Great Uncle Hoot-Toot

Elsa?" asked Frances, when

re I don't know. I don't think I ev

fancied he'd be tall and stooping, and with a big nose and very queer eyes. I think I must h

up; but he's so very neat and refined-looking. Did you notice what small brown hands he

Frances. "Elsa, I am very glad he has come. I think poor mamma has

l Great-Uncle Hoot-Toot's arrival by his tempers. Perhaps it's just as well,

said Frances. "You don't think he'

Elsa. "I must confess, though, I shouldn't like to face Great-Uncle H

raid there's something a little bit uncanny about him," said Frances, who was very imaginative. "B

must go to bed. I want to make everything very nice to-morrow; I'm

books and fishmongers' bills; to-night curry and pilau chased each other through her brain, and Frances was aroused from her first swee

defiant. But he said nothing except "Good morning."

re you not well? You

the excitement of discussing the new arrival, and the satisfaction of

anything to tire yourself all day. We will manage everything, so that Gr

about to speak, but he closed them

l dine with us this evening. Try to get your lessons

nct "Very well, mamma,

uth-any man will understand how impossible it is for me to stand it any longer. I don't mind if he did hear me shouting la

ances of even more consequence th

-room, and had a talk with her by themselves, and then Vicky was sent for, to make his acquaintance. The little girl came into the drawi

id her great-uncle, looking

nk you," replied

ll you've got to say to me?-a poor old fellow like

rim little figure. A red flush spread slowly upwards from her cheeks to the roots of her fair hair, and by

the children? Geoff in a temper, and Vicky crying for nothing!

rself. "It's only about Geoff. I want

" said the old gentleman, his eyes twi

s master now you'd come, and that it was time he had some of his nonsense whipped out of him. You won't whip him, will you? Oh, p

were ver

whip Geoff! Why, I think he could better whip me-a strong, sturdy fellow like that. No, no, I don't want to whip him, I assure you. But I'm glad to see

r wants to be naughty. It's just that he's got some bad habits, of teasing and grumbling,

d. "Well, don't you think it would be a very goo

d up doubtf

ay really do him good, you'll trust your

m a long st

th a sigh, "I would like Geoff t

t-Uncle Hoot-Toot and V

d Frances to go out a

I have seen her?" he said abruptly

hesit

fraid she is not at all well.

s notice things sometime

d of mamma," p

o show it, it strikes m

per, I'm afraid," Fran

r known any hardships or been forced into any self-denial. Great-uncle," she went on earnestly, "if it's tr

re going to lo

d so to mamma-at least you tried to make her happier; but I can't understan

d and looked a

that way to you

glad for her to feel happier about it. I w

irls to be trusted. I may just tell you this much-all this trouble is nothing new; I had seen it coming for years. The only thing I had not anticipated was tha

us that you couldn't be held responsible, as it was onl

will explain all about it to you both-before long. Just now the question is your mother. I thin

big things, and mamma thinks it is owing to her having kept home influence over him. He's t

man's after-life. I'm not going to send him to a grand boarding-school, however-that I promise you, for I think it would b

agerly. "Elsa and I are quite ready to wor

. "You shall tell me your plans some time soon, and I will

nd I could earn enough to keep him at school as he is, so that mamma could have the comf-- No, I'm afraid I can't honestly say that having Geoff at

ill wait a few days. I should like to see poor Alice lookin

the door. She was in great excitement about Mr. Byrne's Ind

him!" she exclaimed. "But my tea's

e Hoot-Toot, nodding his head appro

s having her tea alone to-day. Geoff'

aid the ol

EW WITH GREAT-U

to E