"Thomas said to call him Topsy, and Billy said Bull's Eye was a nice name, but I thought he looked more like a Launcelot." "Well--I'll take it while you pick up your coat and run and wash your hands. You'll be late if you don't hurry." "Aw! no sausages!" said Buff, five minutes later, as he wriggled into his place at the luncheon-table. "Can't have sausages every day, sonny," said his sister; "the butcher man would get tired making them for us." "Aren't there any sausage-mines?" asked Buff; but his father and sister had begun to talk to each other, so his question remained unanswered. Unless spoken to, Buff seldom offered a remark, but talked rapidly to himself in muffled tones, to the great bewilderment of strangers, who were apt to think him slightly deranged. Ellen had brought in the pudding when Elizabeth noticed that her young brother was sitting with a tense face, his hands clenched in front of him and his legs moving rapidly. She touched his arm to recall him to his surroundings. "_Don't touch me_," he said through his teeth. "I'm a motor and I've lost control of myself." He emitted a shrill "_Honk Honk_," to the delight of his father, who inquired if he were the car or the chauffeur. "I'm both," said Buff, his legs moving even more rapidly. Ellen, unmoved by such peculiar table-manners, put his plate of pudding before him, and Buff, hearing Elizabeth remark that Thomas and Billy were in all probability even now on their way to school, fell to, said his grace, was helped into his coat, and left the house in almost less time than it takes to tell. Mr. Seton and Elizabeth were drinking their coffee when Elizabeth said: "I heard from Aunt Alice this morning." "Yes? How is she?" "Very well, I think. She wants me to go with her to Switzerland in December. Of course I've said I can't go." "Of course," said Mr. Seton placidly. Elizabeth pushed away her cup. "Father, I don't mind being noble, but I must say I do hate to have my nobility taken for granted." "My dear girl! Nobility----" "Well," said Elizabeth, "isn't it pretty noble to give up Switzerland and go on plodding here? Just look at the rain, and I must go away down to the district and collect for Women's Foreign Missions. There are more amusing pastimes than toiling up flights of stairs and wresting shillings for the heathen from people who can't afford to give. I can hardly bear to take it." "My dear, would you deny them the privilege?" It might almost be said that Elizabeth snorted. "Privilege! Oh, well... If anyone else had said that, but you're a saint, Father, and I believe you honestly think it is a privilege to give. You must, for if it weren't for me I doubt if you would leave yourself anything to live on, but--oh! it's no use arguing. Where are you visiting this afternoon?" "I really ought to go to Dennistoun to see that poor body, Mrs. Morrison." "It's such a long way in the rain. Couldn't you wait for a better day?"