'Ten thousand pities!' said Maria enthusiastically. 'Particularly as there is a baby,' said Jane,--upon which Mrs. Rewble was again very angry. 'If Dick were to come home, he'd clear it all up at once,' said Mrs. Posttlethwaite. 'Dick will never come home,' said Matilda mournfully. 'Never!' said Mrs. Rewble. 'I am afraid that he has expiated all his indiscretions. It should make us who were born girls thankful that we have not been subjected to the same temptations.' 'I should like to be a man all the same,' said Jane. 'You do not at all know what you are saying,' replied the monitor. 'How little have you realized what poor Dick must have suffered! I wonder when they are going to let us have tea. I'm almost famished.' Mrs. Rewble was known in the family for having a good appetite. They were sitting at this moment round a table on the lawn, at which they intended to partake of their evening meal. The doctor might or might not join them. Mrs. Shand, who did not like the open air, would have hers sent to her in the drawing-room. Mr. Rewble would certainly be there. Mr. Posttlethwaite, who had been home to his dinner, had gone back to the soap-works. 'Don't you think, Jane, if you were to go in, you could hurry them?' Then Jane went in and hurried the servant. 'There's a strange man with papa,' said Jane, as she returned. 'There are always strange men with papa,' said Fanny. 'I daresay he has come to have his tooth out.' For the doctor's practice was altogether general. From a baby to a back-tooth, he attended to everything now, as he had done forty years ago. 'But this man isn't like a patient. The door was half open, and I saw papa holding him by both hands.' 'A lunatic!' exclaimed Mrs. Rewble, thinking that Mr. Rewble ought to be sent at once to her father's assistance. 'He was quite quiet, and just for a moment I could see papa's face. It wasn't a patient at all. Oh, Maria!' 'What is it, child?' asked Mrs. Rewble. 'I do believe that Dick has come back.' They all jumped up from their seats suddenly. Then Mrs. Rewble reseated herself. 'Jane is such a fool!' she said. 'I do believe it,' said Jane. 'He had yellow trousers on, as if he had come from a long way off. And I'm sure papa was very glad,--why should he take both his hands?' 'I feel as though my legs were sinking under me,' said Maria. 'I don't think it possible for a moment,' said Mrs. Rewble. 'Maria, you are so romantic! You would believe anything.' 'It is possible,' said Mrs. Posttlethwaite.