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happened to Tim was that somebody important had offered to give him lessons, while she had a professional engagement. Oh, it was too mean!
    Tim had been playing an imaginary grand piano through most of the Peaseblossom argument. When the conversation turned to him, he took his hands off his imaginary keyboard and got up. He sat on the arm of John’s chair.
    “That’ll be all right, Dad.”
    John put an arm around him. “That’s what you say now, hut what are going to say to me in ten years’ time about the opportunity I’m letting you miss?”
    Rachel had to turn her face away again and sweep some more tears out of her eyes. Opportunity Tim was missing! What about the opportunity she was missing?
    Tim said, “I shan’t miss any opportunity. Mr. Brown told me he didn’t suppose Mr. Caulder would be in London much for a bit. Somebody in America can give me lessons while I’m there.”
    John gave him a friendly shake. “Don’t you be smug, young man. Why should any American pianist want to be bothered with a little boy who’s going to be his pupil for only a few months?”
    “And who would pay for the lessons even if we could find someone to teach you?” Bee broke in. “Peaseblossom’s money will mostly be used up, and we can’t expect Aunt Cora to do more than keep us.”
    Tim refused to worry. “Mr. Brown won’t mind as long as I practice every day.”
    Bee had suddenly seen Rachel’s face. “Oh, my goodness, she thought, “how mean of us all, forgetting Rachel’s great chance. But she mustn’t let her father see how disappointed she is, or he may refuse to go because of her.” She got up and went over to Rachel. She knelt by her and put her arms around her in such a way that Rachel’s face was against her shoulder and so hidden from everybody. Before she spoke, she whispered, “Be brave, darling. Don’t let Dad see how much you mind.” Out loud she said, “We’ve forgotten our ballerina. Will you mind not dancing in this show and missing your lessons for six months?”
    Answering was the most difficult thing Rachel had ever done. Bee’s being so nice had broken her control, and she was really crying; but somehow she managed a fairly nonwobblish voice and said the only thing she could think of: “Foreign travel broadens the mind.”
    Peaseblossom gave a quick look at what she could see of Rachel and broke in hurriedly. “Quite right, and a broadened mind helps all art. We’ll bring back better pupils for Madame Fidolia and Mr. Caulder. Now that everything’s settled, I’ll get supper. Jane, it’s your night to help.”
    Jane had been sitting in a corner. She had Chewing-gum on the piece of sheet he had to sit on when his toilet was done. She had combed him and brushed him until he shone like silk; then she had lain down beside him and listened with half an ear to the arguments. When first Tim and then Rachel came into the discussion, she sat up. She hugged Chewing-gum against her. There they went as usual, talking, talking, talking about Rachel and Tim; nobody seemed to care what happened to her. Peaseblossom’s saying “everything’s settled” was the last straw. Jane’s voice was shrill with anger.
    “I suppose it doesn’t interest anybody if Chewing-gum and I don’t want to go to America.”
    The three grown-ups laughed. Bee said, “I’m afraid not darling. It’ll be good for you.”’
    Tim turned to his father. “Can Chewing-gum come? A boy at school’s poodle couldn’t go to Paris because he’d have been in quarantine when he came home.”
    Bee caught her breath. Of course, Chewing-gum couldn’t go. She hadn’t thought of that. Oh, dear, surely Jane would not be difficult! She could not leave Rachel, who was crying quite badly, so she held out a hand to Jane.
    “We ‘ll fix something very nice for Chewing-gum, but he can’t come because it’s the law that he must go into quarantine for six months when we get back, and he’d hate that, poor boy.”
    Jane was