her favourite, except the youngest, and she is ever so good, you know.
I've heard the ladies, when we were with the dear old 111th, telling
mamma how they envied her her trustworthy treasure.'

'I'm sure they might have had her at half-price,' said Wilfred. 'She's
be dear at a farthing!'

At that moment Mrs. Halfpenny's voice was heard demanding if it were
really her ladyship's pleasure to go out, fatiguing herself to the very
death with all the children rampaging about her and tearing themselves
to pieces, if not poisoning themselves with all sorts of nasty berries.

'Indeed I'll take care of them and bring them back safe to you,'
responded her ladyship, very much in the tone of one of her own
children making promises. 'Put them on their brown hollands and they
can't come to much harm.'

'Well, if it's your wish, ma'am, my leddy; what must be, must, but I
know how it will be--you'll come back tired out, fit to drop, and Miss
Val and Miss Primrose won't have a rag fit to be seen on them. But if
it's your will, what must be must, for you're no better than a bairn
yourself, general's lady though you be, and G.C.B.'

'No, nurse, you'll be G.C.B.--Grand Commander of the Bath--when we come
home,' called out Hall, who was leaning on the banister at the bottom,
and there was a general laugh, during which Dolly tardily climbed the
stairs, so tardily that her aunt, meeting her, asked whether she was
still tired, and if she would rather have the afternoon to arrange her
room.