A loud rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat echoed through the house.
"That's them!" exclaimed the Atom, with ungrammatical excitement.
"Oh, Tommy, please be quick!"
A minute later they ran down to the hall, where they found Denis declaring he wouldn't wait any longer.
Stewart gave his mother a shy little nod, and they started.
CHAPTER XVII
Nell hardly paused to breathe. Standing before her easel, the easel dragged into the window, the curtains tugged back, she worked away with a rapid brush.
"Mr. Lancaster, missansir!" Sarah announced with an air.
"Oh, how are you? Do you mind waiting a minute?" She did not even glance round.
Silence reigned.