his eyes were haggard, his hair rough, his white collarcrumpled, and his face heated and tear-stained. He came in impulsively and threw himself on his knees by his child'sbed. 'Oh, Bobby, little chap, she has gone, she has left me, and I'vepromised to meet her again! We must help each other. May God Himselfteach me, for I'm not fit to teach you. I don't know how I shall getthrough life without her. I always felt that since her accident shehas been too good to live. She never made one murmur. ' Bobby opened his mouth to speak, then stopped, and tears crowded intohis eyes. 'Is she really gone, father? Oh, how could God take her so quick? Idid want to say a proper good-bye. Look, father, dear, at my picsher. Is she inside by this time, do you think? How long does it take to goto heaven?' Mr. Allonby took up his little son's picture and gazed at it with keeninterest, then he put it down with a heavy sigh. 'Yes, she's there right enough, sonny. I don't doubt that. Shall wesay a little prayer together--you and I--for I feel quite unable forwhat is before me. ' So the grown-up man knelt by the small bed, and Bobby jumped up andknelt by his side, and in very broken, faltering accents he prayed: 'Merciful God, have pity on me and my children; be with us now she hasleft us. Help me to do my duty; forgive my selfish life. I want to bedifferent; change me; set me right; make me what she wanted me to be. Bless this boy here, make him a better man than his father. And thelittle motherless girl--how can I take care of her? Have pity and helpus all for Christ's sake. Amen. ' It was a prayer that Bobby never forgot all his life, and he neverspoke of it to anyone. Childlike, he kept it wrapped up in his heart. He was puzzled at his father's distress; he thought no grown-up personever cried; but his whole being quivered afresh with loving devotion tothe father who now had only himself and True to comfort him. Chapter X. 'WE'RE GOING TO FIND A GOVERNESS!' Those were strange sad days to Bobby and True. But one engrossingthought helped them along, and that was how they could be a comfort totheir father. Margot ordered the household. Mr. Allonby came in andout, speaking little to anyone. He took long walks by himself, andwould shut himself up for hours in his den writing, or trying to write, the book that was going to bring him a fortune. Autumn crept on; the days grew short, and dark, and at last Margotventured to have a talk with her master. 'It will be about the children's schooling, ' she said hesitatingly. 'Miss True is getting a big girl--and Master Bobby----' 'Oh!' groaned her master, 'how am I to send them away from me? But Iam thinking over plans, Margot. I want to get away from this tinyhouse. I think of going to London, and perhaps going abroad again. Let the children run wild a little longer, then when we move to LondonI can settle something. ' Margot withdrew. She had said her say, and dreaded any change herself. One evening after their tea was over, Mr. Allonby broached the subjectto the children himself. The little sitting-room was very cosy in thefirelight. True was sitting with an air of immense importance tryingto darn a worsted sock of her father's. Margot had been giving herlessons, and with a very big needle, and a thread that was so long thatit continually got itself into knots, she worked away at an alarminglooking hole in the heel. Bobby and Nobbles were lying on the hearthrug; they had been looking ata picture-book together; but directly Mr. Allonby spoke, the book wasshut and Bobby was all attention. 'I'm afraid your idle time must soon come to an end, ' he said. 'Margotis reminding me what little dunces you are. Can either of you read abook properly yet?' 'I can, ' said True. 'I read to Bobby often; but I'm rather tired of mybooks. I know them all by heart. ' 'I can nearly read, ' said Bobby. 'I reads to Nobbles often. ' 'Oh, that's only your make up!' said True, a little scornfully. 'Youcan't read long words at all; you know you can't. But, dad, you won'tsend us to school, will you--not away from you?' 'I'm afraid I must. ' Bobby's look of horror made his father smile. He lifted him upon hisknee. 'Every boy goes to school, Bobby. You don't want to be a baby always, do you?' 'Mother said, ' asserted Bobby gravely, 'that I was to be your littlekerpanion; she didn't want me never to leave you. ' 'You're a first-rate little companion, sonny. I shall miss you verymuch; but I must think of your good first. There don't seem to be anynice schools near here, nor do I know of anyone who would come andteach you for an hour or two. And I can't afford to live on here. Imust go to London, I think, and set to work at something. I heardto-day from an old friend of mine who wants me to join anotherexploring party. Perhaps I may do this. In any case I fear our littlehome will be broken up. ' Bobby looked up into his father's face with a quivering under lip. 'Are you going to send me back to grandmother? I've had such a tiny, weeny time with you. I reely don't think I'll live away from you, father, again. I couldn't expeck and expeck every day for you to comeback to me, and then have you never come. And I'll promise true andfaithful to be good if you'll take me with you. ' 'And I promised mother faithful I'd have a comf'able home for youalways, dad. She told me I was to. I don't think she'd like it at allif we was sent away from you. ' Mr. Allonby looked at the eager children's faces thoughtfully. 'I shouldn't be going abroad till the spring. If I could find someoneto teach you we might be together for the winter. But I can't stayhere. I must be nearer town. We never meant to stay here after theautumn. We came down because of my health. I am well now. Perhaps Ican get some cheap lodgings just out of town, where Margot would lookafter you. We will see. ' 'That will be very nice, ' said True, darning away with increased speedand importance. 'I'm growing awfully fast, dad, and I'll be able tolook after the lodgings for you. ' 'And you won't never send me back to grandmother's?' said Bobbyanxiously. No, indeed, I won't. I heard to-day, by-the-bye, that your grandmotherwas very ill. ' Bobby did not speak for a minute. Then he said slowly: 'I wonder if she'd like to see me afore she dies. ' 'Oh, we won't think she is as bad as that, ' said his father cheerfully. He went up to London the next day, and stayed away three whole days. True and Bobby felt very forlorn. They quarrelled a good deal, andMargot at last lost patience with them. 'Ain't you ashamed of yourselves? And the grass not green yet on yourmother's grave. What must she think if she's allowed to get a glimpseof you?' 'It's all Bobby; he's so mastering, ' said True; 'and I'm the oldest;and he ought to do what I tell him. ' 'And you angerise me, ' said Bobby, determined to use as long words asTrue did; 'and you make my white dress all dirty. I try to be ever sogood; but you go on and on, and I'm getting wickeder and wickeder!' A little sob came up in his throat. Bobby had the sincere desire to begood, but he found it very hard to knock under to True, who was quitedetermined in her own mind that she ought to be the ruler. They welcomed their father back joyfully. He seemed very tired, butmore cheerful than he had been for a long time. 'I have found some rooms in West Kensington quite cheap, and I reallythink we shall be very comfortable there. It will be cheaper thanliving out of town. I can only manage three rooms; but Margot willhave one with you, True, and Bobby and I will have the other; andthere's quite a nice front sitting-room. You will be able to watch allthe traffic in the street from its window. 'Are you very, very poor, dad?' asked True. 'I have enough to keep you in food and clothes, ' said Mr. Allonby, 'andfor schooling, I hope; but it will be a tight fit until I get my bookwritten. ' Margot sighed when she heard they were to go to London, but True andBobby were delighted. They enjoyed the bustle of packing; and when, one dull November day, they were whirled away in the train towardstheir new home they were beside themselves with delight. It was darkwhen they got out of the train. The drive across London in a cabthrough the brilliantly lighted streets was enchanting to them; andwhen they reached their lodgings, and were allowed to sit up to a latesupper with their father, consisting of mutton-chops and cheese andpickles, Bobby informed his father that it was better than any birthdaytreat. They went to bed very happy but very tired, and for the next few daysthe novelty of their surroundings kept them quiet and good. Bobby hada real thirst for information, and, when his father took him out, proved a very interesting little companion. True was delighted to goshopping with Margot, who was so disgusted with the landlady's cooking, and so miserable at having so little housework to do, that she nevergave Mr. Allonby any rest till he arranged that she should have the useof the kitchen stove for a part of the day. It was about the second week after their arrival that Bobby heard ofhis grandmother's death. It awed him, but did not affect him much. She had never shown any love for him, and was almost a stranger to him. But he was surprised when he had a letter from his old nurse tellinghim that his uncle and aunt were going to leave the house, and hisUncle Mortimer coming home from India to take possession of it. 'I should like to see Master Mortimer again, ' Bobby said; 'me andNobbles was so very fond of him. ' 'I don't know what he will do with himself in that big house, ' said Mr. Allonby. 'He ought to get married if he settles down there. ' 'It is not a very nice house, ' Bobby asserted gravely; 'it's so stiffand partic'lar, and all the chairs and furnesher are so proper. Ialways have to go on tiptoe. But Master Mortimer did used to playhide-and-seek with me in the garden. But I don't want never to go backagain. ' 'It's time you were at school, sonny; your grammar doesn't improve. Iwish I could hear of someone who would teach you; but I'm afraid itmust be school. ' Now True and Bobby had decided together that school was a horribleplace, and at all costs they must try to keep from going to it. Theyhad many an anxious talk about it, and at last, one morning after Mr. Allonby had gone out for the day and left them to their own devices, True announced her plan. 'We'll find a nice kind of governess ourselves, Bobby. Come and lookout of the window. Why, there must be millions and billions ofgovernesses in London! We'll go out by ourselves and find one. Waittill Margot has gone down to the kitchen, and then we won't sayanything to anyone, but will go out and get one. ' Bobby clapped his hands. 'I should fink they would keep some in ashop, ' he said; but True did not feel at all sure about this. They accomplished their design most satisfactorily, and, wrapped up intheir warm coats, they slipped downstairs and down into the streetwithout being noticed. 'Now where shall we find one?' enquired Bobby. 'We'll go in a 'bus, ' said True. 'I've brought some pennies, and the'busman will tell us where to go. ' 'Let Nobbles call one, ' said Bobby eagerly; 'that's what father alwaysdoes, holds up his stick, and they waits till we get in. ' So Nobbles was waved frantically in the air when the first 'busappeared. And though it was not at the proper starting point, the driver saw thetwo small children and good-naturedly pulled up for them. They werehelped in by the conductor. There were only three other people inside, an old lady, a young girl, and a man. The shining, radiant faces ofTrue and Bobby attracted attention; still more their whisperedconversation. 'She must be very cheap. Dad has _so_ little money. ' This from True, with great emphasis. 'And she must be very smiling, and 'stremely fond of me and Nobbles. ' This from Bobby, with a wise nod of his curly head. 'We'll choose the one we like best, ' said True. And then they were asked by the conductor for their money. 'We'll have a white ticket please, ' said True grandly. 'Oh, I likes the pink ones best, ' exclaimed Bobby eagerly. The conductor eyed them with some amusement. 'Where do you want to go?' Bobby was silent, and so was True for a minute, then she said: 'We want to go to the place where they keep governesses. ' The three other passengers looked at the children in astonishment; theconductor laughed. 