Great Uncle Hoot-Toot

I always know his ring. I do hope--"

Frances, look

ght into the school-room. Order his tea at once. I don't want him to co

s, and a pretty face with a bright, eager expression, needed no se

r, nice boy she would have made! And if Geoff had been

s if Vicky had been a boy she woul

n Geoff. He is like all boys. Everybody says they are

a bad boy; but it just comes over me now and then that it is a shame he should be such a tease and worry, boy or not. When mamma is anxious, and with good reason, and we girls are doing all we can, why should Geoff be the one we have to keep away from her, and

ime to cross the roo

ight; he's not cross. He only slammed the door at the top of

n risk a noise to-night," said Elsa. "What w

ked rathe

s so hungry. I would have run up to tell you; but I thought it was

nced at

er glance se

er, "anything is better than that. Run down ag

her timidly, "for one of us to go and speak to him, a

rom herself," said Elsa. "Of course he'd be sorry for h

on to see everything and everybody in the best possible light,

inner with their mother. She was anxious and tired,

she said suddenly. "Has he many lessons

ry good spirits. I told him you were busy writing for the mail, and persuaded

t at once," said Elsa, abruptly. "You've

Norris first thing to-morrow morning. I have said to your

nces, "do you really think

smiled ra

Once we really know, we can meet it. You three girls are al

ces, eagerly, "I

on with sudden energy, "if this does come-if we really do lose all

eemed to win

rst of it just yet, any way,"

" said the mother, "for his education would have to

llowship of his companions, did not comprise the whole nor even the most important part of the duty of a boy who was also a son and a brother-a son, too, of a widowed mother, and a b

d not notice

myself be over-anxious. I shall try to put things aside, as it were, till I

it into his head to co

" agreed

led in the drawing-ro

off sent me to ask if he m

Elsa. "He had two eggs with

told him. And he's so fond of anchovy toasts. I thi

lied. "It's not right-it's always

sgivings, but flew off. She was

her, midway between the scho

d, moving towa

may," replied the br

h it? I told you to ask mamma

ry cross look on his handsome face. But Victoria, devoted little sister though she

or anything for you if you are so selfish. How could I go teas

and worried?" said Geoff. "What

ie told me that she was worried, and that she had lette

for your age, Vic! Oh, if it's only that, she's writing to that old curmudgeon

ing-room as he spoke

c, it isn't every fellow of my age that would take things so quietly. Never touch

let children dine late," said Vic, primly,

burst out

easons for everything that suits

eoff in a good humour, that she would have eaten anything he chose to give her, an

es, and-sometimes-sweetness in the mouth. But this "sometimes" had for long been becoming of less and less frequent occurrence. A querulous, half-sulky expression had invaded the whole face: its curves and lines were hardening as those of no young face should harden; the very carriage of the boy was losing its bright upright fearlessn

anchovy toasts disappeared

. But I don't know that I'm exactly thirsty, either. I know what I'd like-a glass of claret

the doorway. "Mamma wants you to come up to the drawing-ro

too elder-sisterly way of speaking that, as he would have expressed it, "set him up." "I was saying to Vic that I'd like a glass of claret, a

h a strange mixture of

g next, I wonder?" her

ds were not

d you, I know, that you must be particula

most fierce expression in the eyes

eave mother and me to ourselves. It's your

sly, cheerfully, for her or his mother, or the others. But the smaller sacrifices, of his likes and dislikes, of his silly boyish temper and humours-of "self," in short, he could not or