Part 32 (2/2)

”Quite right,” said Mr Orban; ”she needs one badly I am thankful she should have it”

There was no tie pulled up under the fine old portico

Again there was that sense of stiffness and aardness as the Dixons careet their cousins; there was no triumphant entry and welcome to the old home Mrs Chase drew Mrs Orban in; Mr Chase took Mr Orban; Becky, sleepy and perfectly placid, hisked away by a grave-faced, elderly wo, sir,” to Peter, and disappeared through a red baize door, whither the little fellow had to follow

”We're to have meals with the little ones in the schoolroo ”Coirl, and only horandparents except late dinner; but the arrival of the Orbans put an end to this It was felt that the perpetual presence of such a crowd of youngsters at e was typical of the whole difference these unwelcouests would make in their lives

”Couldn't we just have one look round first?” said Nesta, staring about her in proprietary ad the horns and weapons, the faone Chases ”I would like just to see the secret chah that door and up soly

”No, it isn't,” Brenda said, with a look of surprise; ”you go just the other way But there isn't ti to-morrow”

Nesta looked taken aback

”I don't expect I shall need ,” she said, with a little air of importance

Her cousins both stared at her

”You certainly will,” said Herbert decidedly; ”it isn't at all an easy house to find one's way about in, I can tell you You would go blundering into all sorts of places you oughtn't to”

”Places we oughtn't to?” repeated Eustace in bewilderment

”Yes, the servants' quarters, you know,” said Herbert, as if he were talking to a child of eight

”Aren't you allowed to go into the servants' quarters?” asked Nesta wonderingly

”Oh, we're _allowed_, of course,” said Herbert; ”but one doesn't go I dare say things were rather h”

”What do you h it rather, hadn't you?” said the elder boy

”I had a sort of idea you all had ether”

”With the servants?” questioned Eustace

”Yes,” said Herbert, with perfect gravity

Eustace flushed deeply

”Oh, of course,” he said, ”coolies and every one had h”

”Eustace!” exclai what had happened to him all of a sudden

The cousins stared at hi for a moment what he had said