Diana stole out of the room on tiptoe. Her brother Chris followed her. Hanging breathlessly over the staircase, they vainly tried to see what was going on in the hall. How could Granny have ordered them to stay up in the schoolroom till sent for, when an unknown mother and brother were arriving from India! It was too tantalizing! They could hear a great bustle in the hall, and then a little shrill voice made itself heard:
"I've gotted new boots with buttons."
"That's him," said Diana.
Chris danced up and down in excitement.
"We must see them," he cried.
"Then Granny or Nurse will only send us to bed. Of course Nurse is down there. I hear her voice. Mean old thing! As if we oughtn't to see Mother before she does!"
But the next moment Nurse came panting upstairs.
"You're to go down at once. Your mother wants to see you. She's in the drawing-room. Are you tidy?"
She passed her hands over their hair, pulled Diana's short brown velvet frock straight, then sent them down. And strange to say, they went very slowly.
"My heart is thumping!" whispered Diana.