If the children had not been struck quite dumb by Aunt Maria's grotesque face, with its wrinkles, they must surely have shouted aloud! The third little mouse had sought refuge in Aunt Maria's bed!
Peregrine-Sarah and Mrs. Westley spent most of the night ministering vainly to Aunt Maria's nerves. The next day, unforgiving, she departed, bag and baggage.
Poor Isobel, thus burst the pretty bubble of her dreams! "I don't care, they've spoiled my whole life," she wailed, tears reddening her eyes.
"Who spoiled it—who did anything?" laughed Graham.
"What's this all about?" asked Uncle Johnny coming in at that moment.
Gyp told him what had happened. She talked too fast to permit of any interruption; her story was Gyp-like.
"You say, Uncle Johnny, did we break our promise just 'cause a poor little mouse hid under her pillow?"
"If it hadn't been for that miserable dog——" Isobel saw an opportunity for sweet revenge. "Mother, why don't you send it away? You made Graham give back that Airedale puppy Mr. Saunders sent him; I don't think it's fair to keep this horrid old mongrel!"
Jerry's face darkened. Graham came hotly to Pepper's rescue.
"He's not a mongrel—he's better'n any old Airedale! He's got more sense in his tail than Aunt Maria's got in her whole body! If he goes I'll—I'll—go, too!"