36 MADGES MISTAKE.

day, so you'd better see that she has a good
rest for a day or so.”

Simmons retires triumphant, having got
his own way, and Father on his side into the
bargain. The fact is, it is Simmons who
has gone a bit lame this morning, for I had
overheard him remark to James that he felt
a twinge of rheumatiz in his knees, and I
knew at once that he would not care to
follow Freda in one of her sweeping gallops
across country; and as Father never allows
us to go out with anyone but Simmons, poor
Freda has to stay at home.

Freda is very wrathful, but having once
got Father on his side, her wrath falls on
Simmons like water on a duck’s back.

I wend my way towards the hot-houses,
but Williams is not there, so I turn to the
kitchen-garden, and there I see him stooping
over a strawberry bed.

I go up to him and say, “Well, Wil-
hams!”

“ Well, Miss Madge!” he returns without
looking up. I wonder what I can say next,