'Did your mother send you?' he asked. True looked down upon her black frock and then up at him. 'Don't you know that mother is dead?' she said. 'That's what I wear myblack frock for. ' 'Do you know your way about London, little girl? You are very small tobe out alone. ' It was the old lady who spoke. 'The 'busmen and policemen always know, ' said True cheerfully. 'Dadtold us so. ' 'Oh, you have a father----' 'Come, ' said the conductor, interrupting, 'give me your pennies; you'dbest get out at the next stop and go home again. ' 'We're going to find a gov'ness, ' said Bobby, glaring at the conductorrather angrily. The young girl looked at him over the book she was reading. 'You want a registry, ' she said. 'There's a good one in KensingtonHigh Street. I'll show it to you if you get out with me. ' True looked relieved. 'Is that the place where you find them?' she asked. 'I never heard of such a thing as children looking for a governess!'ejaculated the old lady. 'Poor little motherless things, their fatherought to be ashamed of himself sending them out on such an errand!' 'Dad didn't send us, ' said True, feeling she must defend her father atall costs. 'We knew he wanted us to have one, so we came ourselves. ' 'And then we won't be sent to school, ' put in Bobby. True gave him a sharp nudge with her elbow. 'Don't talk so much, ' she said. Bobby subsided meekly. He felt this strange experience was ratherbewildering, and wondered at True's calm composure. 'I'll help you to find one, ' said the young girl. 'I'm studying to beone myself, so I know the sort you ought to have. ' True looked at her with interest. She was in a shabby blue serge coatand skirt, but she wore a bunch of violets in her buttonhole. Her hatwas dark blue, her gloves were white worsted ones, and her face wasbright and smiling. Her whole appearance was pleasant. When she gotup to go, she held out her hands to them. 'Come on. I'll show you where governesses can be found, and perhapshelp you choose one. It will be great fun!' True and Bobby followed her delightedly. The old lady shook her headafter them with a sigh. 'The irresponsibility of men! It's to be hoped that young person won'tdecoy them away and rob them. I think we ought to have handed themover to the police to see them safely home. ' The man at the farther end of the 'bus spoke for the first time. Asthe old lady addressed him he was obliged to do so. 'The rising generation can soon dispense with their fathers, ' he said. 'Those are small specimens of a type. ' Meanwhile the girl in blue serge had walked True and Bobby up a sidestreet, and in at an office door. 'This is one of the best registries in this part of the world, ' shesaid. 'Now we'll tell Mrs. Marsh what you want, and see if she knowsof one. When I get the certificates I am working for, I mean to cometo her to find me a situation. ' An elderly woman behind a table looked up at them as they entered. Thegirl spoke to her brightly. 'Good morning, Mrs. Marsh. I have brought you two young people whowant a governess. I don't know whether they can pay your fees. Butperhaps you can make that right with their father. ' 'We want a very cheap governess, ' said True, looking up anxiously intoMrs. Marsh's face. 'Dad is very poor, but he'll pay her something. ' 'I think your father will have to write me some particulars, ' said Mrs. Marsh, looking at the small children with some amusement. Oh, we'll be able to choose her, ' cried Bobby. 'She must be 'ticularlykind and nice. ' 'And what will she have to do?' Bobby looked at True. '_You_ say. She'll teach me to read, won't she?' True tried hard to put on a grown-up air. She did not like Mrs. Marsh's amused smile at all. 'Margot says we ought to have a governess to teach us in the morning, and we shan't do any lessons in the afternoon; and she mustn't stay todinner, because Margot says she doesn't know how to cook for us; weseem to eat more than we ought to. And she mustn't have a cross face, and mustn't wear spectacles. ' 'And she must be 'normously fond of Nobbles, ' said Bobby, thrustingNobbles' ugly little face up close to Mrs. Marsh's. 'And we're to learn French and sums--and--dancing, ' said True, suddenlystruck with a bright thought. 'Yes, ' exclaimed Bobby, with a beaming smile, 'dancing, o' course, mostly dancing, me and Nobbles finks!' The young lady in a blue serge broke into a rippling laugh. 'Oh, Mrs. Marsh, I wish I could teach them myself. Aren't theydelicious!' 'Well, why shouldn't you?' said Mrs. Marsh, looking at the speaker withgood-natured interest. 'But you were the one to advise me to stick to my studies, ' said thegirl. 'You said I could never command any salary worth having till Iwas thoroughly certificated. ' 'Yes, I did say so, Miss Robsart; but you could give these children acouple of hours every morning and still pursue your studies. ' The girl turned to the children. 'Do you think I would do?' she said, a pink colour coming into hercheeks and making her look very pretty. 'I could come to you from teno'clock to half-past twelve every day. We could get through a lot oflessons in that time. ' True looked up at her with rapturous eyes. 'Me and Bobby would love you!' she said. 'Oh, please come straightback with us, and tell dad you'll come. ' Two other ladies entered the office at this juncture. Mrs. Marshdismissed the children hurriedly. 'There, run along, my dears. There'll be no fees; and you couldn'thave a kinder lady than Miss Robsart to teach you; and tell your fatherthat her father was vicar of our church near here many years ago, andshe's the nicest young lady I know. ' The children hurried out with their new friend. 'There, Bobby!' True said, a little triumphantly. 'See how easy it isto find a governess!' And Bobby took hold of Miss Robsart's hand confidingly. 'Me and Nobbles likes you 'ticularly, ' he said. Chapter XI. BOBBY'S VISITOR. Mr. Allonby had been considerably startled by many things that thechildren had said and done, but he was never more so than when theyappeared before him in the sitting-room with a strange young lady. Hehad not been in long, and thought they were with Margot. Miss Robsartbegan to feel a little uncomfortable when she realised her position. 'It's a guv'ness, ' Bobby said eagerly; 'me and True went out and findedher ourselves, and she'll come to teach us all the morning. ' 'We do so hope you'll like her, dad, because we do. We thought we'dget her as a surprise for you. ' 'I really----' began Mr. Allonby, then his eyes met Miss Robsart's andthey both laughed aloud. 'I must explain myself, ' she said, checking her laugh and speakinghastily and nervously 'I met your little boy and girl in a 'bus andheard them say they had come out to look for a governess. Of coursethey had not the smallest idea how to set about it, so I took them to avery good registry. I fancied you must have been wanting to have onefrom what they said, and then, as we were all talking about it, Iwondered if I could undertake the situation myself. I am very anxiousto earn something, as I have an invalid sister at home, and we are verybadly off. I can give you good references. My father was a clergyman. I have been educated in the Kensington High School. She stopped. Mr. Allonby drew a chair forward for her, then turned tothe children. 'I don't know what you two scamps have been doing, ' he said; 'somethingof which I had no conception, I know; but I should like to have a talkwith this lady, and you can both go off to Margot, who must bewondering where you are. ' True and Bobby obeyed instantly. They were extremely pleased withthemselves, and burst in upon Margot, who was in the bedroom tidyingherself to bring in dinner. 'We've got ourselves a governess, Margot. ' 'We finded her in a 'bus. ' 'She has a smiling face and doesn't wear spectacles or grey hair. ' 'She'll teach us to dance round the room. ' 'She's talking to dad now; and I believe she will be cheap, because wetold her she must be. ' 'And me and Nobbles loves her already. ' Margot put her hands up to her ears. 'I think you're quite demented!' she said. 'You've never been out inthe streets alone?' 'We went in a 'bus. ' They told their tale. Margot was horrified at their daring. 'You've picked up a strange young woman in the streets and brought herhere? She'll maybe belong to a band of burglars! Your poor father istoo easy-going. To think of his talking to her at all! Let me see theyoung hussy, and I'll send her packing! To trade on your innocence insuch a fashion!' Margot grew quite vehement. True tried to soothe her. 'You don't understand. You haven't seen her. Oh, come downstairs andjust look at her. ' 'I'm going this very minute. I have to lay the cloth for dinner. 'Tistime she was off; and it's well you've got one person who's wide awaketo look after you all in this wicked London!' Margot stumped down the stairs, her cap quivering with excitement. Thechildren hung over the banisters watching her. They saw thesitting-room door open, and Miss Robsart came out. 'Then I will send you my references tomorrow morning. I shall preferto do so. Good morning. ' 'Margot, show this lady out. ' It was their father who spoke, and Margot moved down the passageslowly. She opened the hall door and eyed Miss Robsart up and downwith grim eyes and lips, then she suddenly followed her out on thedoor-step and half closed the door behind her. 'She's scolding her, ' said True. They waited anxiously. Presently Margot came in and shut the door. She shook her head doubtfully, then went into the sitting-room, and thechildren heard a long conversation going on between her and theirfather. When they came to the dinner-table with him, True asked him, 'Did Margot say nasty things about our governess?' 'Our governess, indeed!' Mr. Allonby leant back in his chair and gave one of his hearty laughs. 'Margot told her she was a wolf in sheep's clothing, I believe. Idon't know what she'll say when she knows. I have practically engagedher on the strength of her frank honest face and gentle voice. Fortunefavoured you, young pickles, for you tumbled against the right sort. She may not be very learned or experienced, but she knows enough toteach you, and I am glad to have the thing settled. ' The children clapped their hands. 'She's coming, and we won't have to go to school. ' 'I'll keep you with me this winter, but I shall really have to take anextra room for my writing; this one sitting-room will never hold usall. ' A few letters with references passed between Miss Robsart and Mr. Allonby, and then, in spite of Margot's prejudice, she came everymorning and gave the children their lessons. The novelty kept them good. Miss Robsart was young and bright, and hada real love for children, and a gift for imparting knowledge, so thingswent smoothly. Mr. Allonby took himself and his writing into a smallback room, which was the delight of True's heart. She dusted it, andtidied it, and cleaned everything she could lay her hands upon. Bobbywas jealous of the time she spent in there. 'I ought to be there more than you, ' he argued; 'it's a man's room. ' 'Mother told me I was to keep dad's rooms tidy, and I will, and dadlikes me to do it. ' 'I could clean his brass fender, I'm sure. ' 'No you couldn't; only girls can clean; boys can't, never!' 'Boys clean shop windows and sweep floors, I've seen them. ' 'Well, anyhow you can't, you don't know how, and mother said I was to. ' This unanswerable argument always crushed Bobby. Saturday afternoons were a great delight to the children, for Mr. Allonby always gave himself up to them then, and took them out with himsight-seeing. They visited the Zoo in this way, the Tower, MadameTussaud's, the British Museum, St. Paul's, and Westminster Abbey, andmany other places of interest and amusement. On Sunday morning their father always took them to church. In theafternoon he would smoke in his little study; and they were allowed tobe with him, and have their tea there as a treat. Occasionally Mr. Allonby would try to give them a Bible lesson; very often they wouldtell him a Bible story. 'I want to bring you up as your mother would have done, ' he said toTrue one day. 'We'll bring ourselves along, dad, ' she responded cheerfully; 'we'retrying hard to be good, and we pray to God to manage us when we can'tremember in time. ' 'Father, ' said Bobby one Sunday afternoon, 'do you fink I could eversave your life?' 'I don't know, I'm sure, sonny. What makes you ask?' 'In my reading lesson yesterday--it was about the mouse who saved alion--it was very difficult to think how he could; but he reely did it, didn't he?' 'Yes, and I suppose you think it applies to you. Well, now, let usthink. I must be put in prison somewhere, and you must come and let meout. ' 'But you'd have to be wicked to be put in prison, ' objected True. 'Youcouldn't be wicked, dad. ' 'I hope I couldn't, but I don't know. I think I would rather not getinto such a scrape, Bobby. ' 'I should like to do somefing for you, ' said Bobby with wistful eyes. 'Why?' asked his father. Bobby coloured up. If he had followed his natural instinct he wouldhave flung himself into his father's arms and exclaimed, 'Because Ilove you so. ' But Mr. Allonby was not a demonstrative father, and Bobby was learningto control and hide his feelings. 'Well, I promise you, sonny, to call upon you when I do get intotrouble, ' said Mr. Allonby, with a twinkle in his eye. And Bobby hugged this promise to his heart and waited in content. One afternoon True and he were looking out of the sitting-room windowvery disconsolately. It was raining fast, and Mr. Allonby had that daygone away to see a friend in the country. He was not coming back fortwo or three days. Margot was in one of her cross moods. She hadtaken the opportunity to have a thorough clean and turn out of the twobedrooms, and had forbidden the children to leave the sitting-room forthe whole afternoon. 'It's like a prison, ' said True rebelliously. 'I hate being shut up inone room. Mother never did. I could run in and out all day long. Ihate this old London. I should like to be in the country. I'll runaway one day if Margot keeps shutting me up. ' 'Where will you go?' asked Bobby, with interest. 'I'll go to the railway station and get into a railway train and stayin it till it gets quite to the end of the journey, and then I'd getout. ' 'And where would that be?' True considered. 'The very end of England, I s'pose--near the sea. ' 'I've never seen the sea, ' said Bobby. 'Fancy! Why we came right through it all the way from 'Merica. I'llask dad to take us to the seashore one day. He loves a day out, and sodo I. I wish he had his motor. ' 'Yes, ' sighed Bobby, 'we never does nothing nice now, and if it hadn'tbeen for this horrid old rain we'd have gone to tea with Miss Robsart. ' 'Well, p'raps she'll ask us to-morrow. Look at that funny old woman, Bobby, she's trying to hold up her umbrella and drag her dog with astring and hold up her dress with the same hand. There! Now look, thedog has got between her legs! Oh, there she goes! Oh, look! she'stumbled right over, and there's a gentleman picking her up!' Bobby pressed his face against the glass to see the catastrophe. Thenhe started. 'It--it strikes me that's Master Mortimer. ' 'Oh, where? Isn't he your uncle?' 'Yes, it's him! It's him! Oh, True, let's run out and bring him in!' 'Is it the gentleman who picked the old lady up? He's looking acrossat this house now. He's coming, Bobby, he's coming to see us!' Bobby rushed to the hall door. He was so excited that he hardly knewif he was on his head or heels, and he literally tumbled down off thedoorsteps into his uncle's arms. 'Well, well! This is a welcome! Hold on little man, you'll have meover if you don't take care. Let's come inside and do theaffectionate, or we shall be collecting a crowd. Why, who is this?' 'She's True, she's a kind of sister, ' explained Bobby, pulling hisuncle breathlessly into the sitting-room and shutting the door. 'Oh, we do want you to sit down and talk to us; me and Nobbles is 'normouslyglad to see you!' 'Ah! where is that young gentleman? I see he looks gayer than ever. Now give an account of yourself and this wonderful father of yours. ' Mr. Mortimer Egerton was taking off his great-coat as he spoke. Hestepped out into the narrow hall and hung it up deliberately on thehall pegs there; then he returned to the sitting-room and sat down inthe one easy-chair that it possessed, and pulled Bobby in between hisknees. 'Let us see what freedom and fatherly care has done for you, ' he said. 'Now, then, tell your story. Did your father come to you in the goodold style? Is he here now?' Bobby began to tell his tale very rapidly and eagerly, with shiningeyes and burning cheeks. Occasionally True corrected or added to hisstatements. Mr. Egerton listened with laughter in his eyes; gravity settled therewhen he heard of Mrs. Allonby's death; but when he heard of the find ofthe governess he was enchanted. 'And now, ' he said, 'would you like to hear my news? Do you rememberLady Isobel, Bobby?' 'Of course I do. She sended me a beautiful picsher of the gates. She's coming home from India very soon. ' 'Very soon, indeed! She arrived yesterday. ' 'Oh, Master Mortimer!' Bobby's rapt tone made his uncle laugh. 'Why does Bobby always call you Master Mortimer? Aren't you hisuncle?' enquired True. 'It's a way he has. We understand each other. Well, I'll go on withmy news. Lady Isobel thinks it would be very nice to live in the oldhouse, Bobby, where we saw each other first, so we've arranged to livethere together. ' 'In grandmother's house?' questioned Bobby, with perplexed eyes. 'Idon't fink it's a nice house enough for Lady Is'bel. ' 'Oh, we'll make it nice; we'll have boys and girls to stay with us toplay hide-and-seek with. We'll chase each other round every room. ' 'And knock over the big chairs, ' cried Bobby, 'and slide the banisters, and make as much noise as ever they likes? Oh, Master Mortimer, willyou ask me to spend a day?' 'A good many days after we're settled in. ' 'And when will that be?' 'Well, you see, we shall have to get married first, and that takestime. I think you'll have to come to the wedding. ' Bobby's face was a picture of shining joy. 'I finks your news is lovely. Me and Nobbles have never been to awedding. ' 'Will you ask me, too?' asked True. 'Yes, I will. I want to have it very soon, and here in London; butLady Isobel wants to wait a little. If you persuade her to let me havemy way, Bobby, I'll give you seven slices of our wedding cake--one tobe taken every day for a week!' 'When shall I see her?' 'I'll bring her to see you to-morrow. ' 'How did you find us out?' 'I got your address from your aunt. Any more questions?' 'Do you know Margot?' 'I have not that pleasure. ' Bobby looked at True apprehensively, and True said hastily: 'He's afraid Margot will come in and find you here. She'll be comingin with our tea soon, and she said Miss Robsart was a burglar. Margotthinks everybody is a burglar in London!' Mr. Egerton got up from his chair, and pretended to be seized with afit of trembling. 'Can you hide me anywhere? I'm so frightened of her. Tell me if youhear her coming. ' 'Oh, let's hide him, True! It will be such fun. I hear her thumpingdownstairs. Oh, where shall we put him?' True looked wildly round the room. 'There are no big cupboards. Under the table, quick! Quick, or she'llsee you!' 'I'm afraid I couldn't crumple up small enough, ' said Mr. Egerton, looking at his long legs and the small round table in front of him. 'Behind the door!' cried Bobby. 'Oh, make haste; she's coming!' When Margot came into the room three minutes later she said: 'What a noise you children have been making. I thought you must havesomeone with you; it sounded like a man's voice. ' Bobby's cheeks were scarlet. True began to laugh nervously. 'Give us something very nice for tea, Margot, in case a visitor comesto see us, ' she said. 'Why, who would come, you silly children, a wet day like this?' Margot was producing a white cloth from the chiffonier drawer, andtaking out cups and saucers from the cupboard below it. 'And you'll have no visitors whilst your father is away, you may bepretty sure, ' Margot continued. 'Give me London for loneliness, I say. ' She went out of the room and down to the kitchen. Bobby and True burstinto peals of happy childish laughter. 'You are a good hider; she never saw you. ' 'No, ' said Mr. Egerton, coming out from behind the door and sittingdown in the easy-chair; 'I know how to keep quiet when I'm hiding, butI can't keep it up for long. She'll get you some cake for tea if shesees me, so I won't hide any more. ' Margot's face was a picture when she returned. 'I haven't the pleasure of knowing you, sir!' she said sternly, after asevere scrutiny. The children kept a breathless silence. They felt that 'MasterMortimer' would be quite equal to Margot. His very coolness inspiredthem with confidence. 'I'm not a burglar, ' he said smiling; 'I'm a genuine relation. Bobbyand I are old friends. I'm his mother's brother. ' Margot dropped an old-fashioned curtsy, but she looked rather puzzled;and then Bobby took courage and explained. 'He's my uncle Mortimer, Margot; and he's comed to see me, and we sawedhim out of the window and opened the door to him, and then we wasafraid you wouldn't like him, so we put him to hide behind the door. And he's come from India, and we're asked to the wedding, and LadyIs'bel will be here to see us tomorrow. Isn't it all pufficklysplendid!' 'And we thought you might give us cake for tea, please, ' said Mr. Egerton, with twinkling eyes. 'Oh, ' whispered True to Bobby, 'he's the most 'licious man I've everseen!' And Bobby nodded emphatically to such a statement. Margot lost her suspicious look when Mr. Egerton turned to her andtalked to her. She knew a gentleman when she saw him, and she producedcakes and hot-buttered toast, and smiled as she waited upon the merrylittle party. Bobby was in the seventh heaven of delight, and when he went to bed heconfided to Nobbles, 'I even feel, Nobbles dear, that I wouldn't mindif me and you wented back to the House, for with Master Mortimer andLady Is'bel there, we shouldn't have to step on tiptoes any more. ' Chapter XII. 'A DELIGHTFUL TIME. ' When Miss Robsart came the next morning she found her pupils in a greatstate of excitement, and she seemed quite as interested as they were intheir news. 'I wish I could give you a holiday, ' she said; 'and I should like onemyself, but it wouldn't be right, so we'll set to work and get lessonsdone as quickly as possible, and then you'll be ready for your uncle ifhe comes again. ' 'And, ' suggested Bobby earnestly, 'you'll put down a nice short littlesum for me to do, mostly twos and fours; me and Nobbles does not likethe figures past six, they want such a lot of finking about. ' Miss Robsart laughed, but promised she would do the best she could, andlessons went very smoothly on the whole. When they were finished shesaid a little wistfully: 'I was hoping you would come to tea with me this afternoon, my sisterwants to see you; but now your uncle and this Lady Isobel has arrived, you will be occupied with them. ' 'I expecks we shall have tea with them today, ' said Bobby. 'Will you ask us another day?' asked True. 'Isn't it funny? Yesterdaywe were quite miserable because nothing nice was happening, and to-daywe're too full. But Bobby and I want to come to tea with you verymuch, we reely do, and we'll ask if you may come to the wedding. ' She jumped up from her chair and gave Miss Robsart a loving hug as shespoke, and Bobby forthwith followed her example. Miss Robsart wentaway from them with a cheerful face. Margot dressed them in their best clothes directly their dinner wasover. It was in honour of Lady Isobel's expected visit. 'We haven't had a lady of title to the house since we've been inEngland, ' said Margot reflectively. I can't say I've run up muchagainst them, but I believe they're pretty much the same as otherfolks; still a lady is a lady, and I wants her to see you looking likeyour dear mother would have you, and you just sit still, now you'reclean, and don't dirty yourselves up with playing about. ' 'It's like the story mother told us of the two little girls with theirclean frocks, ' said True. 'Yes, ' responded Bobby; 'I wonder how our inside frocks are to-day, True. ' True shook her head doubtfully. 'I s'pose God has such _very_ good eyes He always sees spots andstains; but I don't think mine is very bad to-day. I can't rememberanything just now. ' 'Oh, I can. You stamped when the comb pulled your hair!' 'A stamp wouldn't make a very black mark, ' said True. 