"Shall you have dinner with the children or not?" asked Arthur.
"Sometimes, perhaps; but I have my aunt to think of too; and I fancy we shall perhaps make our lunch when the children have dinner, and then dine alone at six o'clock."
"I am sure that would be wise," said Mrs. Arundel.
The kitchen was next inspected, and there they found the new cook, and Ellen, who looked delighted to see them all again.
"You must see Mrs. Fenton's cottage presently," said Christina.
Next came the bedrooms. There were six—Miss Arbuthnot's, Christina's, a spare room, and a servants' room, while two of the largest had been reserved for the children.
The walls of these were painted a pale green, and "could be washed," as Ada explained. The little beds and cribs were covered by snowy counterpanes, and were so arranged that a single strip of green carpet could be put down the middle of each room. The blinds were green, and the window-hangings, which were devised to take down and put up "with no trouble," were white. The china was also green and white, and everything looked fresh, and countrified, and peaceful.
Tom was deposited in some convenient place in each room in turn, and took a keen interest in it all.
"It is beautiful," said Mrs. Arundel, pleased.
"And here is a bath-room," said Ada, opening a door close by, "with hot and cold water laid on."