The girl laid an appealing hand on his arm.
"Don't leave me, Dicky!" she whispered.
The Freak replied by tucking her arm under his own and propelling her vigorously up to the turn of the stair.
"Don't be a little juggins," he said affectionately. "I can't come and change your shoes and stockings for you, can I?"
Miss Welwyn, acquiescing in this eminently correct view of the matter, smiled submissively.
"All right," she said. "Au revoir!"
She ran lightly upstairs after the disappearing Sylvia, turning to wave her hand to Dicky before she disappeared.
Dicky, who had waited below for that purpose, acknowledged the salute, and turned to find Mrs. Carmyle at his elbow.
"Dicky," announced that small Samaritan, "I am going up, too. Sylvia might bite your ewe lamb."
The Freak smiled gratefully.