It happened to be a Saturday, and every Saturday, Harebell dined at the Rectory and spent her half-holiday there.
"We'll go and see him this afternoon," suggested Nan. "Peter wants to see him, don't you, Peter? Tom is making him a box with lock and key to keep his birds' eggs in. He's out of hospital, and living with his mother."
"That will be lovely!" exclaimed Harebell. It was only when she was actually starting with them, that she remembered her aunt had not given her permission to do it. With a little hesitation, she told Nan and Peter that perhaps she had better not go.
"Go home and ask your aunt," said Peter; but Nan vehemently opposed this suggestion.
"We have no time. It's such a long way off; and if we go to the village, we can go on to the woods and have some fun."
Harebell hesitated.
"I'll go," cried Peter, "on my bicycle. I'll go, and catch you up before you get to the village."
Peter had only lately owned a bicycle, so he liked to use it on every occasion.
Harebell brightened up.
"That will be jolly! And I don't believe Aunt Diana will say 'no' to you."