Chris danced round the table with delight at the thought of it, and then remembered that he had been left in charge.
"George wants me to go to-morrow, Dinah; he says he'll meet me at the station if I come by the first train after breakfast."
"All right," said Diana, "you go. Inez is coming to spend the whole day to-morrow. We shall be all right."
Chris's face was very grave.
He knew what a pickle Inez was. How could he go away and leave them! Noel was utterly irresponsible. His mother had left him in charge. Diana was too dreamy to look after them. The events of yesterday had taught him the necessity of keeping Noel under his eye.
But George told him that visitors were expected, and that he must come the next day or he could not have a room. And it was no use asking George over now, for he seemed to have so much on hand.
And then poor Chris walked up and down the garden path in agony of longing and indecision. It did seem hard to refuse; he had been so looking forward to seeing George again. If only Nurse would hurry back! Surely Mums would not expect him to lose this treat! He mightn't get the chance again. What was he to do?
In the bottom of his heart he knew what he ought to do.
"I am Mother's deputy. She made me it, and I promised her I would look after the others while Nurse was away. It's no good. I can't go. I must write by this post and tell George so."
And after saying this firmly to himself Chris ran back to the house. His mother had left a packet of postcards to be sent to her if Diana did not want to write more. He took one of these and wrote: