"Well, I'm going to do a bit of Empire building, I trust," said Randolph, looking across at Monica with a queer smile, "so I shall be fulfilling my destiny." "Yes," she answered gravely, "and I, in my corner, building up a prosperous heritage, I trust, for a certain small boy, who may defeat and disappoint my hopes." "Not if Miss Urquhart is as successful a builder in her corner as you are," returned Randolph. "Yes, I'm a better builder at farms than characters," said Monica with a little sigh. "So we're all building something, Chuckles," said Randolph, looking at the small boy with a twinkle in his eyes. "I've been an unsuccessful builder so far; two of my cherished castles have toppled over." Chuckles clapped his hands exultantly. "That's acause you didn't have a stone funation, like the man on the sand. The winds blew, and the flood came, and the big sea washed it over." "Yes," said Randolph, the twinkle dying away; "the winds blew, and the flood came, and the big sea washed them quite away. I'm having another try now. Wish me success, little man." Chuckles looked at him with big eyes. "How high will you build? Up to heaven?" "Go on with your breakfast," said Monica quickly. Chuckles said no more until his good-bye came, and then he looked with awe at the small gold piece pressed into his chubby palm. "Why, that will buy me a pony, won't it?" he questioned, beginning to caper up and down. "Oh, Cousin Ran, thank you truly! And may I come out to see you building in India one day? Me and Miss Sid will come out togever." "And what will become of Aunt Monnie?" "She'll come, too. We'll all come, and we'll all build togever!" "A happy family!" laughed Randolph, as he waved his adieux. He had much food for thought during his journey up to town, and somehow or other Sidney's slim gracefulness, her sweet vibrating voice, her eager shining eyes, haunted him. He carried away the impress of her personality with him, and also the lisping words of the child: "How high will you build? Up to heaven?" CHAPTER V THE WIDOW LIFE went on very quietly for Monica and Sidney after Randolph left them. But one afternoon, as Sidney and her father were sitting together in the garden, Major Urquhart came limping out to them in some excitement. "It's what I always say," he declared, sitting down heavily in a garden chair; "brain and knack are better servants than strength. Six men—brawny fellows, too—all perspiring and cursing and shouting, and with no more notion than a child how to get a bit of furniture in at a door!" "And then you walked by with your brain and knack, and the thing was done," said Sidney laughing. "At which village move have you been assisting? I know there are one or two flittings on hand." "Lovelace's Cottage—bottom of the hill." Sidney sat up and looked interested. "I heard a lady had taken that. Did you see her?"