It was a long time before the members of the happy excited group had gained some measure of control over themselves. Then Don seated his mother in a chair, on the arm of which he sat, holding her hand as though he felt he must keep close grip on her, lest she should vanish and he awake to find it all a dream.
The others drew up their chairs, and it was then for the first time that Don noticed that Teddy was not with them.
“Where’s Teddy?” he asked, as he looked around the room.
“Outside in the hall, I imagine,” replied the professor. “He probably feels shy about coming into what is so strictly a family party.”
“Who’s Teddy?” asked Mrs. Sturdy, with a smile.
“A friend of mine who came along with us,” explained Don. “We met him when we were in the Sahara, and it was his father who first gave us news of the sinking of the Mercury. He hasn’t any mother. He’s a splendid fellow, Mother. You’ll love him.”
“Of course, I shall, if he’s a friend of yours,” said Mrs. Sturdy. “And I’ll be a mother to him, as far as I can, if he will let me.”
“May I bring him in?” asked Don eagerly.
“Surely.”
Don dashed out of the door, found Teddy leaning against the wall of the corridor, grabbed him and dragged him in.