At last the waggonettes started on their journey. The sound of their wheels ceased to be heard. Stillness followed commotion; gay laughter was succeeded by--in Harriet's opinion--a sort of void. Again Ralph tugged her arm. "Now," he said, "now it's gipsies, isn't it?" "It's nothing of the kind, you horrid, little troublesome thing," said Harriet. "I am not going to take you to see the gipsies to-day--no, nor _any_ day, for the present. Oh, stop that blubbering, or I'll smack you." "You did once before," said Ralph steadily, and he looked her full in the face, tears arrested in his eyes, and his own colour coming and going. Harriet immediately saw that she had gone too far. She altered her tone. "Please forgive me, Ralph," she said. "I know I am cross; I wanted so very much to go to that picnic, and I can't because of you." "I don't understand," said Ralph. "_I_ wouldn't mind." "Yes," said Harriet crossly; "that's not the question. You are considered a baby, and you must be treated as one." "I _aren't_ a baby!" said Ralph, in great indignation. "Father said I am a real manly boy." "Well, prove yourself one," said Harriet. "Don't cry when I speak a little sharply, and don't worry me about the gipsies. I will take you to see them when I can, because I promised to take you; but you're not to remind me of them, for if you do I'll be very angry." "I won't ever, ever speak of them again," said Ralph, gulping down a sob. "Well, that's all right," said Harriet. She moved restlessly across the lawn. Curly Pate and the other small children were tumbling about on the grass. Ralph looked longingly at Curly Pate. Curly Pate clapped her pretty hands, and ran to meet him. "I keen--oo king!" she said. Harriet stood by restlessly. How contemptible it all was! Those silly little children, that tiresome Miss Ford, the empty house, the empty gardens, and the pleasure party far away--the pleasure party with some of its members laughing in their sleeves at her! Yes, she knew that fact quite well. That detestable little Jane was laughing. She saw the laughter hidden behind her smug face. And that horrid Vivian, she was all one giggle, and last, but not least, there was the detestable Robina--on this day of all days to laugh at Harriet seemed the final straw! She had had her great moment of victory; she had proved to Robina that she was the favourite--was the chosen one, was the beloved of the little boy about whom the school chose to make such a fuss. But oh, dear! there was reaction after triumph, and this reaction took place when Harriet found what were the duties imposed upon her by motherhood. She must take care of her little boy while the others went out a-pleasuring.