"We made Pam describe which room you were in," added David. "I say, it's a bit of beastly bad luck for you! Pretty stiff, I call it, to be shut up here!"
"It's too ghastly for words!"
"Cheer oh! We've brought you something. Look!" David felt in his pocket, and produced a paper bag full of toffee and a copy of Tit Bits. "It'll do to read. We'd have got you more, only we didn't happen to have much money with us."
"It was lucky we met Pam before we got into the train," commented Anthony. "We were earlier than usual at the station to-day. As a rule we tear up at the last moment."
"It was ripping of you to come!"
"Well, we couldn't desert you, old sport, at such a pinch."
"I don't believe anyone could have such decent brothers." Avelyn gazed at him through the gathering darkness with admiration.
At that moment a tread of footsteps and a rattle of crockery sounded in the passage.
"Goody! It's my tea coming!" she gasped.
There was not time for the boys to make their exit through the window. While the door handle was turning they fled to what cover they could find. David took shelter behind the pedestal of Apollo, and Anthony crouched in a corner among some drawing boards. Fortunately it was Miss Dickens who entered, and Miss Dickens was short-sighted.