Aunt Fanny had again packed them a wonderful lunch. “An extra good one to make up for a disappointment,” she said, smiling. Anne had given her a hug for that. Here they had all been making such a fuss about having someone extra — and Aunt Fanny had been the only one to feel a real kindness for a child in danger.

They had enough food for tea too, and did not get home until the evening. The sea was calm and blue, and the children could see almost to the bottom of the water, when they leaned over the side of the boat. The sky was the colour of harebells as they rowed into the bay and up to the beach.

“Will Berta be there yet, do you suppose?” said George, mentioning the girl for the first time since they had set out that morning.

“I shouldn’t think so,” said Julian. “Your father said she would be coming tonight — and I imagine that as she’s coming by boat, it will be dark — so that she won’t be seen.”

“I expect she’ll be feeling very scared,” said Anne. “It must be horrid to be sent away to a strange place, to strange people. I should hate it!”

They beached the boat and left it high and dry. Then they made their way to Kirrin Cottage. Aunt Fanny was pleased to see them.

“You are in nice time for supper,” she said. “Though if you ate all I gave you today for your picnics, you’ll surely find it difficult to eat very much supper.”

“Oh, I’m terribly hungry,” said Dick. He sniffed, holding his nose up in the air just as Timmy often did. “I believe you’ve been making your special tomato soup, with real tomatoes, Aunt Fanny!”

“You’re too good at guessing,” said his aunt with a laugh. “It was meant to be a surprise! Now go and wash and make yourselves tidy.”

“Berta hasn’t come yet, I suppose, has she?” asked Julian.

“No,” said his aunt. “And we’ll have to think of another name for her, Julian. It would never do to call her Berta now.”

Uncle Quentin didn’t appear for supper. “He is having his in the study by himself,” said Aunt Fanny.

There was a sigh of relief. Nobody had looked forward to seeing Uncle Quentin that night. It took him quite a long time to get over any annoyance!

“How sunburnt you all are!” said Aunt Fanny, looking round the table. “George, your nose is beginning to peel.”

“I know,” said George. “I wish it didn’t. Anne’s never does. Gosh, I’m sleepy!”

“Well, go to bed as soon as you’ve finished your supper,” said her mother.

“I’d like to. But what about this Berta?” said George. “What time is she coming? It would be rather mean to be in bed when she arrives.”

“I’ve no idea what time she will come,” said her mother. “But I shall wait up, of course. There’s no need for anyone else to. I expect she’ll be tired and scared, so I shall give her something to eat — some of the tomato soup, if you’ve left any!—and then pop her into bed. I expect she would be quite glad not to have to meet any of you tonight.”