"Papa meant the hall stove," said Gabrielle, in an insinuating little voice. "Because it smoked so dreadfully." This took Flora aback for a moment; she choked as if somebody had hold of her throat, then, with a sweet smile to Gabrielle, "Very likely he said it about the hall stove too, dear," she said, and putting her arms around the engaging child's waist, went on to ask Miss Rothermel if they meant to spend the winter in the country. Miss Rothermel thought it probable, though it was not quite determined. "How dreary!" exclaimed Miss Eustace. "It passes me to understand how you can exist. I suppose, though, one doesn't mind it so much as one gets--I mean--that is--as mamma says--at my age--" And she stopped with a pretty naïve embarrassment, which was surprisingly well done. She recovered from it to say: "And Mr. Andrews tells us you are _so_ domestic. He thinks he didn't see you once all winter long." "No," said Missy. "I don't remember seeing him at all, all winter. But the children came, and Jay was a great pleasure to me." "Fancy," cried Flora, "being amused by a child to that extent. I dote on children, but oh, I dote on other things too. Mr. Andrews thinks he will settle us at Florence, and if he finds a satisfactory governess, we shall be free to leave the children, and he will take us to Rome, and Naples, and there is a talk of Spain. Oh, we spend all our leisure hours in mapping out excursions. I tell mamma it is like the Arabian Nights. I have only to wish a thing, and it comes. Mr. Andrews has such a way of ordering and carrying out what you want, and putting things through. Don't you think so?" "I don't know," said Missy. "I never traveled with him and I can't judge." "Well, I never did either, except on paper, and we've been around the world that way. But I mean in excursions, picnics, and sailing parties, and all that. You see he has kept us busy this summer, always planning something for us. I don't think there ever was anybody so good as Gabrielle's good papa!" cried the young lady, giving Gabrielle a little hug and a kiss. Gabrielle received this attention in silence, shooting a penetrating glance across towards Missy. It is probable that this gifted child fully understood the position of affairs. "But it seems dreadful to think of you here all winter," pursued Miss Eustace. "Nobody is going to stay, as far as I can hear. And I should think you'd be afraid, only you three ladies, and yours the only house open anywhere about. It was a sort of protection, last winter, when Mr. Andrews was here, even if you didn't see him." "Yes, it was pleasant to feel the next house was inhabited. But I don't think there is anything to be afraid of."