"My dear child," said Sir Everard, relieved, "having a little joke about a person does not prove one does not like that person. I am very fond of your Aunt. It would be odd indeed if I did not like my only sister. Why, when I laugh at you and Miles, do you think I do not like you?" It was a lame sentence, badly put together, and not expressing much. Sir Everard was not at all satisfied with it himself. He had got it up in such a hurry that he was not at all sure whether it was sense or not, and he was anxious to see if it would answer its purpose. Children are sometimes, however, very easily silenced; and Humphrey received the explanation with great respect. The danger was past, for this time; but Sir Everard, inwardly resolved never to speak before the children again; and the anxieties of the evening before recurring at the same moment to his mind, he determined not to run any more risks. So, on arriving at home, he sent up a private message to Virginie that he should not require either of the young gentlemen down-stairs that evening, though they might come to his dressing-room as usual. Then, after transferring the precious parcel from his own to Humphrey's pocket, he wished the boy "good-bye," and went to meet his friends at the station. CHAPTER VII. The next day was Sunday, and a hopelessly wet one. Humphrey and Miles made great friends with their father's guests at breakfast--the former giving them the whole account of the aborigines' dinner-party and the birthday present. As soon as breakfast was over, Sir Everard and one of his friends went into the library to look for a book they had been talking about, and the two little boys were left with the other gentleman. Presently Virginie looked in. "M. Humphrey! M. Miles!" Little Miles jumped up, and went to the door, but Humphrey took no notice. "Je vous attends, M. Humphrey." "I'm not coming," said Humphrey. "I'm going to stay and amuse this gentleman." "Je reviendrai bientôt," said Virginie and she went away, with Miles. "Is your nurse French?" enquired Colonel Sturt. "Yes--she's French." "Then why do you speak to her in English?" "I never speak French on Sunday," answered Humphrey; "I don't think it's right." "Not right! Why not?" "Lessons are wrong on Sunday; and French is a sort of lessons--so French must be wrong too." "Humphie," said little Miles, running in: "Virginie says you _must_ come, or you'll be late for chairs." "What does he mean?" asked Colonel Sturt. "He means prayers," answered Humphrey; "he always calls them 'chairs' because he only sees the long rows before we begin, as he's too young to stay. I suppose, as it's so wet, we are not going to church." "Oh, that's it--is it? Well I'm inclined to think you ought to go then, Humpty-Dumpty, or whatever it is he calls you." The little boys thought this a capital joke. "Why, Humpty-Dumpty was the man who sat on a wall!"