"Oh, Monnie!" remonstrated Sidney, laughing. "I mean it. If I am not very careful, I shall rear Chuckles into a selfish man. Let me tell you our fracas at breakfast. I told him I wanted him to come and watch the ploughing. "'I don't want to,' he said promptly. "Then Aunt Dannie said in shocked tones: "'Little boys must never say that. If we only do what we want to do, that is selfish.' "Chuckles gazed at her with his big eyes. "'And I want you to come with me, so you're coming,' I said quickly and decidedly. "'Then you're selfish, Aunt Monnie,' the imp said. 'If you weren't, you'd let me do what I like.' "So then I had to read him a long lecture, and finally took him off with me. But isn't the training of a man fatiguing?" Sidney and Jockie stayed at the farm for a good hour, then walked on to Thanning Towers. "I shall have Chuckles to spend the day with me," announced Jockie. "He is quite charming!" "He is a dear little boy," said Sidney, rather absently. Her thoughts were straying to Austin and to Mrs. Norman. She honestly did not want him to become engaged to her, and yet it seemed to her that if that happened, she would have no longer any anxiety about her uncle. She was, as she said, torn two ways. And then she impulsively turned to Jockie. "I wish you were a man, Jockie—a good-looking, wealthy man on the look-out for a wife, a man who would be quick and successful in his wooing, and who would insist upon a speedy marriage!" Jockie stared at her. "You don't want him for yourself, do you?" "Rather not; but I know of someone who would make him a very sweet bride." Then she laughed. "I am talking nonsense, Jockie. You must forget it." "I'll try," said Jockie; but she knew she would not, and she made a mental note of Sidney's strange speech, and determined to keep her eyes open for the possible "sweet bride." They reached Thanning Towers. Mrs. de Cressiers welcomed them cordially, but she looked careworn and anxious. Mr. de Cressiers was not at all well, and in an irritable frame of mind. Austin and he had been having a difference of opinion, and Mrs. de Cressiers had been called in to intervene. Austin came to lunch gloomy and self-absorbed, but in Jockie's vicinity, it was impossible to remain grave for long. She soon had him laughing, and before the meal was over a happy easy camaraderie had been established between them. He insisted upon taking her out into the grounds, and Mrs. de Cressiers, with relief in her face, swept off Sidney into the drawing-room.