"Fare thee well! I go to attack bolts and bars for you!"
He made for the gate, which only opened from the inside, swarmed airily up, and disappeared with a wave of his hand.
"Is Miss Hadlow quite well now, Aunt Kezia?" queried Nell, breaking the awful silence.
"No! When I read in your letter that still Mrs. Barclay had not returned, I considered it my duty to come back! It is well I did so!"
"I must be off," said Ted, turning to shake hands with Nell.
"Will you please to remain, Master Lancaster? I wish to have some questions answered once we get into the house."
That emphasised "Master" tickled him hugely; he gave Nell's arm a surreptitious pinch as he responded courteously that he would be pleased to stay.
"I'm sorry we kept you waiting, Aunt Kezia," began Nell again, valiantly.
"Eileen, I do not wish to speak to any of you till we get inside the house!"
Nell gave a little helpless gurgle, and tried to turn it into a cough. So they stood in dead silence and looked at each other. Nell felt that in another moment she would shriek aloud with mirth. Sheila Pat's small shoulders shook every now and then, and Sheila Pat's eyes studied Miss Kezia's face with a most unholy glee in their wicked depths. Suddenly Molly, in a paroxysm of nervousness, burst out:—