"Oh, we shall all know each other very soon and will be a happy family party! Good night, darling, I'm very tired or I would stay longer. Where does Chris sleep?"
Diana told her, and Mrs. Inglefield passed on.
Chris received her very gravely and a little shyly.
"My eldest son," his mother murmured, as she laid her hand caressingly on his short-cropped head. "What talks you and I must have together! I'm very unhappy at being away from dear Dad, but you seem a little bit of him. You have his eyes, Chris. Such frank truthful eyes your Dad has. He has never told an untruth in his life, I believe."
Chris gave a little wriggle. He could not say that of himself, but he liked to think he had his father's eyes. He gazed at his mother adoringly.
What a beautiful mother she was! And he was her eldest son. He smiled at the thought of it.
"Are we going away with you to-morrow?" he asked.
"Oh, no, not for another week. I have a lot of shopping I want to do in town, and I must see something of Granny. She's my mummy, you know."
This was quite a new idea to Chris. He pondered over it, then he said suddenly:
"Noel is very cocky!"