'You werebeating the sofa with Nobbles this morning, and Mrs. Dodds would beawful angry if she knew. ' 'That was Nobbles. ' 'Ah, that's another spot on your dress; you're making 'scuses, andblaming Nobbles when it was reely you. ' Bobby hastily changed the conversation, and then there was a knock andring at the hall door, and in another moment Mr. Egerton and LadyIsobel were in the room, and Bobby was in the arms of his friend. Shelooked younger and prettier than when he saw her last. She was in along white coat and black hat. A big bunch of violets was in herbutton-hole. 'Oh, Bobby, you darling, how glad I am to see you again! I can hardlybelieve I may one day be your aunt. ' 'That day will very soon be here, ' said Mr. Egerton. She laughed, and a pink colour stole into her cheeks. Bobby's arms were tightly clasped round her neck. 'I never did forget you, ' he assured her, 'not before your letter came;and my picsher is lovelly. ' 'And who is this little girl? Is she your little step-sister? Howdelightful to have a playfellow. May I have a kiss, dear?' True willingly submitted to be embraced. This sweet looking lady won her heart at once. Then Nobbles was brought forward, and Lady Isobel kissed his littleugly face. 'Oh, how often have I thought of you and Nobbles when I was so far awayfrom you!' she said, sitting down and drawing Bobby to her. 'And doyou know, I think it was you who brought your uncle to me. He wantedto hear about you----' 'Oh, come, ' interrupted Mr. Egerton, 'we were old friends; you stole mybest caterpillar when you were a girl. I remember to this day my wrathwhen you made your confession. ' 'Yes, ' said Lady Isobel laughing; 'and I remember why I did it. Because you tied my best doll round the neck of our old gander, and hedrowned her in a pond. ' The children were enchanted at these reminiscences, but a shadow almostimmediately fell on Lady Isobel's face. 'Ah, ' she said with a little sigh, 'that was many years ago. I havebeen through a good deal since then. ' 'And are you reely going to live in grandmother's house?' questionedBobby. 'Your uncle wants to, ' said Lady Isobel softly, looking across at Mr. Egerton as she spoke. 'It is his old home, Bobby; he played in yournursery many years ago. ' 'Yes, I know, ' said Bobby. 'Tom said "Master Mortimer be a merry younggentleman. "' 'Ah, ' said Mr. Egerton, knitting his brows fiercely, 'wait till I catchTom cutting some of my shrubs, he won't find me very merry then. ' 'Don't you think you will like to pay us a visit one day, Bobby?' 'I mustn't leave father, ' said Bobby promptly. 'May he come too?' 'If he likes; we shall be delighted to see him, ' said Mr. Egerton. 'How I wish he was here. Does he have a big beard, Bobby?' 'No, not a little bit of one. ' 'But that is quite wrong. You always told me he would wear a beard andcarry an axe and pistol in his belt. ' 'Yes, ' said Bobby; 'me and Nobbles finked quite wrong about him; onlyhe's nicer and better and gooder than anybody else. And we sometimesfinks'--he dropped his voice and spoke in a hushed whisper--'that he isnearly as kind as my Father--God. ' No one spoke for a moment. Lady Isobel bent down and kissed the curlyhead. 'My little Bobby, ' she said; 'how happy your father must be to have youwith him!' They talked for some time, and then the children were told that theywere going to be driven round to the hotel where Lady Isobel wasstaying, and have tea with her. 'I want you to know my great friend who has come all the way from Indiajust to see me married, ' she said to Bobby with a laugh and blush. Wehave often talked about you, so you must not feel her a stranger. ' It was a delightful afternoon, and True enjoyed it as much as Bobby. Lady Isobel's friend was a sweet-faced grey-haired lady who was veryfond of children, and knew how to talk to them. They had tea in aprivate sitting-room, and came home laden with chocolates and sweets. 'Margot, just listen! Bobby and I are going to be bride's-maid andbride's-groom, and we shall walk up the church after the bride. ' 'I'm sure Master Bobby won't be the bridegroom, ' said Margot. 'No, she said a page, ' corrected Bobby. 'What's that, Margot? Ithought it was a leaf of a book. ' 'We shall be all in white, ' said True. 'Like angels, ' said Bobby. And so they chattered on, the only regret being the absence of theirfather. The next day they had another excitement. They went to tea with MissRobsart. For some time past they had looked forward to this, and truth to tell, Miss Robsart was quite as eager as they were for the treat. She called for them at four o'clock, and they walked to the house inwhich she and her sister lodged. It was a quiet little street leadingout of Kensington High Street. She took them upstairs to a very prettysitting-room with three large windows in it, one of which was filledwith flowers and plants. By the fireside in an invalid chair was MissRobsart's sister. The children felt shy of her at first, but she hadsuch a bright smile and voice that they soon became at ease with her. 'I have heard so much about you from my little sister Daisy that I feelI know you already. Do you wonder that I call her little? I am tenyears older than she is, and she always seems a little girl to me. ' 'Now Kathleen, respect my office, and don't be giving me away to mypupils. Bobby, show my sister your wonderful Nobbles, and tell herabout him while I get tea ready. ' True was looking with admiring eyes round the room. On the walls hungnumbers of beautiful water-colour sketches; there was a piano, twolittle love birds in a cage, some old carved furniture, and numbers ofpretty foreign curiosities. 'I wish we had a room like this, ' she said admiringly. 'Ah! but you see this is our own furniture, and that makes such adifference, ' said their Miss Robsart. 'We took two unfurnished roomsand put our own furniture into them, so of course it looks homey. Andall those pretty pictures were painted by my sister. Before she metwith her accident she used to go down to the country and sketch. Shelongs to do it now, but we cannot manage it. Now would you like tohelp me get out some cakes and jam from that cupboard for tea?' True was only too delighted to do something. Whilst Bobby chatted withthe elder sister she helped the younger to lay the tea. And then Miss Robsart was wheeled in her chair to the table, and Bobbyand True began to enjoy the jam and cakes provided for them. Theytalked a good deal about Mr. Egerton and Lady Isobel, and the eldestMiss Robsart asked Bobby about his grandmother's house in the country. 'What a happy little boy you must have been, ' she said, 'to haveenjoyed a country life! I used to live in the country when I was alittle girl, and I have never forgotten it. ' 'Why don't you live in the country now?' asked True. 'Ah!' said Daisy, 'we mean to one day, when our ship comes in. If onlythat time would come soon! And then, Kathleen, you would be able tomake some sketches again, and get a sale for them!' Her sister laughed. 'People would say I could sketch in London if I chose, and perhaps if Iwere not such a cripple I could. ' 'I've seed a cripple do lovelly picshers on the path, ' said Bobbyeagerly; 'he did them all in red and blue and yellow! How did you geta cripple?' Daisy looked at her sister anxiously, but she smiled at her. 'I was run over by an omnibus only four years ago, Bobby. It was afrosty day, and I was crossing the road in a hurry and slipped underthe horses' feet. I don't think I could sit on the pavement and paintpictures, so I must hope that some day I may be able to get to mybeloved hills and trees and water again. Those are what I paint best, and I cannot get them in London. ' 'Lady Is'bel can paint picshers of gates and angels and heaven, ' saidBobby. And then he began to describe the golden gates, and Miss Robsartlistened with amused interest. After tea they had games of differentsorts, and then at seven o'clock they were taken home, havingthoroughly enjoyed themselves. When Mr. Allonby returned to them a few days later there was a greatdeal to tell him. He took the children more than once to see LadyIsobel at her hotel, and Mr. Egerton got into the way of coming roundin the evening to have a smoke with him. Bobby and True thought thiswinter was a delightful time altogether, and when the wedding-day drewnear they could hardly contain themselves for excitement. It was to be a very quiet one, and the guests were few in number. MissRobsart was to be one of them. Lady Isobel had met her by this timeand took a great liking to her; she went to see her sister, not onceonly, but a good many times, and when she came round to see Bobby andTrue the day before the wedding, she said to them, 'Do you know I havemy head full of plans for you all? I will not tell you now, butperhaps when the spring comes you shall hear. ' 'Father is going away from us in the spring, ' said Bobby sorrowfully. Then a twinkle came into his brown eyes: 'Me and Nobbles makes up planstoo in bed; we runned after father once, we hided from him in hismotor, and then he had to keep us. ' 'Yes, but you aren't going to do that again, ' said True, looking at himseverely. 'Dad is going across the sea; you couldn't follow him there. ' 'I could follow him anywheres!' said Bobby earnestly. 'Ah! but you wouldn't like to displease your father by doing so, ' saidLady Isobel. 'He wants you to stay at home and learn as fast as youcan, and grow as fast as you can. And then when you get quite big andclever you will be able to go about with him. ' 'Mother said I was to be his kerpanion, ' said Bobby. 'I don't want togo to school. ' 'Ah! my plan is better than school, ' said Lady Isobel. She would say no more, and Mr. Egerton, happening to come into the roomand hear her, turned the whole thing into a joke at once. 'Yes, Bobby, I'll whisper some of her plans for you. She is going tostart a school on new principles. It's a school for grown-ups; you areto be the schoolmaster and True the mistress. You will have to teachthe old men how to slide banisters and play hide-and-seek. There willbe a class for those who don't know how to make up stories in bed; theymust be taught how to do it. Another class will have to learn how tosee robbers and Indians when it's getting dusk. It only needs a littleexplanation and then it is quite easy. True will have to teach thefine ladies to make daisy-chains and drink tea out of thimbles. Thereis a lot that grown-ups have learnt and forgotten, and a lot they havenever learnt at all. And of course Nobbles will give them a rap overthe knuckles for every mistake they make. ' Bobby laughed delightedly. 'Go on! Tell us more!' 'I can't. My brain is so frightened at all it has to do to-morrow thatit has stopped working. I want to give it a rest to-day, poor thing. It is never very bright. You ask Lady Isobel what she feels like. ' 'What do you feel like?' asked Bobby promptly, turning to her. 'Very much inclined to shut myself in my room and not come to church atall to-morrow, ' she replied with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks. Mr. Egerton shook his head at her. 'If you play me false, ' he said, 'Bobby will have to fill his bath fullof water, and I will come and drown myself in it!' 'Do!' cried True; 'and then we will take you out and hang you up todry!' 'We won't be too silly, ' said Lady Isobel. 'And a wedding is a very solemn thing, isn't it?' said Bobby. 'Mrs. Dodd telled Margot that she cried more at weddings than funerals. ' 'I shan't cry, ' said True, 'because I would spoil my white frock. ' She was delighted with her white costume, which Lady Isobel hadinsisted upon providing. Margot at first shook her head over it. ''Tis too soon after the dear mistress's death to put off her black, 'she said; but True had retorted instantly: 'Mother wouldn't mind, I know. She's in a white dress herself now; shedoesn't wear black, so why should I?' And Margot was silenced. Bobby was to wear his best white sailor suit. He had coaxed Margot tobuy him a white piece of ribbon with which Nobbles was to be decorated, and he and True spent quite half an hour in arranging it in the form ofa rosette. Mr. Allonby was the only one in the house who did not seem impressed bythe excitement and stir about the important event. His face was ashade graver than usual when Bobby went to wish him good-night. 'I am going to cut and run to-morrow, sonny. Your uncle understands. I can't be with you. I shall be out of town. ' Bobby's face fell tremendously. 'Oh, father, I did think you'd come with us. Shall True and I have towalk up the church all alone?' 