"Oh, don't, mummie! don't go," Peter pleaded eagerly; "perhaps it's a black-fellow."
"Nonsense, darling," Mrs. Orban said. "You can stay here with Eustace and Nesta if you like, but of course I must go and see what the noise was."
"I'm going with mother," said Eustace sturdily.
"So am I," said Nesta.
"We'll all go," said Mrs. Orban cheerily; "and I am quite sure Mary will think us mad when she sees us."
So down the passage they went, Peter trembling and clinging to his mother. Straight into Mrs. Orban's room they all trooped, and of course, when they got there, there was no one to be seen—not even Mary turning down the beds.
On they went into the boys' room, and all was peaceful there; for Peter had been too frightened to yell till he reached the dining-room, and Sandy had not been roused.
"There, you see," said Mrs. Orban; "what did I tell you? There are far too many of us in the house now for any one to dare to come."
She went on into the kitchen still holding Peter, and Mary and Kate certainly did look surprised.
"Master Peter has been having a nightmare," Mrs. Orban explained, "and I want to reassure him. Were you in my room just now, Mary?"