"Come on, Percy!" said Dicky.
The pair raced out in pursuit, banging the door behind them. Presently from abovestairs came the sound of renewed conflict; a few dull thuds and muffled crashes; and then--silence.
————
Lady Adela rose to her feet in awful majesty, and addressed the stunned and demoralised remnants of the tea-party.
"Is this a private asylum," she enquired in trumpet tones, "or is it not?"
Grandma Banks was the only member of her audience who replied.
"My late 'usband," she whimpered--"my late 'usband, Mr. Josiah Banks! Greatly respected in 'Itchin--greatly respec--"
Tears coursed slowly down her furrowed cheeks.
In a moment Tilly was kneeling beside her, with her arms round the frail old body, whispering gently and caressingly into her ear. There was a long silence, and Sylvia began to pull on her gloves.
"I think we had better be going," said Lady Adela.