"What is ruined?" I asked. "What in the world do you mean?" "What I say. Now don't repeat my words. You will be able to think of them by and by." I was silent, pondering. Daddy was charming; there never was his like, but he did say puzzling things. "Now," he said, looking full at me, "what do you think I have come to England for?" I shook my head. When I did not know a thing I invariably shook my head. "I have come on your account," he replied. "On mine, Daddy?" "Yes. I am going back again to India in a short time." "Oh, what fun!" I answered. "I love being on board ship." He did not reply at all to this. "Why don't you speak?" I said, giving his grizzled locks a lusty tug. "I am thinking," was his answer. "Well, think aloud," I said. "I am thinking about you, Heather. Have you ever by any chance heard of a lady called Aunt Penelope?" "Never," I answered. "Aunt Penelope--Aunt Penelope--what is an aunt, Daddy?" "Well, there is an Aunt Penelope waiting to see you in old England, and I am going to take you down to her to-morrow. She is your aunt--listen--think hard, Heather--use your brains--because she is your mother's sister." "Oh!" I answered. "Does that make an aunt?" "Yes, that makes an aunt; or if she were your father's sister she would also be your aunt." I tried to digest this piece of information as best I could. "I am taking you to her to-morrow, and you must learn to love her as though she were your mother." I shook my head. "I can't," I said. "Well, don't think about it," was Daddy's reply. "Love her, without knowing that you love her. I believe she is a very good woman." "I 'spect so," I said. "I don't much care for good womens." As a rule I spoke quite correctly, but when excited I did make some lapses. "Well, that's all," said father, suddenly putting me down on the floor. "Run up to bed now and to sleep. You will see Aunt Penelope to-morrow; you will like her very much. I have brought you all the way to England in order that you might see her." I was a bit sleepy, and it was very late for me to be up. So I kissed Daddy two or three times and ran upstairs all alone. Anastasia was waiting for me at the head of the stairs. "Anastasia," I shouted, "we are going to have a real jolly time. We are going to Aunt Penelope to-morrow. She is aunt because she is mother's sister; she would be aunt, too, if she was father's sister. I wonder how many people she is aunt to? Is she your aunt, Anastasia?" "No, my dear child," said Anastasia, in quite a gentle tone. "And isn't it fun, Anastasia?" I continued. "Daddy has brought me all the way to England just to see Aunt Penelope, and we are going back to India almost immediately--Daddy said so." "Said what, Miss Heather?" "That we were going back to India almost--almost at once. Isn't it just lovely? You will come too, of course, only you might remember about the pins."