But Minnie said, "It is as much as we can expect, I suppose, from a chatterbox like you. Now, mother, tell her what she may say, and what you want to tell father," added Minnie.
"Very well, you may tell father all about Master Eustace and the cave, and let me tell the kind offer that has been made to take Eliza into the Vicarage nursery."
"Yes, yes," answered Selina. "I will remember that I am not to say a word about that. But I am glad I may tell about the cave, because that is the best bit of all;" and the little girl ran off by the shortest road to the railway station, for fear she should be late, and so miss her father.
[CHAPTER IX]
FANNY'S FATHER
BROWN had been away from home since the previous Monday morning, for he was now duly installed in the post previously held by Collins, and was likely to continue there.
It had all come about in the most natural way possible. When Brown went with the other men that first Monday morning, the foreman went to show him where Collins had been working; but almost as soon as the man saw what had been done, he exclaimed, "Collins never did this, surely!" and he called some of the other men to ask what they knew about it.
They each in turn disclaimed having touched this part of the work, and Collins being a more highly skilled workman, was scarcely likely to allow them to do it; but, at the same time, it was equally difficult to understand how he could put such work into this as he had done by what they saw before them.
"What is to be done with it, Brown?" said the foreman, scratching his head in perplexity, for he felt he had neglected his duty in not looking more closely after Collins and his work.
"There is nothing for it but to undo it," replied Brown.