In the summer a gardening craze seized her, and just now she is in an idle mood.

What does it matter?
a short life and a merry one,--eh, Miss Garston ?' I would not expostulate with this civilised little heathen, for she was evidently bent on provoking a lecture, and I determined to disappoint her.

We had sat so long over our tea that the room was quite dark, and I rose to kindle the lamp.

Lady Betty, as usual, was anxious to assist me, and went to the window to lower the blind.

The next moment I heard an exclamation of annoyance, and as she came back to the table her little brown face was all aglow with some suppressed irritation.
'What is the matter, Lady Betty ?' I asked, in some surprise.
'It is that provoking Etta again,' she began.