"Now, then, Harriet, come in," she said, and Harriet and Ralph entered. An untidy-looking servant was crossing the hall. "Anastasia," said Pattie, "will you get tea in the drawing-room, please?" Anastasia stared at her. "Indeed, I can't, miss. Your ma is out, and all the older children have gone to the park with Miss Fry,"--Miss Fry was the much overworked nursery governess--"and the missis told me," continued Anastasia, "that I was to wash the handkerchiefs and things this afternoon. I have no time to bring tea into the drawing-room, and why should I do it? You always has it in the school-room." "I'd much rather have tea in the school-room, Pattie," said Harriet. "And so would I," echoed Ralph. "You must get your own tea, miss," continued Anastasia, by no means abashed by the sight of Harriet in her ordinary school frock, and not particularly struck by the beauty of little Ralph. "I am ever so sorry," said Pattie, colouring high; "but this is rather an unfortunate day. One of our maids is out, and Mother's away; and, in short--do you greatly mind waiting in the drawing-room while I get the tea?" "I don't much care about tea at all," said Harriet, who was not a bit gracious, and who was rather disgusted with the appearance of Pattie Pyke's home. "You needn't bother, as far as I am concerned." "And I don't want no tea," said Ralph; "I aren't a bit hungry." He looked pleadingly and sorrowfully at Pattie, as much as to say: "Please, please, don't trouble." Poor Pattie, whose face was scarlet with mortification, insisted on providing a meal. "You can't come into the school-room," she said a little crossly. "The boys do leave it in such a mess. There is the rabbit-hutch in one corner, and I know Jim and Davie were washing Smut there this afternoon. You must come into the drawing-room. I will manage to get you some tea. Don't stare, Anastasia. Go at once, and see that the kettle is boiling." Pattie conducted her guests into a small, very hot drawing-room. She then left them, and, after about a quarter of an hour, reappeared with a tray containing very poor tea and some stale cake. Oh, how hot was that little room! It faced due south, and scarcely a breath of air came through the open bay window. Ralph felt very tired; he did not know why. He had had a trying morning. Those sums had worried him, and Harriet's conduct had also worried him, although he was not aware of that fact at present. When the tea had come to an end Harriet said quickly: "Now, the fun is really going to begin; you and I will hurry off to the fair, Pattie. I can't stay late, as your know, for I must smuggle Ralph back before Miss Ford misses him. You will stay quietly here, Ralph. You will be a good boy? I couldn't take you to the fair, even if I wished it; for, in the first place, I haven't any money." "But I have a shilling--a whole shilling," said Pattie, feeling all of a sudden quite grand and important.