Then she disappeared downstairs.
“Oh dear! Oh dear!” I said.
“For goodness’ sake,” said Alex, moving away from the table, “don’t begin to snivel, whatever you do, Dumps. She’s a mighty silly old woman.”
“Oh, what a supper!” said Charley.
He gave a sigh of profound satisfaction. After a minute he said, “Whatever sort of a step-mother she is, I am going to eat! I say, what a supper!”
He had scarcely uttered the words before the sound of a cab stopping outside the front door was distinctly heard.
“Shall we all go into the hall?” asked Alex.
“I’m not going to stir,” I answered.
“Nor I,” said Charley. “I can’t keep my eyes off the supper. I’m awfully afraid it’s a sort of fairy feast, and will vanish if I don’t keep gazing and gazing at it.”
The bell was pulled violently. Hannah came hurrying up the stairs. She bustled into the hall. Charley went on tiptoe to the door of the parlour. He came back again on tiptoe, with his eyes rounder than ever.