"Run away, Baby, dear," she said, kissing the disappointed little
face; "go and play Noah's Ark with Bunty, and I'll finish the
piggies to-night or to-morrow."

"But I want them NOW" Baby said insistently.

Meg pushed her gently aside. "No, run away, pet--run away at once
like a good girl, and I'll tell you Red Riding Hood, too, to-morrow."

Baby looked up at her sister's guest."

"You are a horrid old pig, Aldiff MacCatfy," she said, with slow
emphasis, "an' I hates you hard, an' we all hates you here, 'ceps Meg;
and Pip says you're ze jammiest girl out, an' I wis' a drate big ziant
would come and huff and puff and blow you into ze middlest part of
ze sea."

Aldith laughed, a little aggravating grown-up laugh, that put the
finishing touch to Baby's auger. She put out her little hand and
gave the guest's arm in its muslin sleeve a sharp, scientific pinch
that Pip had taught her. Then she fled madly away down the long
paddocks, to the bit of bush beyond.

"Insufferable," Aldith muttered angrily, and it needed all Meg's
apologies and coaxings to get her into an amiable frame of mind
again, and to induce her to communicate the enthralling secret.

At last, however, it was imparted, with great impressiveness.
Aldith's eldest sister was engaged, engaged to be married! Oh!