This sweet looking lady won her heart at once.
Then Nobbles was brought forward, and Lady Isobel kissed his little ugly face.
'Oh, how often have I thought of you and Nobbles when I was so far away from you!' she said, sitting down and drawing Bobby to her. 'And do you know, I think it was you who brought your uncle to me. He wanted to hear about you——'
'Oh, come,' interrupted Mr. Egerton, 'we were old friends; you stole my best caterpillar when you were a girl. I remember to this day my wrath when you made your confession.'
'Yes,' said Lady Isobel laughing; 'and I remember why I did it. Because you tied my best doll round the neck of our old gander, and he drowned her in a pond.'
The children were enchanted at these reminiscences, but a shadow almost immediately fell on Lady Isobel's face.
'Ah,' she said with a little sigh, 'that was many years ago. I have been through a good deal since then.'
'And are you reely going to live in grandmother's house?' questioned Bobby.
'Your uncle wants to,' said Lady Isobel softly, looking across at Mr. Egerton as she spoke. 'It is his old home, Bobby; he played in your nursery many years ago.'
'Yes, I know,' said Bobby. 'Tom said "Master Mortimer be a merry young gentleman."'