'There won't be many people there, my boy. And they will send acarriage for you. You won't miss me. Don't look so doleful. ' 'Shall I stay with you, father? I would like to 'stremely. ' 'No, my boy; I'm going out of town for the day. ' 'Do take me with you. Are you going to picnic somewhere?' Mr. Allonby was silent for a minute, then he said: 'I am going to see mother's grave, sonny. I want to put a stone overit. Can you think of a text she would like written upon it?' Bobby's face was a picture of sweet seriousness. 'She loved my tex', father. Would it be too long? She made me say itto her before she went away. ' 'What was it?' '"Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, thatthey may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gatesinto the City. "' Mr. Allonby's face lit up with a smile. 'Thank you, sonny; that will do beautifully. I will have it put overher grave. ' Bobby stole up to bed in an exalted frame of mind. When Margot came towish him good night, he looked up at her with big eyes. 'You go to sleep, Master Bobby, or you will never be ready to get upto-morrow. ' 'It's a most wunnerful day coming, ' said Bobby, 'but I wish I could cutmyself in halves. The wedding will be lovelly, but seeing my very owntex' being written on mother's grave by father himself would be almostlovelier still. He's going down to do it, Margot; he told me so. ' Margot left him, muttering to herself: 'Such a jumble children do make of things! Weddings and graves be allthe same to them; they speak of it in one breath, and would as soon beat one as the other! And of all queer children, Master Bobby be thequeerest, though I love him with all my heart! That text of his be allthe world to him. ' Downstairs a tired, sad man was gazing into the fire and repeatingsoftly to himself the text that was going to be as precious to him asto his little son: '"Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, thatthey may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gatesinto the City. "' Chapter XIII. THE WEDDING. At ten o'clock the next morning two little white-clothed children werestanding at the sitting-room window waiting for the carriage that wasgoing to take them to the church. This was the most enjoyable part of it, for they were going to drivealone, and, when it came for them, they went down the steps proudlyconscious that several errand boys, and a few heads out of the oppositeWindows in the street, were watching their departure. Margot did not drive with them, but she was going to walk to the churchand witness everything from a back seat. 'Now, ' said True as they drove off, 'what do you feel like, Bobby?' 'Very kercited!' said Bobby, sitting back with red cheeks and shiningeyes. 'I feel we're going to be married ourselves, ' said True; 'or, betterstill, we're a prince and princess going to a fairy ball. ' 'Or, ' said Bobby gravely, 'we might be going into the Golden Gates, True. We look quite fit to-day. ' True stroked her white silk dress thoughtfully, then she lifted herbouquet of flowers and smelt them. The bouquet was a lovely surpriseto her, as it had only arrived about an hour previously. 'Yes, ' she said, 'you always think of the best things, Bobby. 'Itwould be very nice if it could come true, and we could go straightthrough and see mother. Do you think she would come to meet us if wedid?' 'I'm sure God will tell her to, ' said Bobby confidently. 'You see Healways is so kind. He'd know we would like to see her. ' They arrived at the church, and to Bobby's astonishment his Uncle Jamescame down the path and took them out of the cab. 'You did not expect to see me here, ' he said, 'but your Uncle Mortimeris my brother, you know. Your aunt is abroad, or she would have beenhere too. Now come along and I'll show you where you're to stand. There aren't more than half a dozen people in the church. ' True and Bobby stepped into the rather dreary-looking church with greatawe. A few children had congregated round the doors, but inside thechurch looked almost empty. Then their faces brightened as they sawMr. Egerton come down the aisle towards them. 'That's right, youngsters. Tell them where to wait, Jim, and lookafter them. Oh, how I wish this affair was over!' He ejaculated this more to himself than them, and paced up the aisleagain. Bobby looked after him with perplexity. 'He doesn't seem to like it, ' he whispered to True. 'No, ' said True, who always liked to imbue Bobby with a sense of hersuperior wisdom. 'Men always hate waiting for anybody, and Margot saysa bride always keeps them waiting, for if she didn't it would look asif she were in a hurry to be married. ' Bobby's Uncle James told them where to stand just inside the door, andpresently up drove the bride's carriage. She was very quietly dressedin a grey cloth dress and hat, and was accompanied by an old gentleman, a cousin of hers, a General Seaton. She looked very sweet, but verypale, though she smiled faintly at the children. Then hand in handthey walked up the aisle behind her, and the service began. Bobbyrecognised Miss Robsart in one of the seats at the top of the church, there was also Miss Denton, Lady Isobel's Indian friend; the rest ofthe company were not known to the children. Much of the service wasunintelligible to Bobby, but he drew a sigh of relief when he saw hisUncle Mortimer take Lady Isobel's hand in his. 'She won't be frightened now he's holding her, ' he whispered to True;'but I seed her hands quite shake just now. ' It was soon over, and the little party went into the vestry. Then itwas that Lady Isobel put her arms right round Bobby and kissed himpassionately, and when he looked up at her he saw that her eyes werefull of tears. 'Aren't you happy?' he asked. She gave a little sob. 'Oh yes, darling; but grown-up people always have sadness mixed withtheir gladness, ' she said. Bobby pondered over this. It all seemed bustle and confusion now. Heand True drove to the hotel with a strange lady and gentleman whodiscussed the bride and bridegroom without taking any notice of thechildren. 'I'm thankful she has married again. She was not cut out for asolitary woman. ' 'He's a very decent chap--known her all his life, hasn't he?' 'Yes; I always did think they were attached years ago; but he had nomoney, and her parents were ambitious and kept them apart. I was ather first marriage, and she seemed almost afraid of her bridegroom, Ifancied. I believe affection came afterwards, but it certainly was amatch made up by her parents in the first instance. ' 'A wedding is a severe ordeal. ' 'I love a wedding, ' announced Bobby, staring at the speaker solemnly. 'When I grows up I shall have as many as I can of my own. ' The laughter that followed this statement offended him. He relapsedinto silence, even though he was pressed to say how many wives he wasintending to have. They reached the hotel, and went into lunch withthe other guests. 'It is a real old-fashioned wedding breakfast, ' said one lady. 'Whyhave you had the ceremony so early, General Seaton?' 'They want to catch the midday train for the Lakes, ' he responded. Bobby and True were well looked after, and thoroughly enjoyedthemselves. Just before bride and bridegroom departed, Mr. Egerton called Bobby tohis side. He was standing by Lady Isobel, who was beginning to takeher farewell of her friends. 'Do you think we have behaved ourselves well?' he asked him. 'Oh, I think it's been lovelly!' exclaimed Bobby with rapt eyes. 'Haven't you enjoyed it 'normously? Me and Nobbles have. ' 'Let's see Master Nobbles! I really believe, Bobby, that he has hadsomething to do with this wedding. It was he who took you to see LadyIsobel, remember, and she says it was the result of a certain text ofyours that took her out to India. If I hadn't met her--well, whoknows. Anyhow, I'm a lucky man to-day. ' Bobby was enchanted to think that Nobbles had a share in the wedding. When Lady Isobel bent over him to wish him good-bye, she said: 'I shall look forward to see you soon again, Bobby darling. We're onlygoing to be away about three weeks, and then we're going straight toyour old home. I don't think I shall like to go into your emptynursery and not find you there. God bless you, my sweet!' She had kissed him and was gone. Bobby felt inclined to cry for thefirst time. Then rice was put into his hand to fling after thecarriage, and his spirits rose again. Miss Robsart took them home, and all the way she and they talked overevery detail of their enjoyable time. Even Margot acknowledged that, for a quiet wedding, it was very well done, and that the bride did lookthe sweetest lady that she had seen for a long time. It was naturalthat after such excitement the next few days seemed dull and flat, butgradually the children settled down to their lessons, and the weekswent quietly by. One afternoon Margot took them for a walk in Kensington Gardens. Thiswas always a treat to them; they would pretend they were in thecountry; and though the trees were bare and lifeless, and there were noflowers in the neatly kept beds, the round pond and the grass and thelong walks, which were so good for races, were a great delight to them. They soon found their way down to the pond; for though it was a coldday it was a sunny one, and several men and boys were launching smallsailing-boats. Bobby stood looking on with great fascination. Therewas one boat which took his fancy. She was painted scarlet, and had aminiature Union Jack attached to her mast. A little boy, not mucholder than himself, was the owner, and he, with a young maid-servant, was watching her journey across the pond with some anxiety. Suddenly a gust of wind seized her, and she capsized, then sheentangled herself in some weed and lay helpless just out of reach. Thelittle boy turned to Bobby: 'Lend me your stick, will you?' he said. 'Jane has run round to theother side with mine. I thought my ship would go straight across toher. ' Bobby handed him Nobbles very reluctantly. The little fellow stretchedNobbles out, but just failed to reach his boat, then he lost hisbalance, tumbled into the water himself, and though he scrambled outagain the next moment, he left go of Nobbles, who floated out of reachat once. Bobby was frantic with grief. He wailed out: Oh, Nobbles, Nobbles! Save him! Somebody save him!' Nobody knew who or what Nobbles was for some minutes, and when they didknow they began to laugh. Away he floated. Would he go across thepond and land safely the other side? At one time Bobby thought hemight, and held his breath whilst he watched him. Alas! he began tocircle round and round and finally remained almost stationary in themiddle of the pond. And then it was that Bobby burst into tears. 'He'll never come back no more! He'll be drownded; he'll go down tothe bottom, and I shall never see him again!' 'It's only a stick!' said a ragged-looking urchin, looking at Bobbycuriously. 'You can easy get another. ' 'Oh, I can't! I can't! Do get him back for me! I love him so!' The boy laughed, then surprised everyone by throwing off his jacket, splashing into the pond, and swimming like a fish towards Nobbles. Of course a policeman immediately appeared on the scene and was veryangry. But when the boy returned to shore and presented Nobbles to his littlemaster, Margot protested against the hard words that were hurled at therescuer. 'It isn't many boys would get a wetting for a stick, so don't scoldhim, poor boy! I'm sure Master Bobby is ever so grateful to him, forhe treasures that bit of stick like nothing else. What's your name, mylad, and where do you live?' '"Curly, " they calls me, lidy, otherwise John Hart, I lives on my witsmost of the diy. ' 'He's all wet, ' said True, looking at the boy pitifully; 'how will heget dry, Margot; he will catch cold. ' Bobby was so occupied in drying Nobbles with his pocket-handkerchiefthat he hardly thanked the boy; now he looked up, and was quite asdistressed as True. 'He must be dried, Margot; let's take him home; it was so very good ofhim. ' Margot hurriedly produced her big purse and handed the boy oneshilling. He stuck his hands in his pockets and grinned at her. 'I ain't goin' to take a bob for that!' he said. Margot put back her shilling, the policeman moved away. 