Diana was silent for a moment.
"Anyhow," she said, with a little shake, "I isn't going to be fwightened. Let's sit close together, and let's think."
"Why can't we open that door and go out?" said Orion. "Why should we stay in this horrid room?"
"'Cos our foots is bare," said Diana.
"But don't let's mind that," said Orion; "let's go to the door and open it, and let's run back to Rectory. I'd rather have Aunt Jane and Miss Ramsay than this horrid room—and oh, Diana! my tumtum has got a big hole in it again."
"And mine has too," answered Diana. "I could eat a whole loaf, that I could."
"Hush!" whispered Orion; "somebody's coming. Oh, come close to me, Diana!"
"Now, you isn't to be fwightened, little boy," said Diana. "I is near you, and I isn't fwightened of nobody."
At that moment the door was flung open, and Mother Rodesia, accompanied by a tall, dark man, with a scowling face, came in.
"Mornin', little dears," said Mother Rodesia. "Now I have got something to say to you."