"Have you?" said Ronald. "And is he coming to see you one day?"
"No—I'm goin' to 'im. Don't let's talk about it now."
Ronald sat down on the side of Giles's crimson and gold bed, and glanced round the room. Connie lit a paraffin lamp and put it on the table. In his first excitement at seeing Giles, Ronald forgot the mad terror which had awakened in him at the sound of Uncle Stephen's voice. But now he remembered.
"I have come to stay," he remarked emphatically.
"Oh no, Ronald, you can't," exclaimed Connie.
"I am not going back," exclaimed Ronald. "Giles, I needn't, need I? There's a dreadful man coming to-morrow, and he's going to take me away from my darling aunty. I won't go. I'll hide here with you, Giles."
"Will yer?" said Giles. "That 'ull be real pain to yer aunty, won't it?"
"Real pain?" said Ronald. "But Connie can tell her. Connie needn't say where I am. She can just tell that I heard Uncle Stephen's voice, and that I am hiding. I can't go back, can I, Giles—can I?"
"Dunno," said Giles; but a wistful expression came into his face.
"Why do you look like that?" asked Ronald.