"You're not speaking true!" said Diana severely.
"Let him alone!" said Mrs. Tubbs. "I'm sure I wish Nurse was back! I've been worried to death this morning. Come and have your dinner, Master Noel, and be a good boy."
"I've had some nice dinner," said Noel triumphantly, "but I'll have some more."
In a few minutes Chris had got his story out of him. Nothing would shake Noel's self-satisfaction until Diana took him to see the carpet in Mrs. Inglefield's boudoir. Mrs. Tubbs had done her best with it, but there were black ink stains and discoloration.
When Noel saw it his face lengthened.
"I'm truly sorry," he said. "I fink I'll save up my pennies to buy Mums a new carpet. I should like to give her it on her birfday."
Chris and Diana scoffed at him.
"A carpet costs pounds and pounds and pounds!"
But they said no more to him, and for the rest of the day they got on peaceably together.
The next morning brought Chris a letter from his chum, George Burke. He was at his uncle's, and he invited Chris to spend a whole day with him and sleep a night there.