"Well, yes; she is all that: I have never found her out in a lie, never, although, to be sure, many a person might prevaricate a trifle to get away from the `don'ts' of that old woman, Felicia. I am agreeable to your proposal, Mr Durrant: you can carry it out with my consent, and I have no doubt my poor wife will also fall in with your views: but I leave you, sir, to tackle the ladies yourself, for I am no match for them. Women are always slippery sort of creatures, hard to circumvent, sir, and mighty knowing. It is my belief they have twice the brains of us men. A woman can squeeze herself out of a corner where a man would be simply trapped. Now you know my opinion. Robina's a good girl, and she may as well stay at Sunshine Lodge for a year as at Mrs Burton's for a year. As to the holidays; if you would invite me to spend part of the time with her at Sunshine Lodge, it would save a lot of ructions; but I don't make that a _sine qua non_. I am agreeable to any arrangement that suits you and the ladies." "Thank you; you are very kind," said Mr Durrant. The conversation languished a little after that, although Mr Starling tried to keep it lively by expatiating on Bo-peep's many excellent points, and describing how truly his wife loved the little animal. Eventually, a small, clear voice interrupted the conversation, and Violet, dressed in her best and most starchy white frock, appeared on the scene. She announced in a prim little voice that tea was ready. "You is to come in, and I may hold oo's hand," said Violet, giving hers at once with the utmost confidence to the stranger. The men immediately entered the house, accompanied by the little maid. Rose was within, looking rather tearful, and seated close to her mother. "I is not to 'peak, but I is 'onging to," was her first remark as she fixed her cherubic eyes on the stranger's face. "Don't, Rose! Keep silent," said her aunt. "Mr Durrant, may I present you to my dear sister, Robina's mother." Mr Durrant found a place close to Rose. He presently transferred this small person to his own knee, where she became radiantly happy, and then he entered into conversation with Mrs Starling. Mrs Starling, without in the least intending it, managed to convey to him the fact that she considered Robina a very rough, disobedient child, whom of course she loved, but to whom discipline was sadly necessary. Mrs Starling was a very sweet looking woman, notwithstanding her illness, and Durrant became instantly much interested in her, and asked her a good many questions with regard to Robina. Finally, it was arranged that the momentous question of the little girl's becoming Malcolm Durrant's guest during his absence was to be deferred until the week after that spent by the entire happy party of school-mothers on the yacht; and Durrant promised to write to the Starlings on the subject at the end of that period.