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"I don't want dozens of people who are not at all worthy of

Ladybird, to come here looking after her," said Miss Pross.

"Do dozens come for that purpose?"

"Hundreds," said Miss Pross.

It was characteristic of this lady (as of some other people

before her time and since) that whenever her original proposition

was questioned, she exaggerated it.

"Dear me!" said Mr. Lorry, as the safest remark he could think

of.

"I have lived with the darling--or the darling has lived with me,

and paid me for it; which she certainly should never have done,

you may take your affidavit, if I could have afforded to keep

either myself or her for nothing--since she was ten years old.

And it's really very hard," said Miss Pross.

Not seeing with precision what was very hard, Mr. Lorry shook his

head; using that important part of himself as a sort of fairy

cloak that would fit anything.

"All sorts of people who are not in the least degree worthy of

the pet, are always turning up," said Miss Pross. "When you began

it--"