"It's hard on the children," said Mrs. Baffall, after a pause in which she had striven to digest Honora's vehement statement. Miss Jackman sat up, and smote her hands together. "The children! I'd forgotten the children," she said, breathlessly. "What's going to become of them?" Mr. Baffall coughed, and stroked the grey beard on his chin; Mrs. Baffall smiled at him, and drew herself up a little proudly. "We're taking Alice," she said softly. "I think we took her because there's something lady-like about her, and we seem to have understood her best," she added apologetically. "Then Baffall's got the idea that something might be done for the boy in London--in a matter of business; but we haven't quite had time to think about it yet." "I remember the boy--Jimmy, didn't they call him?" said Honora thoughtfully. "A nice boy. And wasn't there another girl--dark-haired--bit of a spitfire?" "Moira," said Mrs. Baffall. "We don't quite know what is going to be done with Moira; no one seems to know how to begin about her. We shall know better after to-morrow." "After to-morrow?" Honora Jackman nodded and pursed up her lips. "What are the children going to do to-morrow?" she demanded suddenly. "Well, my dear," began Mrs. Baffall, "in a little place like this, where everybody knows everybody--I suppose they'll go to the funeral; it's what might be expected----" Honora suddenly brought down a fist smartly on the table beside her. "No--and no again--a thousand times over!" she exclaimed, with what seemed quite unnecessary violence. "You're wrong. The man is done with--so far as the mere flesh of him is concerned; what have children to do with that? Don't I know myself what I've suffered as a child; don't I know and remember how I've been dragged into dark rooms by the hand, and shown people in coffins; can I ever forget it? It isn't fair--it isn't right. Death comes soon enough to us all; never should a child see it or brood about it. _I'll_ see to the children to-morrow," she added, with sudden alacrity. "I'll take them away, and let them know about it only afterwards. It's a hard world, but we might let the children sometimes see the best side of it; the worst comes soon enough." "'Ear! 'ear!" exclaimed Mr. Baffall, in a hoarse whisper.