It was not, however, the end of the visit, for at that instant the sound of heavy wheels was heard, and cheers in the street, and, looking out of the window, Mrs. Avory saw that the Slowcoach had already arrived, escorted (as it had left) by all the children of Chiswick, and a moment later Janet burst into the room, crying, "Mother, do come and see!"
She pulled up stiff on observing the strangers.
"Janet, dear," said Mrs. Avory, "there has been a serious mistake. The Slowcoach is not ours at all. It belongs to this gentleman's children."
Janet gasped. "But it was sent to us," she said at last.
"No," said Mr. Amory; "I beg your pardon, young lady, but it was sent to us. It came to you in error."
Janet looked questioningly at her mother, and Mrs. Avory nodded yes. Hester and Gregory now entered the room to insist on their mother either coming out or giving leave for some of the street children to be allowed to go inside the caravan. But Mr. Amory interposed. "No," he said. "I prefer not. They are rarely clean."
Gregory looked at him in dismay.
"Mother!" he exclaimed.
"Janet," whispered Mrs. Avory, who knew her youngest son, "take Gregory away, and keep him out of sight till they go."
"But we," Mr. Amory resumed, "will examine the caravan. I suppose there was no inventory."