omnibus, now could I, Granny?"

"And do you think——" but Terry's arms were round her Granny's neck, and the kisses of her fresh young lips were sweet on the wrinkled cheeks.

"There, there, Terry, my darling, we must talk about it another time. You won't do it again, will you, Terry?"

"I won't indeed, Granny, not if you don't like it. But do give me a huge, gigantic hug, Granny darling! And only look at Turly. Hasn't he grown fat and big! Come close up, Turly dear; Granny wants to hug you."

The hugs were given in plentiful measure and then Turly, who had been standing aside, looking rather abashed, plucked up courage and remained by Gran'ma's knee. He was a sturdily-built little fellow, with large, dark eyes and a square forehead, ordinarily rather silent and slow in his movements. The contrast between him and the light-limbed, quick-speaking Terry was remarkable, and to no one more obvious than to Turly himself, who had the most adoring admiration of his lively sister.

"Are they to have their tea in the nursery, madam?" asked Nurse Nancy, who had been standing by, a witness of Granny's attempt and failure to scold.

"No, Nancy; no! Terencia is going to be good. They must have tea with me here. Just put them into their evening clothes and bring them back to me."

After half an hour's manipulation from Nurse Nancy the children returned to Granny, who in the meanwhile had dozed in her chair, quite worn out with the fatigues of expectation, and the necessity for being angry. Nothing remained of the afternoon's excitement to Madam but the touch of fresh young lips on her cheeks, and of warm, young arms clasping her round the neck. When she opened her eyes they rested on a meek-looking little gentlewoman in a white frock, with a blue silk work-bag hanging by long blue ribbons from her arm.

"Miss Goodchild taught me to make it, Granny, and she said you would like me to have it; and I have worked you such a pretty linen cover for your prayer-book; Nancy is going to unpack it after tea. And doesn't Turly look sweet in his velvet knickers? The pockets of his other things are all gone in holes with marbles. And oh, Turly, only see what a lovely tea Granny is going to give us! Honey, jam, brown bread, hot tea-cakes! Turly is so fond of sweeties, you know, Gran'ma."

"Rather," said Turly, which was the first word he had uttered since he escaped with his life from the car.

The candles and lamps were now lighted in Granny's handsome sitting-room, and a huge turf fire burned on the hearth, for it was a wintry evening. The tea-table had been placed to one side, near Granny's chair, and as Madam laughed heartily at Terencia's prattle no one could have suggested that the coming of this bright little creature had been as a nightmare to the old lady for many weeks past.

But after the children were gone to bed Madam Trimleston said to Nancy:

"I must say a few words to Lally. Ask him to come up here and speak to me."

Very soon heavy footsteps were heard ascending the stair, and Michael Lally, the coachman, was seen standing in the doorway.

"God bless ye and good evenin' to ye, madam! It's glad I am to see you lookin' so well, madam."

"Thank you, Lally!" It was hard to begin to find fault after so genial a greeting. "But I want to ask you a question, Lally. How am I to entrust my children to your care after what happened this afternoon?"

Lally passed his big hand over the back of his head and looked puzzled, while a little smile lurked in the corners of his mouth.

"Is it in the regard of Miss Terry dhrivin' home with herself in the car, madam?" he said. "Sure I declare to your honour, madam, that I won't be the better of it for this month to come."

"The idea of your letting that child seize the reins—"

"Well now, madam, she didn't. Says she in her coaxin' way: 'Lally,' says she, 'just let me sit on your seat and hold the reins, and you can be watchin' me,' says she. 'Sure,' says she, 'many's the time I drove my pappy,' says she, 'when I was over there in Africa,' says she, 'and he did used to be delighted with me, seein' me at it,' says she. An' I couldn't stand her coaxin', and I just pleased her, till all of a suddent she took a fancy to some moss that was growin' in the dyke. And nothin' would do her but I was to get down and gather it for her, and the next thing was she had jaunted off with herself and was lookin' back laughin' at me."

"I know; I know her way," said Madam. "Lally, I intended to give you such a scolding as you could never forget, but I see it's no use. I can only implore of you not to give in to Miss Terry's coaxing again, no matter what the consequences." And then Granny paused, remembering those kisses on her cheek and those arms round her neck.

"We must try to control her," she said, "or her wild daring will cost us her life."

"God forbid, madam!" said Lally.

"You have had a long, cold journey to-day. Have you had a good supper, Lally?"

"Sorra bit could I ate, madam, till I had a word with yourself. But anyhow I'll go and ate it now."

CHAPTER III

A WET DAY

Terry and Turly were snugly lodged on the same flat with Granny's bedroom and sitting-room. Nurse Nancy's room stood between the two pretty little chambers given to the children, and the big day nursery was close by. Everything was very nicely arranged for the comfort of the little visitors and for the maintaining of a proper control over them by Madam and Nurse Nancy; Here they were to be safe night and day under the eyes of their elders, except when allowed to go out with proper escort. The gate at the back stairs, which gave on the landing and had been placed there years ago for the protection of little children long since able to take care of themselves, was as strong as ever and shut with as clever a snap, so that there was no danger by that way. There were also guards on all the fires, and an ornamental bar across each window to prevent little rash creatures from throwing themselves out.

"What mischief can she do?" Granny had asked Nancy after surveying all these safeguards before the coming of the children; and Nancy's hearty answer, "'t will puzzle her, madam," had been soothing to the anxious old mother.

When Terry wakened on the morning after her arrival she got up and put her face to the window-pane.

"Wet!" she said. "Mountains all wrapped up in white sheets with just their heads out. Rain pouring. And I did so want to be out everywhere till bed-time again!"

She had taken her bath and dressed before Nancy had done with Turly and came to look for her.

"Now, Miss Terry, it's too much in your own hands you are entirely, Miss," said Nancy. "You had a right to stay quiet till I came to give you leave to get up."

"But, Nancy dear, what would be the use in my lying there to be a trouble to you when I have got a pair of hands of my own? But oh, Nursey, will you put in a few buttons up my back for me? Now didn't I save up something to be a bother to you?"

"If that's all the bother you give me it won't be heavy on me," said Nancy, giving her a few finishing touches before she brought her into tho nursery to breakfast.

After breakfast the children were told that Granny was not very well, a result of the excitement of yesterday and the wet weather which affected her. She could not have Terry and Turly with her until afternoon tea time, except just for a minute to bid her good-morning.

Terry was greatly distressed at this news until she had seen Granny looking, to her eyes, just the same as ever,