"How awfully good of you," said the young man dispiritedly.
The lady put up her lorgnettes and surveyed the children.
"Who—are—these—ragamuffins?" she said slowly and distinctly.
"Oh, just a nice little party of mine," said the young man pleasantly. "St. Luke's and St. Mary's. You'll get awfully fond of them. They're very lovable."
The lady's face became stony.
"Are you aware," she said, "that they're trampling on the flowers and splashing in the pond and sitting on the sundial?"
"Oh, yes," he smiled. "Just jolly childish pranks, you know."
"And that one in the awful tweed cap——"
"He's an orphan," said the young man. "I'm going to give you the room next his. He's got quite a jolly voice. I heard him humming to himself a moment ago."
At this point four things happened.