"I suppose that is called breeding," thought the good woman. "Well, well, I mustn't grumble. My own dear children are far prettier, that is one thing. Of course, whatever advances Marcia's welfare she will share with them, for she is really quite unselfish. Now, I wonder why my little Nesta doesn't come. I am quite longing to kiss my darling girl." Mrs Aldworth was not angry with Nesta for being a bit late. "It is her little way," she thought. "The child is so forgetful; she is certain to have to run out to the garden twenty times, or to stroke pussie, or to remember that she has not given old Rover his bone, or to do one hundred and one things which she knows I would be annoyed at if she forgot." So for the first half-hour after dinner, Mrs Aldworth was quite happy. But for the next quarter of an hour she was not quite so calm. The sun had come round, and it was time to have the blind rearranged. It was also time for Nesta, who had been given explicit instructions by Marcia, to wheel her mother on to the balcony. Mrs Aldworth felt hot; she felt thirsty; she longed to have a drink of that cold water which was sparkling just beyond her reach. Even the penny paper was nowhere in sight; her fancy work had dropped to the floor, and she had lost her thimble. How annoying of naughty little Nesta--why, the child was already an hour late! Mrs Aldworth managed in her very peevish way to ring her bell, which was, of course, within reach. The first ring was not attended to; she rang twice, with no better result. Then with her finger pressed on the electric button, with her face very red and her poor hand trembling, she kept up a continued peal until Susan opened the door. Susan had been busy rushing backwards and forwards to the garden, putting everything in order for the advent of the Carters. "I beg your pardon, ma'am," she said. "I am sorry I kept you waiting; but isn't Miss Nesta here?" "No, she is not; why didn't you answer my ring at once?" "The young ladies, ma'am, are expecting one or two friends in the garden, and I was helping them. I thought, of course, Miss Nesta was with you." "She is not; I have been shamefully neglected. Tell Miss Nesta to come to me at once." "Yes, ma'am." "Before you go, Susan, please pull down that blind." "Yes, ma'am, of course. I am sorry--the room is much too 'ot. Whatever would Miss Marcia say?" Susan, who was exceedingly good-natured, did all in her power for her mistress; picked up her fancy work, found the thimble, moved the sofa a little out of the sun's rays, and then saying she would find Nesta in a jiffy and bring her to her mother in double haste, she left the room. But the jiffy, if that should be a measurement of time, proved to be a long one. When Susan did come back it was with a face full of concern.