Miss Morton did not answer, but she put on her eye-glasses again, and looked Jimmy up and down from head to foot.
'Ring the bell,' she said, and when he had rung the bell and the butler had come, Aunt Selina told him to send Hannah. Jimmy stood on the hearth-rug—whilst the black cat rubbed its back against his leg—wondering who Hannah might be. When she came, he saw that she was one of the servants, with a red, kind-looking face; and Aunt Selina told her to take him away and to give him some tea. When they were outside the door Hannah took his hand, and he felt that he liked having his hand taken, and she led him downstairs to a small room near the kitchen where she gave him such a tea as he had never had before. There were cake and jam, and hot scones, and buttered toast, and although it was not very long since dinner, Jimmy ate a good meal.
He told Hannah all about his father and mother and Winnie, and how that Miss Morton had said perhaps they were on their way home; and he told her he hoped that his aunt would send him to Chesterham.
'Because,' he said, 'I know I could go all right alone.'
Hannah put an arm round him and kissed him, but Jimmy did not much like being kissed; still he felt lonely this afternoon, and he did not mind it so much as he would have done sometimes, especially if any of his schoolfellows had been there.
'Now,' said Hannah presently, 'I think you had better go back to Miss Morton.'
'Must I?' asked Jimmy. 'Because I like being here best.'
But she led him back to the dining-room, and as soon as he entered the door Aunt Selina asked what time he went to bed.
'Eight o'clock at school,' he answered, 'but when I am at Aunt Mary's she always lets me stay till half-past.'
'Aunt Mary always spoils you,' said Miss Morton. 'Sit down,' she added, and Jimmy took a chair on the opposite side of the fire-place.