“We’re going to stay to tea here, Father,” said George.

“No, I’d rather you didn’t,” said her father, getting up. “Come on — I’ll take you to your boat.”

“But Father — I haven’t been on my island for ages!” said George, indignantly. “I want to stay here a bit longer. I don’t see why I shouldn’t.”

“Well, I’ve had enough interruption to my work,” said her father. “I want to get on.”

“We shan’t disturb you, Uncle Quentin,” said Dick, who was still terribly curious to know where his uncle had his workroom. Why wouldn’t he tell them! Was he just being annoying? Or didn’t he want them to know?

Uncle Quentin led them all firmly towards the little cove. It was plain that he meant them to go and to go quickly.

“When shall we come over and see you again, Quentin?” asked his wife.

“Not till I say so,” said her husband. “It won’t take me long now to finish what I’m on. My word, that dog’s got a rabbit at last!”

“Oh Timmy!” yelled George in distress. Timmy dropped the rabbit he had actually managed to grab. It scampered away unhurt. Timmy came to his mistress looking very sheepish.

“You’re a very bad dog. Just because I took my eye off you for half a second! No, it’s no good licking my hand like that. I’m cross.”

They all came to the boat. “I’ll push her off,” said Julian. “Get in, all of you. Well, good-bye, Uncle Quentin. I hope your work goes well.”

Everyone got into the boat. Timmy tried to put his head on George’s knee, but she pushed it away.

“Oh, be kind to him and forgive him,” begged Anne. “He looks as if he’s going to cry.”

“Are you ready?” cried Julian. “Got the oars, George? Dick, take the other pair.”

He shoved the boat off and leapt in himself. He cupped his hands round his mouth. “Don’t forget to signal, sir! We’ll be watching out morning and evening!”

“And if you forget, I shall come over the very next day!” called his wife.

The boat slid away down the little inlet of water, and Uncle Quentin was lost to sight. Then round the low wall of rocks went the boat, and was soon on the open sea.

“Ju, watch and see if you can make out where Uncle Quentin is, when we’re round these rocks,” said Dick. “See what direction he goes in.”

Julian tried to see his uncle, but the rocks just there hid the cove from sight, and there was no sign of him at all.

“Why didn’t he want us to stay? Because he didn’t want us to know his hiding-place!” said Dick. “And why doesn’t he want us to know? Because it’s somewhere we don’t know, either!”

“But I thought we knew every single corner of my island,” said George. “I think it’s mean of Father not to tell me, if it’s somewhere I don’t know. I can’t think where it can be!”