Meg gave a startled look of recollection. "Did I have to clean
it?" she asked in a frightened tone, and pushing her fair hair
back from her forehead. "Oh, girls! what WAS it I had to do?"

"Clean with benzine, iron while wet, put in a cool place to keep
warm, and bake till brown," said Judy promptly. "SURELY you
heard, Margaret? Esther was at such pains to explain."

Meg ruffled her hair again despairingly. "What shall I do?" she
said, actual tears springing to her eyes. "What will Father
say? Oh, Judy, you might have reminded me."

Nell slipped an arm round her neck. "She's only teasing,
Megsie; Esther did it and left it ready in the hall--you've only
to give it to Pip. Pat has to take the dogcart into town this
afternoon to have the back seat mended, and Pip's going in it,
too, that's all, and they're putting the horse in now; you're
not late."

It was the coat Bunty had done his best to spoil that all
the trouble was about. It belonged, as I said, to the Captain's
full-dress uniform, and was wanted for a dinner at the Barracks
this same evening. And Esther had been sponging and cleaning
at it all the morning, and had left directions that it was to be
taken to the Barracks in the afternoon.

Presently the dogcart came spinning round to the door in great
style, Pip driving and Pat looking sulkily on. They took the
coat parcel and put it carefully under the seat, and were