Part 35 (2/2)
”I've had the pleasure of his society for about that space of tiive an account of how many black men and how many chinkees I employ about the place; whether I wouldn't rather live in Queensland if I had a hundred pounds ofI sleep in the winter I don't knohy he wants to know that, I am sure”
”Oh,” said Peter quickly, ”because Bob says people in England sleep like dor knockers on the door”
”I see,” said Mr Chase gravely, ”your friend Bob seeland than I do--probably because I sleep right through the winter Now, if you have asked everything you can think of, perhaps you will take your tribe aith you, Peter Perky”
The twins jumped violently at the name, and stared at the speaker in astonishment No one but Aunt Dorothy had ever called Peter that
”I should like to know if you roll up when you sleep, or lie flat,”
Peter said, not feeling at all anxious to go ”Aunt Dorothy always called o, Peter,” interrupted Mr Chase hurriedly; ”I am busy”
Herbert took the child by the shoulder and marched him out of the room
”Peter, how could you?” exclaimed Brenda, when they reached the schoolroo puzzled
”Why, speak about poor Aunt Dorothy before grandfather,” said the girl ”nobody does; he can't bear it”
”Can't he?” said Peter mildly; ”but he asked me a lot of questions about her himself And I told hi my life in the wreck”
”What!” interrupted the cousins in a breath; ”she did what?”
”Didn't you know?” said Eustace
”We don't know anything except what that awful cable said,” Brenda said in a low, shaky voice
Between them the twins and Peter told the whole story Herbert sat at the table, his head buried in his hands Brenda listened with her back to the speakers, looking away out of the
There was a long pause
”Then,” said Herbert huskily at last, ”if it hadn't been for Peter, Aunt Dorothy would never have been drowned”
CHAPTER XIX
THE LAST STRAW
The words fell like a thunderbolt into the roup
Eustacearm round him, as if he had been struck The little fellow himself looked utterly bewildered
”How can you say such a wicked, wicked thing?” exclaimed Nesta in astonishment; ”just as if it was poor Peter's fault”
”Well, wasn't it?” demanded Herbert bitterly, his face still hidden ”If Peter hadn't been at the other side of the shi+p--if Aunt Dorothy had not had to go away and find hiot into the boat and went away and left her!”