'Oh, aren't we, though?' said Guy; 'who says so? Not mother!'
'No—Clarence; he said I was to tell you to go on duty in the drawing-room.'
'What bosh!' said Guy. 'As if any Indians would come there! I don't care what Clarence says, I shall go in the stockade!'
'So shall I! 'said Jack. 'Now let's get that piece of matting, and go down sharp—the evening star's out already.'
Poor Cecily was in despair; what was to be done when they were so obstinate as this?
'I know where there's some beautiful matting,' she said.
'Where? Tell us, quick!'
'Come with me, and I'll show you.' She led the way along a corridor to the wing where the billiard-room was. 'Wait till I see if it's there still,' she said, and went into the billiard-room and looked around. 'Yes, it is there,' she told them as she came out.
'I don't see it, Cecily; where?' they cried from within.
Cecily shut the door softly, and turned the key (which she had managed to abstract on entering) in the outer lock.