"But you ought to have known. You live in London." "It is true that I live in London. But I do not, on that account, keep an eye on what is going on at the Palace. I have something else to occupy my time. Besides, there is an easy remedy--let us leave the place at once. We might find fewer people in the Tower of London--I was never there, so I can't say--or on the top of the Monument." "Without Matthew Holman?" "Personally, I should say 'Yes.' He, at any rate, is in congenial company." "Thomas!" I wish I could reproduce the tone in which my aunt uttered my name! it would cause the edges of the sheet of paper on which I am writing to curl. Another source of annoyance was the manner in which the red-faced gentleman persisted in sticking to us, like a limpet--as if he were a member of the party. Jane and Ellen kept themselves glued together. On Ellen's right was Daniel Dyer, and on Jane's left was the red-faced gentleman. This was a condition of affairs of which my aunt strongly disapproved. She remonstrated with the stranger, but without the least effect. I tried my hand on him, and failed. He was the best-tempered and thickest-skinned individual I ever remember to have met. "It's this way," I explained--he needed a deal of explanation. "This lady has brought these people for a little pleasure excursion to town, for the day only; and, as these young ladies are in her sole charge, she feels herself responsible for them. So would you just mind leaving us?" It seemed that he did mind; though he showed no signs of having his feelings hurt by the suggestion, as some persons might have done. "Don't you worry, governor; I'll help her look after 'em. I've looked after a few people in my time, so the young lady can trust me--can't you, miss?" Jane giggled. My impression is that my aunt felt like shaking her. But just then I made a discovery. "Hallo! Where's the youngster?" My aunt twirled herself round. "Stephen! Goodness! where has that boy gone to?" Jane looked through the glass which ran all along one side of the corridor. "Why, miss, there's Stephen Treen over in that crowd there." "Go and fetch him back this instant." I believe that my aunt spoke without thinking. It did seem to me that Jane showed an almost criminal eagerness to obey her. Off she flew into the grounds, through the great door which was wide open close at hand, with Ellen still glued to her arm, and Daniel Dyer at her heels, and the red-faced gentleman after him. Almost in a moment they became melted, as it were, into the crowd and were lost to view. My aunt peered after them through her glasses. "I can't see Stephen Treen--can you?" "No, aunt, I can't. I doubt if Jane could, either." "Thomas! What do you mean? She said she did." "Ah! there are people who'll say anything. I think you'll find that, for a time, at any rate, you've got three more members of the party off your hands."