gentleman living on his privatemeans, and as these means were small, and he was far too lazy to add tothem, the young Starlings had to do without the good things of life.
His house was decidedly ramshackle; his grounds neglected; his stablesin shocking disorder, and his one groom and factotum, Jim, sadlyoverworked.
Nevertheless, Edward Starling managed on the whole to enjoy life. Hewas fond of golf, and spent nearly all his time over this fascinatingand absorbing amusement. Had Robina been willing to take up golf, hewould scarcely have induced himself to send her to school; but as itwas, he did so for the sake of peace of mind.
Robina was troublesome at home. She was too large and strong anddetermined for the invalid mother, and she was always rubbing theexcellent, indefatigable aunt the wrong way. Mr Starling was, however,fond of Robina. He liked her bold, free, frank manners. He enjoyed herlittle tiffs with Aunt Felicia, and rather encouraged them thanotherwise, and the very first thing he asked now when he entered thehouse was if his daughter had returned.
"Yes;" said Miss Jennings, who made it an invariable rule to sit up forher brother-in-law, however late he returned home. "Yes," she said,yawning, "Oh, dear me, Edward! Don't leave that muddy mark in the hall;I have such trouble getting those flags kept in order: and oh--_don'tput_ your pipe down there! I can't endure the smell of smoke. I amvery sorry that I am so sensitive, but neither I nor my dear sister canabide tobacco."
Mr Starling slipped the pipe back into his pocket. "There!" said hissister-in-law, springing up. "It isn't properly out, and will burn ahole, and then I shall have the trouble of mending it. You _won't_consider things, Edward. You are so thoughtless. Oh, I am the verylast person to complain, but what was I saying?"
"Talking about Robina. Is she home?"
"Home?" said Miss Jennings. "Yes; thank goodness, hours ago, and in bedand asleep."
"I can't take a peep at her, I suppose? How is the young monkeylooking?"
"Whatever you do, Edward--don't disturb her! She is such a queer,excitable creature."
"She is well, I suppose?"
"Yes; that is--her body is; I am by no means sure about her mind."
"Her mind?" said Starling. "Has anything gone wrong with that?"
"You will find out for yourself when you talk to her. She certainly hasthe most frightful cock-and-bull stories to tell us. What anextraordinary school it must be! Robina is full of an invitation shehas received from some impostor who has taken the name of the great MrDurrant, and she also speaks of a pony arriving here to-morrow. Ofcourse the child is dreaming, but if her lies are proved to be lies, Ishall punish her severely. I am, however, just, before all things, andwait before I administer the rod. On the whole, Edward, I do notcongratulate you on Robina's return: we shall have a sorry time with herduring these holidays, and so far, school has the reverse of improvedher."
"You always were doleful, Felicia," said her brother-in-law: "but as itis close on one o'clock, I will go to my room, and consider Robina'siniquities in the morning--that is, if you have no objection."
"Objection?" cried Miss Jennings--"when I am just dying for my bed! Youmen have no heart and no consideration. Here have I been sitting upwaiting for you all this long, weary time, with my eyes weighted asthough there was lead on the lids, and my back bowed with aching. Butmuch you care."
"I wish to goodness you would go to bed, and leave me alone," said theirate man.
"Not I;" she replied, "to have the house burgled in your absence, or seton fire when you return, with the careless way you manage that pipe ofyours."
"Well: I'm off to bed now, Felicia. If you do choose to sit up, itisn't my fault." And the master of the house ran upstairs three stepsat a time. Even his sister-in-law's "Don't make so much noise" failedto impress him in any way.
He reached his bedroom, got rapidly into bed, and fell asleep chucklingover "that monkey Robina," as he called her.
By the first post the next morning, there arrived two letters, both ofimmense interest to Robina. She had got up early and was, if the truthmust be known, eagerly watching for the post. She saw the letters whenthey arrived, and had a sort of intuition that they contained news whichwould be of vital interest to her. But as they were addressed to herfather, she could do nothing towards gratifying her curiosity until heappeared.
