He did not know whether the American rode away again, or whether his aunt made a bed for him on a couch downstairs. In fact, when he awoke the next morning, he really wondered if it had all been a dream.

He asked his aunt, when he went down to breakfast. “Did that man who telephoned come last night?” he said.

His aunt nodded her head. “Yes. But please say nothing about it. I don’t want anyone to know. He’s gone now.”

“Was it important?” asked Dick. “Julian seemed to think it was, when he answered the phone.”

“Yes — it was important,” said Aunt Fanny. “But not in the way you think. Don’t ask me anything now, Dick. And keep out of your uncle’s way. He’s rather cross this morning.”

“Then something must have gone wrong with this new work he’s doing,” thought Dick, and went to warn the others.

“It sounds rather exciting,” said Julian. “I wonder what’s up?”

They kept out of Uncle Quentin’s way. They heard him grumbling loudly to his wife about something, they heard him slam down his desk-lid as he always did when he was bad-tempered, and then he settled down to his morning’s work.

Anne came running to the others after a time, looking surprised. “George! I’ve just been into our room and what do you think! Aunt Fanny’s put a camp-bed over in the corner — a camp-bed made up with blankets and everything! It looks an awful squash with two other beds as well in the room — mine and yours!”

“Gosh — someone else is coming to stay then — a girl,” said Dick. “Or a woman. Aha! I expect it’s a governess engaged to look after you and Anne, George, to see that you behave like little ladies!”

“Don’t be an idiot,” said George, surprised and cross at the news. “I’m going to ask Mother what it’s all about. I won’t have anyone else in our room. I just will not!”

But just as she was marching off to tell her mother this, the study door downstairs opened and her father bellowed out into the hall, calling his wife.

“Fanny! Tell the children I want them. Tell them to come to my study AT ONCE!”

“Gracious — he does sound cross. Whatever can we have done?” said Anne, scared.

Chapter Three

Annoying news

The four children and Timmy trooped down the stairs together. George’s mother was in the hall, just going to call them.

“Oh, there you are,” she said. “Well, I suppose you heard that you’re wanted in the study. I’m coming too. And listen—please don’t make any more fuss than you can help. I’ve had quite enough fuss made by Quentin!”

This was very mysterious! What had Aunt Fanny to do with whatever trouble there was? Into the study went the five, Timmy too, and saw Uncle Quentin standing on the hearthrug looking as black as thunder.

“Quentin, I could have told the children,” began his wife, but he silenced her with a scowl exactly like the one George sometimes put on.