Amelia did so. "What weather! Sincerely yours, Adela Mainwaring. That's all."
"Quite enough, too!" commented Mrs. Welwyn, who still had her doubts about the four bears.
"Any way," remarked Tilly energetically, "they are coming; and we have till five o'clock to get ready for them. Hallo, Perce!"
To the company assembled entered Mr. Percy Welwyn, immaculate in frock coat, brown boots, and a rakish bowler hat.
"What oh, Sis!" he exclaimed, kissing Tilly affectionately. "Back again from the Moated Grange--eh? My dinner ready, Mother?"
"Wait a minute, Percy dear," said Tilly quickly. "I want to talk to you--all of you. Sit down, everybody. Father!"
"My daughter?"
"Come and sit here, please!"
"A round-table conference?" enquired Mr. Welwyn amiably. "Capital!"
Tilly upon her own quarter-deck was a very different being from the frightened little alien whom we saw at Shotley Beauchamp. In two minutes the Welwyn family had meekly packed themselves round the octagonal table. Tilly took the chair.