She looked quite rosy and happy again. They were so full of their meeting with Sir George and had so much to tell her, that they did not ask her what she had been doing, but at last Faith said:
"Well, you've had a lovely time, but I wouldn't have missed my time for all the world."
"What have you been doing?"
"He took me to his cottage; it's smaller than ours, and he lives there all alone, only once a week his niece comes from the village to cook and clean for him. He has the darlingest kitchen with lovely china plates, and mugs and shells, and a stuffed owl, and pictures of hunting. He was a keeper when he was younger, to Sir George, not like a park-keeper; he used to shoot and take care of dear little pheasants. But now he looks after sheep and cattle. And he gave me a drink of milk, and then he sat and talked to me, and he told me of things I've never heard before!"
"And how is Sandy?" asked Hope.
"He is lying in a basket. Do you think Aunt Alice would let me go and see old Timothy again?"
Faith's eyes were shining. Her sisters laughed at her.
"We're going to Sir George's big house, it will be much more adventure than yours."
But Faith shook her head.
"I've had such a wonderful talk," she said.