'Come along, Master Bobby, we had best go home; if that boy likes tofollow us he can, and I'll give him an old pair of trousers that yourfather gave me to give away. If he's too high and mighty to take themhe can go his own way. Many of these London boys dress themselves inrags on purpose to excite pity. ' 'Do come home with us, ' said Bobby, turning to Curly appealingly. He grinned, made a dart in the opposite direction, and was soon lost toview. The children walked home soberly, but their astonishment wasgreat when they were going up the flight of steps that led indoors toturn and find Curly standing behind them. 'You are a funny boy, ' said Bobby; 'I finked you had gone home. ' 'I wish he had, ' muttered Margot; 'there's no trusting these sort. ' But she told him he might come in and sit in the hall, and told thechildren to stay with him while she went to get what she had promisedhim. True made her way to the landlady to get a piece of cake for him. Bobby stayed by his side and talked, as only Bobby could talk. 'Tell me where you reely lives. I am so very glad you saved Nobbles'life; he's my dearest, bestest friend in the world!' 'He's a rum 'un!' said Curly, regarding Nobbles' little head with someinterest. 'Well, when I lives at 'ome it's 7 Surrey Court. Now youain't no wiser, I bet!' 'I could find it if I wanted to. I'd ask a policeman to take me, ' saidBobby confidently. 'Do you go to school, or are you too grown-up?' 'Much too grown-up by long shakes!' said Curly with his broad grin; 'noschool for me if I know it. ' 'And what do you do all day long?' Curly winked his eye at him, then said grandly: 'My occypations arewarious. Tomorrer I sweeps my crossin' in the High Street. ' 'High Street Kensington?' questioned Bobby. 'Oh, I'll come and seeyou, and walk across your crossing. ' 'The day hafter, ' went on Curly, 'if it be fine I may be a hawkin'horinges. I likes a change o' work, and another pal takes my crossin'when I'm elsewhere. Day follerin' I may be out o' town. ' 'In the country? I wish you'd take me. How do you go?' 'I rides mostly, ' said the boy, with another wink. 'I ain't perticlaras to my wehicle!' 'And when you get into the country what happens?' Curly gazed up at the ceiling reflectively. 'I takes my holiday. Onoccasions I brings up hivy, and berries, and 'olly, and hawks 'em roundnex' day 'stead of horinges. ' 'I'd like to be you, ' said Bobby admiringly. 'Have you got a father?' 'No, 'e was dead afore I were twelve months old. ' 'I've got two fathers, ' said Bobby proudly, 'and I especks you have onesame as me. God is my Father. Isn't He yours?' Curly gave a kind of snort. 'That's Sunday-school jaw!' 'It isn't jaw, ' said Bobby, gazing at him solemnly. 'It's quite true;and God looks after everybodies who's in His family. And if a boyhasn't any father, God is 'ticularly kind to him to make up for it. Once my father was far away, and God was ever so kind to me. I used tofeel He was. He never goes away, so you can always have Him to talkto. ' Margot came downstairs at this juncture and put a parcel into Curly'shand. 'There, my lad, that's for helping Master Bobby. And now run off, forI'm sure our landlady wouldn't like to see you here. ' 'Stop!' cried True, coming up the kitchen stairs; 'see what I've gotfor him! It's scalding hot!' She was carrying very carefully, in both hands, a cup of cocoa, andCurly's eyes lit up at the sight of it. 'And a piece of cake, ' she added, producing a slice from her pocket. Curly took the cup from her with a gruff 'thank 'ee. ' He made shortwork of both cocoa and cake, then took his parcel and made for the door. Bobby laid his hand on his coat-sleeve. 'You've saved Nobbles' life, ' he said, 'and I shan't never, neverforget it. ' Curly grinned and departed. 'They've no manners, those street boys, ' said Margot; 'but it was akind thing to do for you, Master Bobby. ' 'He's going to be one of my friends, ' said Bobby firmly; 'and I shallgo and see him to-morrow at his crossing. ' He accomplished this, for he persuaded Miss Robsart to go with them. She very often took them for a short walk if Margot was busy, and shebecame interested in the boy at once. 'I have a class of rather ragged boys on Sunday, ' she said; 'and if hedoesn't go anywhere I will get him to come to me. ' It was rather a muddy day, and Curly was hard at work with his broomwhen they caught sight of him. He grinned when they came up, and firstpretended to be too busy to speak to them; but presently he paused forbreath, and stood resting on his broom. Bobby insisted on shakinghands with him, and was ready with a heap of questions to which heexpected replies. Miss Robsart, in her bright, happy way, began totalk to him too, and she soon found out that his mother worked at afactory, that he had two little sisters at school, and that he waswanting to get into steady work if he could, only no one would starthim. ''Tis the charac'er they'll be on about, ' he said, laughing and showingan even set of white teeth; 'they looks at the clothes and shakes theirwise 'eads! "Must have a respec'able by, " they says; but bless'd if Idon't mike more some dys than some blokes dos if they works a week onhend!' Then Miss Robsart discovered that he had left off going toSunday-school, and after a good deal of persuasion he promised to cometo her class the following Sunday. As they walked home she said to Bobby: 'I like his face so much; he looks honest; and I shall go and see hishome and his mother if I can get at her. We may be able to help him toget a place, Bobby. I always feel so sorry for the boys who have noone to start them in life. ' 'I fought God always started us from heaven, ' said Bobby. Miss Robsart smiled. True remarked: 'I don't believe he knows about the golden gates, Bobby. You mightshow him your picture, one day; and p'raps he'd try to keep himself alittle cleaner. ' True never could quite distinguish the difference between the outsideand inside cleansing. Bobby looked up thoughtfully. 'I'll tell him 'bout it. He's going to be my friend, True; and me andNobbles means to see him very often. ' And when Bobby said a thing he meant it. Chapter XIV. 'NEARLY DROWNED. ' The winter was nearly over when a sudden sharp frost set in. Bobby andTrue were delighted to see the snow fall, and walk out when thepavements and roads were slippery with ice; and, when their father tookthem to the Serpentine to see the skating on the ice they wereenchanted. Then, as the frost continued, he got them each a pair ofskates, and gave them their first lessons in the art. He himself was abeautiful skater, as he had done a great deal of such sport in America;and then one Saturday he announced to them at breakfast that he shouldtake them by train to a large piece of water in the country, and theyshould stay there the whole day. 'We will have a winter picnic; Margot must pack us up some sandwiches, and we shall not come back till dark. ' It was the first time he had proposed a whole day out, and the childrenwere of course delighted. As they were starting Mr. Allonby looked at his little son, who hadskates in one hand, Nobbles in the other. 'I think you had better leave Nobbles at home, my boy; he will be inyour way. ' 'Oh, please let me take him! He would be so 'normously disappointed ifI left him behind; he does love the country. ' Mr. Allonby laughed. 'Have your own way then. ' They set off in high spirits. Every bit of the day was a keen pleasureto them--the train journey, the walk from the station to the oldcountry house belonging to Mr. Allonby's friend, and then theadjournment to the artificial lake in the park, where a large number ofskaters were assembled. There were other children there who at oncemade friends with Bobby and True, and, when luncheon time came, theywere asked to come up to the house. This, however, Mr. Allonbydeclined, and a few others besides themselves preferred to lunch on thebanks of the bit of water. 'I like this much the best, ' said Bobby, snuggling close to his father;'it's as hot as fire, isn't it?' His father looked at his rosy cheeks with content. 'I wish I could give you children an out-of-door country life, ' hesaid; 'that's what you ought to have. ' 'Yes, ' said True; 'I don't like houses at all. I should like to be agipsy!' 'When we grows up, father, we'll come over the sea with you, won't we?And couldn't we go to the North Pole and skate? Miss Robsart wastelling us yesterday about the poor little fat Eskims--I forgets thename of them--who're in the dark so much. I should like to see themand the whales. ' 'I should like the hot places best, ' said True, 'where you lie in thesun, and monkeys and parrots swing in the trees above you, and you eatcocoanuts and dates!' 'Yes, ' said Mr. Allonby; 'we'll do some travels together later if we'respared. But the North Pole would be a big order, Bobby; it has neverbeen found yet. ' 'I espec's God has got hold of it in His hand, and twists the worldround with it, ' said Bobby with knitted brows. His father laughed. 'Finish your lunch, sonny, and we'll be moving; your theories are quitebeyond me. ' So they took to the ice again, and Bobby flew here and there on hisskates, one of the jolliest little figures to be seen. Later in the afternoon a certain piece of the ice was roped off asbeing unsafe. Mr. Allonby warned the children not to go near it; andthen, only a short time afterwards, a cry and a crash startled everyonenear. A daring schoolboy had ventured beyond the rope and crashedthrough the ice into deep water. Mr. Allonby was close by with Bobby;in an instant he had dashed forwards, and after a breathless minute ortwo to Bobby, and before others had hardly taken in what was happening, he had dragged the boy safely up again. But, to Bobby's horror, as hisfather was coming back, the ice gave way in a fresh place under hisfeet, and he disappeared. The child raised an agonising cry. 'Father's drowing! Father's drowing!' Then ensued wild confusion. Ladies shrieked and rushed to the banks, there were loud cries for a ladder or a rope, but, as is often the casein private places, none were forthcoming in the spot in which they wererequired. In an instant one little figure went to the rescue, strongin his own willingness to save. He reached his father first. Holdingout Nobbles to him, he cried: 'Catch hold, quick, quick, father! I'll pull you out! Oh, catch hold!' Mr. Allonby was struggling to raise himself, but the ice kept breakingunder his grip. 'Go back!' he shouted to Bobby. 'Go back! But for once the child disobeyed. When he saw his father sink before his eyes he raised a most piercingcry. In the distance they were bringing a ladder. Men were rushingfrantically back to get it. 'Father! Father! Don't sink! Oh, do catch hold of Nobbles!' 'Hi, you little chap, you'll be going in yourself! Come back! Give meyour stick! Here, Allonby, catch hold!' Mr. Allonby's head appeared above the surface again, and in an instantthe man behind Bobby had placed Nobbles across the hole in the ice. Exhausted as he was, Mr. Allonby gripped it, keeping himself afloattill a few men and boys formed a human ladder, and he was slowly drawnout of his perilous position. Bobby meanwhile was struggling madly inthe grip of a youth. 'You little fool, keep still! Do you want to drown yourself! You werewithin an ace of it a minute ago! Your father will be all right in aminute. See--that's--the way. Hurrah, Selwyn--he's got him. Now pulltogether--hurrah! He's out, and none the worse, I bet!' Bobby was screaming frantically: 'I wants to save him. Me and Nobblescan save him!' but when he saw his father rescued he stopped hisscreams and struggled to get to him. His little face was white to thelips. His father stooped to reassure him. 'I'm all right, sonny. Here's your stick! Come along up to the housewith me! I'm too wet to stand about. They'll give me a change. ' He took hold of Bobby's hand and led him to the bank whilst they tookoff their skates together, and then they walked through the park, youngAlan Daubeney, the son of the house, accompanying them. 'It was that little brute, Jim Carlton, he always disobey orders if hecan! I'm thankful you were on the spot, Allonby, though it would havebeen a near case for you if we hadn't got at you when we did. Fatherwill be furious with the gardeners. They were told to have ladders asa precaution, but it seems they left them at the other end. ' 'Well, no harm's done. I don't think much of a sousing. I dare sayyou'll give me a change. ' 'Of course. ' Then young Daubeney looked at Bobby. 