"I must be honest at all costs," I said, "and if she had not married father--yes, it is quite true--I'd have liked her. She is what you would--I mean she _was_--I don't suppose she is now, for when people are dreadfully wicked they change, don't they? But _before_ she was wicked--before she married father--she was a very--very--well, a very jolly sort of woman." "Jolly?" said Charley. "I like that! How do you mean jolly?" "Round and fattish--not too fat--with laughing eyes." "We haven't much of laughing eyes in this house," said Alex. "Well, her eyes seem to be always laughing, even when her face is grave; and she makes delicious things to eat--at least she did make them." "Let's hope she has not lost the art," said Alex. "If we must have her in the family, let us trust that she has at least some merits. Good things to eat? What sort?" I described the food at Hedgerow House, and described it well. I then went on to speak of the stuffed birds. The boys were wildly excited. I spoke of other things, and gave them a very full and true account of Miss Grace Donnithorne. "It seems to me she must be a splendid sort of woman," said Alex. "Hurrah for Miss Grace Donnithorne!" said Charley. "She must be a most charming lady," said Von Marlo in his precise way. Then I sprang to my feet. "Now listen," I said. "I have told you about her as she was. When I saw her she had not done this wicked thing." "But she was going to do it; she had made up her mind pretty straight," said Alex. "Well, she hadn't done it, and that makes all the difference," I said stoutly. "She will be changed; I know she will be changed." "I hope she won't have got thin (I'm sick of Hannah's sort of figure) and cross and churlish and miserly," said Charley. "I don't think so," I answered. "I don't suppose she'll be as changed as all that; but, anyhow, I know--" "I tell you what," interrupted Von Marlo; "she is coming here, and nothing living will stop her." "That's true enough," I said gloomily. "Then can't you three be sensible?" "What do you mean now, Von?" said the boys. "Why can't you make the best of it? Don't hunt the poor lady into her grave by being snappish and making the worst of everything. Just give her a fair trial--start her honest, don't you understand?" Alex stared; Charley blinked his eyes. I said slowly, "I don't mean to be unkind; I mean to be kind. I am not going to say a word to father--I mean not a word of reproach--" "Much use if you did!" muttered Alex. "But, all the same," I said very distinctly, "not for a single instant will I love _her_. She can come and take her place, and I will try to do what she wishes, but I will never love her--never!" "Hurrah!" said Charley. "Quite right, Dumps; you show spirit," cried Alex. But Von Marlo looked dissatisfied. "It doesn't seem right," he said. "It doesn't seem quite fair; and the poor lady hasn't done you any harm." PART ONE, CHAPTER THIRTEEN. PUTTING THE HOUSE IN ORDER.