Nesta joined her brother, and stared curiously at his unusually serious face.
"What do you mean, Eustace?" she demanded.
He did not speak, so she put her hand on his shoulder and gave him a little shake.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked.
"Mother," Eustace said quite shortly.
"Yes, I know," Nesta said; "but what about her?"
"Father's going away," Eustace said.
"Of course," Nesta said, rather scornfully; "you told me that before. And I know mother will be dreadfully dull without him."
"Dull!" exclaimed Eustace, knocking the tips of his toes impatiently against the woodwork.
"Yes, dull," said the girl.