"It's a very good thing they have gone," said Mrs Fortescue, in a severe voice. "They were quite nice girls, but were unfortunately brought up to deceive other people. They are now going to begin the battle of life in earnest, and I, for my part, am glad of it. They have plenty of faults, and will, I fear, find the lessons of life hard to learn." "Oh, madam," said Bridget, "I never saw any one so good-natured as Miss Florence was about that ham bone--" "That will do," said her mistress. "I expect," she added, "other young ladies to come and stay with me before long, and trust that you will exert yourself to cook well and to look after their interests." "I was going to say, madam," said Bridget demurely, "that now that Miss Florence and Miss Brenda have gone, I should wish to give a month's notice." Mrs Fortescue stared at her elderly servant. "What _do_ you mean?" she said. "Give me your reasons." "Well, madam, to tell you the truth--I don't like treating ladies, just because they ain't as rich as one expected them to be, with ham bones for breakfast. You will get some one else to help you when the new ladies come, madam," and Bridget flounced out of the room. Meanwhile, Mr Timmins met the girls at the station. He took them up to town first-class and treated them with great respect and consideration. Florence could not help whispering to Brenda-- "Seeing that we are so very poor, it does seem absurd that we should always travel first-class." "It's Mr Timmins' way," said Brenda. "I don't think he'd like," she added, "Lady Marian to know that we travelled in any other way." "Well, we shall have to in the future," said Florence; "and," she added, "as far as I am concerned, I think it is almost more exciting to be poor. It is so delightful to manage. You can't imagine, Brenda, what fun Susie and I had contriving the dinners, more particularly the bone dinners." "What _are_ you talking about, children?" said Mr Timmins, waking up from a nap in which he had temporarily indulged. Florence went and sat by his side and told him the story of the bone dinner. "They are so delicious!" she said. "I never enjoyed anything more." Mr Timmins seemed much interested in the story. "'Pon my word!" he said; "if that is not about the very highest form of charity I have ever heard of. He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord. It's a mighty good security, young ladies, mighty good. No fear of that security coming to smash." Then he returned to his sheet of _The Times_, and did not speak again until the journey came to an end. When it did, Mr Timmins' own brougham was waiting for them. They got in, and drove straight to Lady Marian Dixie's house in Cadogan Place. Brenda seemed quite at home there, but Florence felt a little shy.