Chris looked ashamed of himself, then he straightened himself and met his mother's eyes frankly:
"I'm sorry, Mums, but he is a little rotter. And he could have walked home quite well. It was at the four cross corner by the Green Farm."
"That is nearly two miles away. I shall have to go and look for him."
Nurse had appeared, and protested as she heard her mistress say this.
"Indeed, you shall not, ma'am. You're much too tired. Master Chris must go himself."
"I can't," said Chris. "The little beast kicked and kicked at my bicycle with all his might, and something is bent, it won't go properly. It began to go wrong just before I got home."
"You can walk as well as your mother," said Nurse sternly.
Mrs. Inglefield hesitated. She was feeling very tired. And Diana's quick eyes had seen it.
"Chris, I'll come with you a part of the way, anyhow," she said. "I'm not as tired as Mums, and I dare say we shall meet him. And I want to tell you all about a strange little girl we met to-day."
"That's right," said Mrs. Inglefield. "I really think I must let you go. It is very silly of me, but I'm not a good walker. I got out of the way of it in India. I hope you will meet him on the way."