"We'd expected such lots of fun when the Lennoxes came," said Peter.
"Sure, my dear," said Brownie, nodding commiseratingly.
"They're sure to be jolly, you see, being relations!" said Jan ingenuously; "and besides"—heedless of a warning touch from Robin, who didn't believe in talking over family matters, she went on confidingly—"we somehow hoped they might know what the mystery is. You know, Brownie, at least, but I don't suppose you've ever thought about it——"
"Have you?" asked Peter suddenly, as the old woman did not answer, but rose busily to poke the fire.
"Sure, my dear, and having been in service at the House before ever I married Brown——" began the old body a little confusedly.
"I say," Robin broke in, "look here, Jan and Peter. And, Brownie, I'm not sure——"
"There's the horn!" interrupted Peter suddenly. The clear sound came faintly over the water.
"Aye, the horn it is, sure enough," said Brownie in a relieved voice, "and hadn't you better be going to see?"
But she spoke to an empty kitchen: the three were gone. Down to the water's side they raced, and were just pushing off when their mother began to call to them. "You needn't come over; I can speak from here. Yes, it is what I feared. Dr. Greig says there's no mistake about it. And Donald says that there was a case in his form at school. Now, what I'm to do with you I don't know."
"Mother," began Robin, "listen; I know a tremendously good way out of the difficulty."