"Aren't you glad I am not another governess?" said Anstice, pouring out a cup of coffee and handing it to her husband as she spoke. Her tone was easy, and a little indifferent. "We don't want any sort of mother fussing round here," said Josie, tapping the carpet impatiently with her foot. "We manage ourselves. You know we do, Dad." Justin looked at them for a moment in silence, then he said: "I don't think your manners do you credit. You make a poor sort of show beside other children of your age." "Oh, come on, Josie," cried Georgie, the smaller girl, "if she's come to manage us she won't stay long." And like a whirlwind they both swept out of the room, banging the door behind them. Justin gave his short, indifferent laugh. "Now you've seen them at their worst," he said. "I'm sorry they've given you such a poor welcome, but my aunt seemed to think troublesome children interested you more than good ones." "Much more," said Anstice. "They interest me very much. You have very nice-looking children, and if their high spirits can be turned in the right direction, they will grow up delightful girls." "Well, they will be a test of your powers. I must tell you I have a good bit of business to do before I leave, which I hope will be to-morrow afternoon. But I shall be in this evening. I have to go round and look up my tenants; I have about half a dozen tenant farmers, and they always expect a call from me when I'm home, and they live far apart. You wouldn't think it perhaps, but though I can't manage my house, they say my estate is one of the best run of its kind in these parts." "I can't think why you aren't content to live here," said Anstice, gazing out of the window with a dreamy look in her eyes. Justin made no reply. He made short work of his breakfast, and then Anstice saw a beautiful bay mare being brought round to the door. As he was mounting, he called out to her: "Don't wait dinner for me, but I think I shall be in by eight o'clock. Brenda will take you over the house, and give you all the information you need." He was gone; and Anstice drew a long breath of relief. She felt at last that she was free and independent. As she stood outside on the terrace, drinking in the fresh sweet air, the little girls suddenly appeared holding between them by the collar a huge mastiff. "It's Hercules and he wants to see what you're like," announced Josie. "You'd better make friends with him quick—while we hold him; he's awful to strangers, he's a kind of bloodhound, and seizes you with his teeth if he doesn't like you." "He looks good tempered," said Anstice happily. "I'm very fond of big dogs." She advanced towards him as she spoke, but as she was about to lay her hand on his head, a blood-curdling deep growl emitted from his great throat. "There! He hates you, he won't be friends!" cried Georgie triumphantly. "If you stop pinching his tail and let him loose, I'll see whether he likes me or not."