"I understand," said Aunt Penelope, "that your father, after running through all his own money, and all of yours--for your mother had as much to live on as I have--has suddenly come into a new fortune. In his last letter to me he wrote that he wished to take you to London to introduce you to the great world. Now, I earnestly hope, my dear Heather, that you will be firm on this point and refuse to go with him. I am an old woman now, and I need your presence as a return for all the kindness I have done for you, and the life with your father would be anything but good for you. I shall naturally not object to your seeing him again, but, to speak frankly, I think, after all the years of toil and trouble I have spent on you, it is your bounden duty to stay with me and to refuse your father's invitation to go to London with him." "Stop knocking at the door!" called the parrot at that moment. When Aunt Penelope had finished her long speech I looked at her and then said quietly: "I know you have been good to me, and I have been many times a naughty girl to you, but, you see, father comes first, and if he wants me I am going to him." "I thought you would say so. Your ingratitude is past bearing." "Fathers always do come before aunts, don't they?" I asked. "Oh, please don't become childish again, Heather. Go out and get the tea. I am tired of the want of proper feeling of the present day. Do you know that this morning Jonas broke that valuable Dresden cup and saucer that I have always set such store by? It has spoiled my set." "What a shame," I answered. And I went into the kitchen to prepare the tea. The Jonas of that day was a small boy of thirteen. He wore the very antiquated suit of Buttons which the first Jonas had appeared in ten years ago. He had very fat, red cheeks, and small, puffy eyes, and a little button of a mouth, and he was always asleep except when Aunt Penelope was about, when he ran and raced and pretended to do a lot, and broke more things than can be imagined. He awoke now when I entered the kitchen. "Jonas, you are a bad boy," I said; "the kettle isn't boiling, and the fire is nearly out." "I'll pour some paraffin on the fire and it will blaze up in a minute," said Jonas. "You won't do anything of the kind; it is most dangerous--and Jonas, what a shame that you should have broken that Dresden cup and saucer!" "Lor', miss, it was very old," said Jonas. "We wears out ourselves, so does the chaney." "Now don't talk nonsense," said I, half laughing. "Cut some bread and I'll toast it. Jonas, I am a very happy girl to-day; my dear father is coming back to-morrow." "Lor'," said Jonas, "I wouldn't be glad if my gov'nor wor coming back. He's sarvin' his time, miss, but don't let on that you know." "Serving his time?" I answered. "What is that?" "Lor', miss, he's kept by the Government. They has all the expense of him, and a powerful eater he ever do be!"