"Yes, darling, you would," said Barbara. "If I wore a pigtail and said _au revoir_ instead of good-bye, you'd think I was a particularly nice girl. But I'm sure you wouldn't love me as much as you do." "Vera isn't bread and buttery," said Caroline, "though she's rather quiet. Jimmy seems to have all the high spirits of the family. I told her we'd deal with him if she sent him over here. We'd broken Bunting in, and we'd break him in for her." "Any other nice people about to play with?" asked Bunting. "I suppose you've got to know them all now." "I wrote to you about the Breezy Bills and the Zebras, and Lord Salisbury," said Barbara. "I wonder Lord Salisbury isn't here. He generally looks in about tea-time,--or lunch-time, or dinner-time." "Barbara darling, you mustn't get into the way of exaggerating," said Miss Waterhouse. "And I told you about Francis Parry bringing the Pembertons over," said Caroline, "and about Bertie taking a fancy to B." "Beautiful bountiful Bertie!" said Young George, by way of comment. "He came over again," said Beatrix, "and wanted to lay out golf links for us. He said he should be down for a week at Easter and it would give him something to do. I am sure he is an admirer--the first I've had. Bunting darling, I'm really grown up at last." "You'll have lots more, old girl," said Young George loyally. "Now I'm getting on a bit myself, and see other fellows' sisters, I can tell you you're a good-looking crowd. Barbara's the most plain-headed, but she's better than the average. She only wants a bit of furnishing out. Who else have you seen?" "Lady Mansergh from Wilborough," said Caroline. "We think she must have a past, because her hair is so very golden, and she speaks with a slight Cockney accent." "And because Lord Salisbury disapproves of her," added Beatrix. "Lord Salisbury disapproves of everybody," said Barbara. "He wants to keep us to himself. I'm his little sunbeam, you know, Bunting. I'm going to help decorate the church for Easter." "We are all going to do that," said Miss Waterhouse, "and Mr. Mercer is quite justified in asking for that sort of help from us. You should not get into the way of criticising everything he does, Barbara darling." "She always sticks up for him, because she can't abide him," said Barbara. "I liked Lady Mansergh. She was very affectionate. She patted my cheek and said it did her good to see such nice pretty girls about the place. She said it to me, so you see, Bunting, I'm not so plain-headed as you think. If ever Caroline and B are removed, by marriage or death, you'll see how I shall shine." "Barbara dear, don't talk about death in that unfeeling way," said Miss Waterhouse. "It is not pretty at all."