She shook her head.
"No. The boys thought that they were nuisances so we got rid of them. The last went yesterday. She wouldn't do any work, so we thought she'd better go."
"Under those circumstances I think it probable that you were right. Then am I to understand that there are children?"
"Rather!"
As she spoke there came a burst of laughter from the other end of the passage. I spun round. No one was in sight. She explained.
"They're waiting round the corner. Perhaps we'd better have them here. You people, you'd better come and let me introduce you to Mr. Christopher."
A procession began to appear from round the corner of boys and girls. In front was a girl of about sixteen. She advanced with outstretched hand and an air of self-possession which took me at a disadvantage.
"I'm Bessie. I'm sorry we kept you waiting at the door, but the fact is that we thought it was Eliza's brother who had come to insult us again."
"Pray, don't mention it. I am glad that it was not Eliza's brother."
"So am I. He is a dreadful man."