She was dressed that morning in one of her neat school frocks, andlooked very bonny, and strong, and self-reliant. The two little sisterswere eagerly clamouring round her.
"Take my hand, Wobbin. Wobbin, let's wun acwoss garden!" cried littleRose.
"Oh, Robin! I don't talk as badly as that," said the more importantViolet.
Robina sat down on the window-sill, and played to her heart's contentwith the two. In this attitude Miss Jennings found them.
"Now, Robina--I forbid you to spoil those children. Violet don'tattempt to cry, or you shall leave the room. Rose, put on your pinaforeat once, miss. Now come to the table, all three of you, and let usbegin breakfast."
Miss Jennings seated herself by the tea-tray. She littered a shortgrace, and then porridge was dispensed. Little Rose could not bearporridge, and at once began to whimper.
"Don't cry!" said Miss Jennings. "If you do, you leave the room."
"Eat up just a little bit, darling," whispered Robina. "I have suchjolly things to tell you afterwards. Has father come home?" continuedRobina, fixing her eyes on her aunt's face.
"Of course he has come home, my dear: why shouldn't he come home?_Don't_, I beg of you, Robina, ask silly questions. Your father has noother house to sleep in, therefore when he is sleepy, he comes home. Heis in bed at the present moment, and goodness only knows when he willcome down to breakfast."
"Oh, I hope he will come down soon!" said Robina, "for I want him toopen his letters."
"Very impertinent and forward of you! Your father's letters are notyour concern."
"Not always," replied Robina, calmly, and helping herself to strawberryjam: "but those two happen to be."
"Have you been trying to read them through the envelopes?"
"No: but I looked at the postmarks."
Miss Jennings was silent for an awful moment. Then she said,impressively:
"Little girls; listen to me."
The two children looked up expectantly.
"Never at any time copy the ways of your elder sister unless you wish tobe whipped."
Violet smiled rather vaguely. Rose's little pale face grew paler. Shenestled close to Robina.
"I 'uv oo, Wobbin," she said then, in a low, tremulous whisper.
"Bravely spoken, darling," whispered Robina back to her; and at thatmoment, to the relief of every one, Mr Starling entered the room.
His big presence and bright personality made a pleasing diversion.
"Hullo, monkey!" he said, the minute he saw Robina. "So you are backonce more--the proverbial bad penny, eh?"
He pinched her cheek. "'Pon my word, you are looking fine! And how doyou like school, monkey? and how is every bit of you? Glad to have youback: expect we'll have some fun now."
"Sit down, Edward, and don't keep Robina standing any longer," said MissJennings.
Mr Starling winked solemnly at his daughter, and took his seat.
"Hallo! What are these?" he said, as he saw his letters.
"They are for you, father," said Robina, eagerly: "but I think they areabout me."
"About you, monkey! How can you know?"
"Don't encourage her. Edward, don't read those letters at present,"said Miss Jennings.
"Oh, please do, father," said Robina.
"Peese, farzer, peese!" said little Rose. And "Please, father!" came ina more pronounced voice from Violet.
To the relief of everyone at that moment Miss Jennings received a hastysummons to run upstairs to her invalid sister. The moment she left theroom, Mr Starling seized the first letter.
"Here goes!" he said. "When the cat's away--now then, monkey, and youtwo, listen to me."
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He tore open Mr Durrant's letter, glanced through the contents, uttereda hasty exclamation, and then proceeded to read it aloud.
"My dear Sir:--I have a very great favour to ask of you. I want to know if you will spare your dear girl, Robina, to me for the greater part of these holidays. I have just secured a charming house at Eastbourne, quite above the town, and in a comparatively country place. I don't know what its real name is, and what is more, I don't care; but while Robina is with us, it is to be called Sunshine Lodge. I