"Ah," said Mona with a little sigh. "You have something that I have not."
Then she added in a different tone—
"I don't know what to do with the children. They play such pranks, and they're too old for nurses. Jack and Jill are quite beyond them."
Miss Falkner could offer no suggestion. Mona went on—
"Miss Webb has offered to look after them, but I want her to come abroad with me, and she cannot do both."
"I suppose you will have to leave them here for their holidays?"
"I see the look in your eyes, Miss Falkner! You think me a selfish wretch for letting my claims on Miss Webb come first. Perhaps you are like Mrs. Errington, who at once saw a solution out of the difficulty. 'Take them to some comfortable farmhouse and look after them yourself!' I told her I should be worn out in twenty-four hours. I often wonder how you can stand it!"
"It is my life-work," said Miss Falkner quietly. "But I am so fond of children that they do not tire me."
"Well," said Mona giving an impatient sigh, "my life-work at present is to amuse myself. I find it hard work sometimes. But as you won't make it easy for me to carry off Miss Webb I suppose I must leave her behind."
And so it was settled. Miss Webb resigned herself to her fate. Mona went to some of her numerous friends, and Miss Falkner took her departure.