It had been arranged before Inez left that the children should come over to spend the following Saturday afternoon with her. Mrs. Inglefield had asked Julia if it would be convenient to her, and she had made no objection.
When Chris heard about it, he looked doubtful.
"I don't know that I care about going to tea with a girl," he said.
His mother smiled.
"It won't hurt you, my boy. Inez has a most beautiful home, and you will enjoy seeing it. I used to go to the Park, as it is called, when I was a little girl, and I loved it. I am afraid there are no deer now in the Park, as there used to be, but the gardens are delightful, and perhaps she will take you up to what we used to call the battlements. It is a walk round the roof with a wall outside and places where the cannons used to be fired. It is like an old castle."
This sounded interesting, and when Saturday came, Chris accompanied Diana and Noel without a murmur.
They had to walk a good mile before they came to it.
Chris felt he was in charge of the party, and squared his shoulders as he marched along the road.
"Don't you think Inez is a pretty name?" Diana asked him. "Mother says she is Spanish—at least, her mother is. I can't think why she isn't happy living in a big beautiful house; but she told me that all the rooms were shut up, and that she has only one small room to live in. And she has all her meals alone. Julia likes to have hers with the other servants. It must be very dull for her."
"I wish she had a brother," said Chris; "I wonder if she could play cricket? We might try a game."