"Mother said we were all to apologize to you, Mr. ' Hick," said Pip. And, with one voice, the children chanted in a most mournful tone, "We apologize, Mr. Hick!"
"Hmmm," said Mr. Hick, looking more amiable."! should think so, indeed!"
"You said you wouldn't tell any one," burst out Bets. "You broke your promise."
Mr. Hick didn't consider that promises made to children need be kept at all, so he didn't feel guilty or say he was sorry. He was about to say something when several aeroplanes passed over the garden, rather low. The noise made him jump and Buster growled. Larry ran to the window. He was extremely good at spotting any kind of aeroplane that flew overhead.
"It's those Tempests again!" he cried. "I've only seen them twice over here. Look at their curious tail-fins."
"They were over here two or three days ago," said Mr.
Ill
Hick, with interest. "I saw them. There were seven. Are there seven today?"
Larry counted them. All the children looked out of the window - except Fatty. He didn't look out of the window. He looked at Mr. Hick with a most bewildered expression on his face. He opened his mouth as if to speak, and then firmly closed it again. But he still went on'Staring at Mr. Hick, very deep in thought.
The Tempests came over again, roaring low. "Let's go out and see them," said Larry. "We can see them better out-of-doors. Good-bye, Mr. Hick."