Miss Jennings seated herself by the tea-tray. She littered a short grace, and then porridge was dispensed. Little Rose could not bear porridge, and at once began to whimper. "Don't cry!" said Miss Jennings. "If you do, you leave the room." "Eat up just a little bit, darling," whispered Robina. "I have such jolly things to tell you afterwards. Has father come home?" continued Robina, fixing her eyes on her aunt's face. "Of course he has come home, my dear: why shouldn't he come home? _Don't_, I beg of you, Robina, ask silly questions. Your father has no other house to sleep in, therefore when he is sleepy, he comes home. He is in bed at the present moment, and goodness only knows when he will come down to breakfast." "Oh, I hope he will come down soon!" said Robina, "for I want him to open his letters." "Very impertinent and forward of you! Your father's letters are not your concern." "Not always," replied Robina, calmly, and helping herself to strawberry jam: "but those two happen to be." "Have you been trying to read them through the envelopes?" "No: but I looked at the postmarks." Miss Jennings was silent for an awful moment. Then she said, impressively: "Little girls; listen to me." The two children looked up expectantly. "Never at any time copy the ways of your elder sister unless you wish to be whipped." Violet smiled rather vaguely. Rose's little pale face grew paler. She nestled close to Robina. "I 'uv oo, Wobbin," she said then, in a low, tremulous whisper. "Bravely spoken, darling," whispered Robina back to her; and at that moment, to the relief of every one, Mr Starling entered the room. His big presence and bright personality made a pleasing diversion. "Hullo, monkey!" he said, the minute he saw Robina. "So you are back once more--the proverbial bad penny, eh?" He pinched her cheek. "'Pon my word, you are looking fine! And how do you like school, monkey? and how is every bit of you? Glad to have you back: expect we'll have some fun now." "Sit down, Edward, and don't keep Robina standing any longer," said Miss Jennings. Mr Starling winked solemnly at his daughter, and took his seat. "Hallo! What are these?" he said, as he saw his letters. "They are for you, father," said Robina, eagerly: "but I think they are about me." "About you, monkey! How can you know?" "Don't encourage her. Edward, don't read those letters at present," said Miss Jennings. "Oh, please do, father," said Robina. "Peese, farzer, peese!" said little Rose. And "Please, father!" came in a more pronounced voice from Violet. To the relief of everyone at that moment Miss Jennings received a hasty summons to run upstairs to her invalid sister. The moment she left the room, Mr Starling seized the first letter. "Here goes!" he said. "When the cat's away--now then, monkey, and you two, listen to me."