'Your stick proved useful, youngster; a good thing you were by. ' 'Yes, ' said Mr. Allonby, with a little smile, 'it was all the support Ineeded. I should have gone entirely under if I had not had it at thatidentical minute. ' Bobby did not answer, but he tried to smile. It had been more of ashock to him than to his father, and it was not till he and True werein the train coming home that he ventured to speak of it. 'Father, you were nearly drownded!' 'I suppose I was, sonny, or I might have been. ' 'Oh, what should I've done! what should I've done! That awful cracklyice!' 'I wish I'd seen it, ' said True; 'a lady had such tight hold of myhand, she wouldn't let me go, and I never knewed it was dad tumbled in. I saw a boy come along dripping wet, and he looked awful frightened. If I'd known it was dad I'd have screamed!' 'Nobbles saved father, ' said Bobby in an awestruck whisper. 'I believehe reely did!' 'I think he really did, my boy, ' said Mr. Allonby, putting his armround Bobby and drawing him to him; 'he and you together. We littlethought this morning, when I told you to leave him at home, what hewould be the means of doing. ' A slow smile spread over Bobby's face. The joy of this discovery quitewiped out the horror of the scene from his mind. He laid his curlyhead against his father's strong arm in infinite content. 'Me and Nobbles is 'stremely happy, ' he said. And then Mr. Allonby stooped and kissed him. 'Oh, Bobby, what a pity it is that lessons must separate us. ' But Bobby was too absorbed in his happiness to heed what his fathersaid. When they reached home Margot had to be told the whole story, and thenext morning it was poured into Miss Robsart's ears, and then anexpedition was made to Curly's crossing to tell him about it. 'For acourse you ought to know, ' said Bobby, 'for you saved Nobble'slife, and he saved father's, so it's got to do with you as well as me. ' And then True suggested that Lady Isobel should be written and toldabout it. 'And we'll make it up like a story, Bobby, for it's quite fit for abook, and I'll help you write it. ' Three afternoon's hard work in the sitting-room produced the followingepistle, which went down to the country and greeted Lady Isobel onemorning at breakfast: 'MY VERY DERE ANT ISBEL, -- 'Father says you are my ant now. A wunderfull day hapend. Father andTrue and me and Nobbles went on our skats to skat in the cuntry. Itwas a very big pond, and a lot of pepul, and we went in the trane. Nobbles kam with us. The ice began to brake when a boy went on itwhere he was told not, and he went thro. It was an orful moment. Andfather and me saw him do it. Father gumped in the water and kort himand lifted him up, and he krawled out, and Father kam out too, andthere was anuther crack, and Father went down and onley his headremaned and sum fingers. Me and Nobbles nerely burst with terrerr, butwe went up very quik, and I held Nobbles out to dere father, and we wasgoing to pull him out, but it was orfull, and sum men came up, andNobbles was tuk and lade on his chest flat across the hole in the ice. Father's head had gorn down twice for the ice crakkeled in his fingers, but he tuk hold of Nobbles, and Nobbles smild and held him fast for hesso strong, and then a man lade down on his chest flat and held out hishand to Father and anuther man pulled hold of his legs, and anuther manpulled him, and I was pushed away for I wanted to pull too, but I didnot cry but I was 'normusly fritend, and at larst Father was pulled outsafe, but they saide if Nobbles had not been there he wood havedrownded, so dont you think that me and Nobbles saved Father's life?He saide we did, and I am so glad for I luv him the best in the wurld, him and God in Heaven. It was an orful excedent, and Margot says wewere nerely orfans, and me and Nobbles dremes of it nerely every night, so Nobbles is a herro, wich True says is anybuddy who saves life, and Ihelped him to do it. Plese rite to me soon. Your luving little BOBBY. ' Lady Isobel handed this letter to her husband. 'Oh, Mortimer! we must have him here. I simply ache to have him everytime I go up to his nursery. ' 'Patience, my lady!' said her husband, laughing as he read Bobby'squaint production. '"All things come to him who waits, " and a bride of two months'standing ought not to ache for anyone but her husband!' Bobby got a long and loving letter back from his new aunt, and heshowed it to his father with great pride. Lady Isobel's last sentence in her letter was, 'Ask father to tell youmy plan that I talked to you about the day before I was married. ' 'What is it, father?' asked Bobby. I'll tell you this evening, ' his father responded. 'True and you and Iwill have a confab over it. ' These confabs were a delight to the children. They had many of them onthe hearthrug in the firelight, their father leaning back in his chairand smoking his pipe whilst he listened and talked. 'A plan is sure to be nice, ' said True, 'and Lady Isobel's will be muchbetter than the ones we make up, Bobby. ' So all that day they puzzled their heads over what it could be. Andwhen at last the happy moment arrived they sat in rapt anticipation oftheir father's disclosure. 'I hope to sail away from England about the middle of May, ' Mr. Allonbysaid, looking at the children gravely. Bobby's lower lip began to quiver at once. 'I knewed that drefful day would be coming, ' he said; 'but me andNobbles tries to forget it. ' 'This plan has to do with that day, ' his father said cheerfully. 'Whatis going to become of you when I go off, do you think?' 'Oh, ' said True, 'we've plans for that. Miss Robsart is coming to livewith us, and she and Margot will look after us till you come back. ' Mr. Allonby shook his head. 'No, that won't work, ' he said. 'Shall we be sented to school?' asked Bobby in a trembling voice. 'Now, listen! Your Uncle Mortimer and Aunt Isobel have said they willtake care of you and True whilst I am away. Your Aunt wants you backin the old house, Bobby, and Miss Robsart is to go down there too, andgo on teaching you till you've mastered your Latin declensions, and areready for school. ' True clapped her hands delightedly, and a smile broke over Bobby'sserious face. 'And will Miss Robsart's sick sister come too? She always said if shegot into the country she could paint again. ' 'I believe the idea is that she should go too. Your uncle has acottage near that he is going to let them have. Margot will takecharge of you still in the nursery, and I shall feel that you are beinglooked after well whilst I'm away. Do you think the plan will work?' 'Yes, ' the children cried simultaneously; for Bobby had outgrown hisdread of the silent house now, and the idea of going back there, andshowing True all his old haunts filled him with delight. 'I wish, ' said Bobby slowly, 'as we're all going there, that Curlycould come too. Do you think, father dear, we could make a confababout him?' 'Go ahead, then. From your account he is quite a reformed character;but I don't see how he could form one of your party. ' 'He's so very clean now, ' continued Bobby earnestly; 'and Miss Robsarthas got him into a shop. He dusts and sweeps and runs errands, but hetold me yesterday he wants a run into the country awful bad. He wouldlike to come with us. ' 'Yes, he might black our boots and work in the garden, ' said True. 'Will Lady Is'bel ask him, do you think, father?' 'No, I think she is doing quite enough if she takes charge of you twoyoung pickles. ' 'I shan't like leaving my friend behind, ' said Bobby solemnly. 'Yousee, he saved Nobbles' life. He deserves me to remember him, and notgo away and forget him. ' 'You send him one of your letters, ' said his father smiling, 'or apresent. You needn't forget him because you're away from him. Is thatwhat you are going to do with me?' A look from Bobby was sufficient reply to this. Then, lapsing into hisworst grammar, in his excitement he said, 'I never forgetted you oneday since I was borned! It's like a bit of my puzzle map, ' went onBobby after a pause. 'It's a plan with a piece left out, and it isn'tfinished till it's putted in. Curly must be in our plan, father dear. ' 'He may be in yours, but not in Lady Isobel's, I think, ' said Mr. Allonby. 'We'll make a confab with Lady Is'bel about him when we get to herhouse, ' suggested True. 'I believe she'll find a way to have him. ' Bobby cheered up at once. 'I believe she will. We'll ask her. ' And then, dismissing the one flaw in the delightful plan, they talkedof Bobby's old home with enthusiasm till Margot came to take them tobed. Chapter XV. THE OLD HOUSE AGAIN. It was a typical spring day. The old house stood in the midst of itsrhododendrons and azaleas; the red brick wall round the kitchen gardenwas almost hidden by the masses of pink and white bloom upon it; theorchard was a picture of beauty, whilst the flower-beds in front weremasses of late bulbs and forget-me-nots. The house itself was thesame, and yet not the same. It seemed as if it were waking up from along sleep. Every-one of the windows was open; the hall was filledwith the scent of flowers, and, as the dock in it struck five, LadyIsobel came to the door, and shading her eyes with her hands looked outalong the drive. The sun was getting low, but it sent its slantinggolden rays across her pretty blue gown. Her face had lost much of itssadness, and her lips were parted in smiling expectancy now, for shehad caught the sound of wheels. In another moment a big dogcart swungup to the house, and the cheery voice of her husband called to her. 'Here they are safe and sound! And Margot is following with theluggage cart. ' The next minute two pairs of childish arms were embracing her. 'Oh Aunt Is'bel, we're so glad to come!' 'And Bobby hasn't cried a tear since dad went away, for we mean to beso happy. ' 'That is splendid, my darling! Come along in and see some changes wehave made, and then Bobby shall take us to the nursery and tell us howhe likes it, and whether he thinks Margot will be happy in it. ' Bobby looked about him with eager delighted eyes. There was noquestion of his not noticing the changes. He remarked on every one. 'You've got new stair carpets; the walls are papered quite different. You've got flowers in the staircase window. Oh, what pretty pictures!' He was upstairs like lightning, none of the rooms appealed to him likehis nursery. The green baize door was there still, but when he cameinto his old domain he drew a long breath. Pretty chintz curtains werein the windows. There was a thick soft red carpet under foot, abookcase with delightful looking story-books, a stand of flowers, aglobe of goldfish, and several fresh pictures on the walls, which hadbeen papered with pink roses to match the chintz. 'It's like a fairy book!' said the delighted Bobby. 'She waves herwand--the fairy, you know--and all the old things come new, and theugly things come pretty!' 'Lady Isobel is the fairy, ' said True. She was looking about her withgreat curiosity. 'I never have lived in quite such a big house, ' she said, as, afterhaving seen the nursery, she followed Lady Isobel downstairs again, andthey went in and out of all the rooms. Bobby was still exclaiming as he went about. 'Look, True, those were the pictures which used to frown on me in thedining-room when I went in. Me and Nobbles finked we heard them say, "Run away; you've no business here. " But they seem quite smiling now, and what lovely flowers on the dinner-table! There never used to besuch pretty ones when I sawed them before. And the blinds are up, andthe sun is coming in, and, oh! do come to the libr'ry and see what it'slike now. There, look, True! those horrid blind heads are nearly allgone; and it's got a new carpet and pretty curtains and flowers. Oh, it's so 'normously diff'rent!' 'We are not going to have any gloomy rooms here if we can help it, 'said Lady Isobel smiling; 'and now come into the drawing-room. You aregoing to have tea with us there for a treat. ' It looked quite a new room to Bobby. All the furniture had beenaltered; magazines and books, work, and flowers gave the impressionthat it was a room to be lived in. It seemed to reflect some of LadyIsobel's sweet cheerfulness upon those who came inside it. Bobby wandered round it, noting all the changes, and touching withreverent fingers many of Lady Isobel's pretty knick-knacks. 'It looks like your pretty house that I sawed when I went to tea withyou long ago, ' he said. Lady Isobel nodded. 'I hoped you would like it, Bobby, darling. Your uncle and I want tohave a happy home, with plenty of sunshine in it. ' 'Will it be always summer?' asked True reflectively. 