But this appalling threat had been used too often to produce anything more than an excess of meek submissiveness. The delinquents at once assumed the air and bearing of young martyrs, took their cups quietly, and sat down side by side on a little sofa. “I’ll tell you what, you two,” said the Colonel: “I won’t have any one fishing with worms in my trout streams.” “Why? Is it any harm?” asked Evelyn, apparently surprised. “Harm!” cried Jocelyn. “It’s poaching, it’s spoiling the fishing outright, and it’s against the law in the close season--that’s all.” “We didn’t know,” said Gwendolen. “And you’d better not ride Schoolboy without my leave,” put in Jocelyn. “Nor take Charley’s Aunt out of her box without asking me,” added Claude. “Nor borrow my best gun to pot rooks with,” said the Colonel. “Nor dare to go near any of the motors, and especially not the new Mercèdes,” enjoined Lady Jane very severely. But by-and-by, when she was dressing for dinner, and had reached the stage of having her hair done, she looked through the evening paper, as she usually did during that tedious process, and she found in the column of advertisements the one she had last inserted, and she read it over. GOVERNESS WANTED, to take charge of two girls of 14 and 15 respectively; family residing in Yorkshire and London. Must have first-rate degree and references. Charm of manner, symmetry of form, and brilliancy of conversation especially not desired, as husband and three grown-up sons much at home.--Apply by letter to J. F., P.O. Hanton, Yorks. CHAPTER II Considering the nature of Lady Jane’s advertisement and the brutal frankness of its wording, she had no right to be surprised because no one answered it immediately. It is not every young or middle-aged spinster of superior education and impeccable manners who will readily admit that she is entirely lacking in charm, symmetry of form, and talent for conversation. Lady Jane had reckoned on this, and was tolerably certain that no governess would offer herself who did not fulfil the conditions so literally as to have had trouble in finding employment anywhere else. On the day following the small events I have just narrated, Lionel went to town, as he often did, in order to consult a manuscript in the British Museum. He said that he might be away three or four days, or possibly a week.