"After manoeuvring the barricade outside successfully you've got to stay, old man," Denis declared. "Tell us what you're doing, anyway, Nell."
But Nell was interested to see the ruefulness in her visitor's face change suddenly to keen amusement. She followed his look to the head of Sheila Pat, which, adorned dusterwise, was crowned with her pig-tail sticking straight up on top out of the duster. She gave a little laugh, and he laughed too. She turned to Denis and explained why they were cleaning out the room. Then Ted Lancaster astonished them all.
"I say," he burst out eagerly, "I wish you'd let me stay and lend a hand!"
Sheila Pat, squatting on her heels in the middle of the floor, with a short brush, looked up at him approvingly.
"Come along in and shut the door, there's a good boy!"
The good boy's eyes twinkled as he obeyed. He removed his extremely smart coat and professed his readiness to begin.
"By the way," observed Denis, the corners of his mouth twitching humorously, "I'd better introduce him first!"
"Oh—yes," said Nell, blushing suddenly.
Ted Lancaster bowed gravely to her and with almost deeper gravity to Sheila Pat.
"That's another sister over there in the cupboard," Denis remarked. "Molly's fond of cupboards."