'Always in our hearts, I hope, ' answered Lady Isobel. Bobby sat down in a low, cushioned seat and put on his thinking cap. Past and present presented many pictures. His uncle coming in noticeda gravity about his small face that he wished to remove. He spoke tohim with a twinkle in his eye. 'Will you promise me not to put marbles in my boots to-morrow morning?' Bobby started; then he chuckled. 'You finked it was Nobbles. I needn't hide from peoples now. Me andNobbles can walk over the house, where we likes. Aunt Is'bel says so. ' 'Do you like coming back to the old house again, darling?' asked LadyIsobel, for she had noted a certain wistfulness in Bobby's gaze. 'Yes, ' he said; 'but it's a new house to me. The old one has died withgrandmother; and Jenkins has gone, and Jane. Is Tom here?' 'Yes, Tom is here still, and looking forward to see you so much. ' 'And the apple-tree is here, ' said Mr. Egerton. Bobby's eyes shone. 'I'll teach True how to sit on it and look over the wall, ' he said. The children ran out to the garden directly their tea was finished. Old Tom seized hold of Bobby by both hands. 'Ay, the good old times are coming back to this house, ' he said. 'I think these are new times, ' said Bobby. 'No, no. I mind when the house were full of children's voices andlaughter before the old master died. There's a stir that does my heartgood, Master Bobby; and the master be right down hearty with all on us. He be the proper man to be here, sure enough!' True's delight at exploring the gardens and climbing into theapple-tree infected Bobby. 'I never had no one to play with before, ' he said. 'Me and Nobblesused to make up plenty, but we wanted someone else to do it. ' He showed her all his old haunts with the greatest pride, then, tiredout with their journey and excitement, they returned to the house andwillingly went to bed. Lady Isobel paid Bobby a visit the last thingat night. 'I hope you will be happy, darling, here. ' Bobby clasped both arms round her neck. 'Me and Nobbles have been talking about it. We did feel a little funnywhen we comed in. I was so 'fraid in this house before, but it's allquite, quite different!' 'I hope it is. I don't want you to feel that you have to creep abouton tiptoe and keep out of sight. I shall like to hear your steps andvoices all over the house. Isn't it strange, Bobby, that you and Ishould be here together? How little we thought it would come to pass!' 'I was always looking out for father, ' said Bobby slowly. 'I shan't beable to do that now, acause I knows he won't be back for free years. ' 'No; but you can be learning lessons as fast as you can so as to begetting ready for the time when you will be with him again. And thenyou'll have to write him letters, Bobby, and he will write to you. That you could never do before!' 'No. That will be lovelly! And please Aunt Is'bel, may I ask youabout Curly? He was so dreadful sorry to say good-bye, for MissRobsart teached him on Sunday, and we talked to him always when he wason his crossing. Me and Nobbles is 'ticularly fond of him, and Truesays he could work in the garden here. You would like him; he hascurly hair, and he can whistle any tune you ask for, and--and--he'svery mis'able we've all gone away from him. ' 'How did you come to know him?' asked Lady Isobel with interest. SoBobby plunged into the story of the rescue of Nobbles, and she listenedto it with smiling sympathy. 'I must talk to Miss Robsart about him when she comes here. Now go tosleep like a good boy, and to-morrow morning, if it is fine, you mustcome with me and see the dear little cottage that Miss Robsart is goingto live in. ' So Bobby gave her a hug and kiss, and, clasping Nobbles in his arms, laid his head upon his pillow, murmuring: 'Me and Nobbles is 'stremely glad to be in the house where we growed upin, and it's much better than we ever especked!' The nursery breakfast the next morning was a very cheery one. Margot'sround smiling face was a picture. 'Ah!' she said, 'there's a verse in the Bible about lines falling inpleasant places, and that is just what I feel like now. I won't deny Iwas getting a bit old for much housework, and as to that crowded dirtyLondon, I only hope I shan't ever set foot in it again! And I won'tdeny that a house, where every penny has not to be thought of, is avery pleasant place to live in!' We're going to see Miss Robsart's little cottage after breakfast, ' saidTrue. 'Will you come too, Margot?' 'Oh, no, I'm going to unpack you both, and settle your things in allthe nice drawers and cupboards we have. Dear heart! I begin to thinkit was a good day that brought Master Bobby to us!' A short time afterwards both children were walking with Lady Isobeldown the road to see the cottage. Bobby eagerly pointed out to themfamiliar landmarks. 'That's where that horrid boy broke poor Nobbles! And that's ourmilkman's house, and there's the chestnut tree where I pick upchestnuts when they drop. ' Then Lady Isobel turned up a lane out of the high-road. A little whitegate stood in the quickset hedge, which Lady Isobel opened, and there, in a pretty rustic garden, was a white-washed cottage with a thatchedroof and old-fashioned casement windows. A jasmine and rose climbedover its porch. The door was painted green, and everything lookedfresh and clean. Lady Isobel unlocked the door, and Bobby and Truestepped in with exclamations of delight. One sunny sitting-room oneither side of the door, a tiny kitchen behind, and three bedroomsabove, were all the rooms the cottage contained, but it had a sweet oldkitchen garden behind, and three apple-trees were brightening thebackground with their snowy blossoms. It was on a hill, and the viewfrom the front looked over a lovely expanse of buttercup meadows, andthe river beyond. Bobby's little face looked solemn for his years as he turned and facedhis aunt. 'It's a _beautiful_ place. Miss Robsart's sister will be able to painther trees again. I fink, Aunt Is'bel, you'll be filling us too full ofhappiness. ' 'There's just one person more who ought to be here, ' said True. 'Yes, I've tolded 'bout him; and when Miss Robsart comes it will betalked about. Then we shall all be, like Margot says, a happy fam'ly. ' 'A country happy family, ' said True. Lady Isobel laughed merrily. 'Did you never see this cottage before, Bobby? I believe yourgrandmother's coachman lived here?' 'He was a cross man, ' said Bobby promptly. 'I never comed near him. He said he couldn't bear boys, and nurse wouldn't take me to anycottages--grandmother said she wasn't to. I never comed up this laneonce. ' Then they went back to the house, and Lady Isobel left them in thegarden to play. In the afternoon they drove into the town with her andhelped to choose a pretty invalid couch for the eldest Miss Robsart. 'I shall have it put in the window ready for her, ' Lady Isobel said. 'And she can lie on it and paint her pretty pictures, Bobby. ' The days that followed were delicious ones to the children; and in duetime the Miss Robsarts came down with their pretty old furniture andtook possession of the cottage. The children were allowed to runbackwards and forwards, and help with the move. When they werethoroughly settled in, lessons began. Lady Isobel had put aside aspecial room for the schoolroom; and though at first Bobby and Truefound it a little irksome to get into their regular hours of workagain, they soon became reconciled to it. Miss Robsart was as happy as the day was long, and as for her invalidsister, she could not express her thankfulness. She broke down whenLady Isobel went to see her. 'I never expected such bliss in this life, ' she said. 'I don't knowwhat we have done for you to do all this for us. ' But the crowning joy to Bobby and True was when Lady Isobel told themthat she was going to have Curly down, and let him help old Tom in thegarden. 'If he likes it, and works well, we will keep him. He is coming on amonth's trial, and he will live with Tom and his wife. ' 'I'm afraid we shall soon have the whole of London swooping down uponus, ' said Mr. Egerton when he heard the news. 'How many more friends have you, Bobby? For I see your aunt is goingto grant you every desire of your heart. ' 'I haven't any more friends, ' said Bobby gravely. 'You don't make manyin London, but Curly ought to come, because he saved Nobbles' life. ' 'I believe Nobbles is at the bottom of everything, ' said his uncle; andBobby nodded, well pleased. 'Yes, Nobbles is very erportant to me, ' he said; 'and if Curly hadn'tsaved him, my heart would have broke!' It was Sunday afternoon. Lady Isobel was sitting in the drawing-room, and the children were by her side. 'It makes me think of mother, ' said True, with a little choke in hervoice. 'She always used to give us Sunday lessons. ' 'I want to follow her teaching, darling. I am going to keep this hourespecially for you. Now, what shall we talk about this first Sunday?Would you like to choose a Bible story?' True looked at Bobby. He thought deeply for a minute, then he said: 'May we look at the lovely Talian Bible? 'Yes. Go to the library and bring it here. True can help you to carryit. ' Away they ran, and soon returned with the precious Book, which theyplaced upon a small table by her side. Then Bobby reverently andcarefully turned over its pages till he came to the picture of thegolden gates. He and True hung over it with admiring eyes. 'Talk to us about heaven, ' said Bobby, 'because mother is there, and welove it. ' Lady Isobel did so. She read them verses of its beauty, of thewhite-robed throng who were singing the praises of the Lamb of God, ofthe tears that would be wiped away, and the darkness that would be madelight, and of the happiness of all gathered there. 'I would like Curly to hear about it, ' said Bobby with a sigh. 'You must tell him about it, darling. ' 'I will say my tex' to him, and make him learn it, and und'stand it. ' 'Does blessed mean happy?' asked True. 'Yes. ' 'I didn't think I'd ever be happy again when mother went away, but Ifeel a little better now. Will you take us one day to see her grave, or is it too far?' 'I think we must manage it one day, dear, ' said Lady Isobel drawing thelittle motherless girl near her. 'We might go by train a part of theway. ' 'I would like to see her grave very much, ' said Bobby, 'because fatherwent to put my tex' upon it. He liked my tex' very much. ' 'I think we all like it, Bobby. ' 'I wonder which is God's favourite text in the Bible, ' said True. Lady Isobel was silent; the children sometimes puzzled her. 'God never makes any faverits, ' said Bobby. 'My old nurse telled methat once. He loves ev'rybodies and all alike, doesn't he, AuntIs'bel?' Then without waiting for her to reply he proceeded: 'I try to love ev'rybodies alike, but I love God first, and then myfather. ' 'And who next?' asked True curiously. 'I finks, ' said Bobby, hesitating, 'truthfully, I finks I loves Nobblesnext best. ' 'I'm sure you oughtn't to, ' said True; 'he's just a stick. ' Bobby shook his head. 'I loves you, Aunt Is'bel, and Master Mortimer, and True, but Nobbles comed to me first, and I couldn't stop lovinghim. He's a kind of part of me, you see, and ev'ryfing I does he doestoo. ' 'He's only a stick, ' repeated True. 'Who saved father's life?' said Bobby with sudden warmth. 'Well, ' said True, slowly, 'it was you who put Nobbles on the ice. ' 'Yes, ' said Bobby, 'it was what I'd been longing and wanting to do, andI was always finking and finking how it could be done, and then all ofa sudden it comed, and who saved father's life? Why, me and Nobbles. ' True was crushed. Lady Isobel said softly: 'Shall we repeat the text together, children, in this old Bible, andask God to make us not only love it ourselves, but pass it on to thosewho do not know how they can have a right to enter in through the gatesinto the City?' 'Are there many bodies that don't know that?' questioned Bobby. 'A great, great many. Some who miss the happiness that God means themto have in this world by not knowing it. ' 'We must try and tell them, ' said Bobby earnestly. 'It's a pity ifthey don't understand prop'ly. ' Then slowly and softly the children repeated their text after LadyIsobel: 'Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, thatthey may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gatesinto the City. ' FINIS.