Part 6 (2/2)

There'll be a big change in her”

”There hed

”What wouldn't I give to see the we shall hear,” reland--the whole lot of you I don't think I like the idea of Miss Dorothy coo”

”No such luck,” cried Nesta impulsively

”Alas! an i, but looked very grave

These feords, however, could only shadow the great excitement a mo little scraps froI can send you--it is such a grand opportunity--I wish I had ti will coirls and yourself, of course--'”

”Darling gran!” cried Nesta

”Then I needn't get the duster stuff,” said Mr Orban

”No, none of the clothes,” said Mrs Orban ”I knohat grannie is when she gets a chance to send a box”

Nesta and Peter went off in high spirits with Bob later in the day, Nesta exacting many promises that should Aunt Dorothy by some miracle appear before she was expected, Mrs Orban would send for the children back

Eustace let the party go without a pang; he was actually glad not to be going So taken up was he with the new idea that he even forgot his fear lest he had reat Bob

There was so ht of in the preparations for Miss Chase's arrival that even Mr Orban's departure two s later left no one depressed Up to the last Mrs Orban ondering whether there was anything she could think of that could be brought froreater comfort

”She will be used to such a different life,” Mrs Orban said ”I do hope she won'tit”

”Not she,” said Mr Orban heartily ”She will like it all the better if we es for her, but just let her see life as we live it After all, it is only for a ti old , as she and Eustace sat alone at late dinner, ”how does it feel to be 'reat burden of responsibility as uardian and protector?”

”I don't know, rave, for now that the la felt different again

The veranda ran round the entire house; only on one side was there a flight of steps down to the ground The drawing-roo the sea It was here Mrs

Orban and Eustace went after dinner, for the day had been exhaustingly hot, and now a slight breeze blew landwards

But for the rustling of leaves and a distant ht was very still As she o to bed so early, Mrs Orban did not have laht out on to the veranda; she and Eustace sat close together in the gloo-roo time, and was fast asleep For a while they could hear the servants clearing away the dinner; then there was silence even in that quarter, and they knew that Mary and Kate had gone to bed

”We ought to be going too, I think, my man,” Mrs Orban said softly

Eustace slipped down on to a stool at her feet and rested his head against her knee