"Oh, no," said Meg easily. "He's evidently a most affectionate brute. That young man puzzles me. He's manifestly devoted to the dog, but he's so sure he'd be stolen he'd rather have him away from him down at Wren's End than here with him, to run that risk." "Surely," said Jan, "Kensington Gardens are some distance from St. John's Wood." "So one would think, but the rich and idle take taxis, and he seems to think he can in some way insure the welfare of his dog through the children and me." "And what about the old gentlemen? Do they join the party as well?" "Oh, dear no; no old gentlemen would dare to come within miles of us with that young man in charge of little Fay. He's like your Mr. Ledgard--very protective." "I like him for being anxious about his dog, but I'm not quite so sure that I approve of the means he takes to insure its happiness." "I didn't encourage him in the least, I assure you. I pointed out that he most certainly ought not to be walking about with a nurse and two children. That the children without the nurse would be all right, but that my being there made the whole thing highly inexpedient, and _infra dig_." "Meg!... you didn't!" "I did, indeed. There was no use mincing matters." "And what did he say?" "He said, 'Oh, that's all bindles'--whatever that may mean." "You mustn't go to the Gardens alone any more. I'll come with you to-morrow, or, better still, we'll all go to Kew if it's fine." "I _should_ be glad, though I grudge the fares; but you needn't come. I know how busy you are, with Hannah away and so much to see to--and what earthly use am I if I can't look after the children without you?" "You do look after the children without me for hours and hours on end. I could never trust anyone else as I do you." "I _am_ getting to manage them," Meg said proudly; "but just to-day I must tell you--it was rather horrid--we came face to face with the Trents in the Baby's Walk. Mrs. Trent and Lotty, the second girl, the big, handsome one--and he evidently knows them...." "Who evidently knows them?" "Captain Middleton, silly! (I told you he was with us, talking about his everlasting dog)--and they greeted him with effusion, so he had to stop. But you can imagine how they glared at me. Of course I walked on with Tony, but little Fay had his hand--I was wheeling the go-cart thing and she stuck firmly to him, and I heard her interrupting the conversation all the time. He followed us directly, I'll say that for him, but it was a bad moment ... You see, they had a right to glare...." "They had nothing of the kind. I wish I got the chance of glaring at them. Daddie _saw_ Mrs. Trent; he explained everything, and she said she quite understood." "She would, to him, he was so nice always; but you see, Jan, I know what she believes and what she has said, and what she will probably say to Captain Middleton if she gets the chance." Meg's voice broke. "Of course I don't care----"