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“Oh, Biddy! He’s Daddy’s best friend. You know Mummy whipped you for saying that.”

“I don’t care! I hate him, so there. Why doesn’t he bring his own ponies over from Kopu instead of riding Belle? I hate him.”

“All right—but don’t make so much noise about it.”

Waring himself opened the inner door, and stepped out into the schoolroom.

Biddy’s jaw dropped, and the scarlet ran from neck to brow.

“I thought you went home last night,” she stammered.

Jo was again doubling herself up and dancing round, choking with laughter. What a joke! He’d actually heard Biddy say she hated him! Biddy moved to the open door.

“Dan’s going to feed the new chickens,” she said, and sped down the hill as fleetly as a deer.

“Wait for me! Wait for me!” shrieked Jo, tumbling down the slope as fast as her fat little legs could carry her.

“Amiable child!” observed Waring.

“All children say silly things of that sort at times. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“She resents my riding one of her father’s ponies for polo practice. She’s an objectionable kid.”

Ann contradicted him.

“She’s a dear little girl, really.”

“It’s your job to say that.”

“I shouldn’t say it if I didn’t think it.”

Suddenly the man laughed.

“You’re far too pretty to be a school ma’am,” he said coolly, “and you’re only a kid yourself.”

Ann was conscious of a little flash of temper, but