“We’ll see what tomorrow brings,” said Mrs Johnson and said good night. The boys said good night to the three girls and went off to the stable.

“Gosh, we’ve forgotten to undress and wash and everything,” said Julian, half-asleep. “What’s the matter with us at this place? I can’t seem to keep my eyes open after half-past eight!”

The next day certainly brought a few things. It brought a letter for Henry that filled her with disgust. It brought two letters for Mrs Johnson that made her start fussing and worrying. It brought a telegram for Captain Johnson that sent him down to the station at once.

Henrietta’s letter was from two of her great-aunts. They announced that as they would be near the stables that day and the following, they would like to fetch her and take her out with them.

“Blow!” said Henrietta, ungratefully. “Great-Aunts Hannah and Lucy would choose this very week to come along and see me! Just when Julian and Dick are here, and everything is such fun. Can’t I phone and say I’m too busy, Mrs Johnson?”

“Certainly not,” said Mrs Johnson, shocked. “That would be very rude, Henry, and you know it. You’re having the whole of the Easter holidays here, and yet you think you can’t spare two days. As a matter of fact I shall be glad if your aunts do take you off my hands for a couple of days.”

“Why?” asked Henry, astonished. “Have I been a nuisance?”

“Oh no, but I’ve had two letters this morning telling me that four children are coming unexpectedly,” said Mrs Johnson. “They were not supposed to come till three of the others left this week-end, but there you are! These things happen. Where I am to put them I really don’t know!”

“Oh dear!” said Anne. “Do you think Dick and Julian ought to go home, Mrs Johnson? You didn’t plan for them, you know, they just came.”

“Yes. I know,” said Mrs Johnson. “But we’re more or less used to that, and I do like having bigger boys, I must say, they’re such a help. Now let me see. What can we do?”

Captain Johnson came in, looking hurried. “I’ve just had a telegram, dear,” he said. “I’ve got to go down to the station. Those two new horses have arrived. Two days before I wanted them - what a nuisance!”

“This is one of those days!” said Mrs Johnson, desperately. “Good gracious, how many shall we be in the house? And however many horses shall we have? No, I can’t count this morning. I’m all muddle-headed!”

Anne felt that it was a pity that she and George and the boys couldn’t immediately pack and go home. After all, poor Mrs Johnson had thought that she and George would have gone home three or four days ago, and instead of that they had stayed on and the boys had arrived as well!

Anne hurried to find Julian. He would know what to do. She found him with Dick, carrying straw for the stables.