“Oh Mother! I don’t like it! It spoils Kirrin Island,” said George, in dismay.

“Darling, it can come down when your father has finished his work,” said her mother. “It’s a very flimsy, temporary thing. It can easily be pulled down. Father promised me he would scrap it as soon as his work was done. He says you can go across and see it, if you like. It’s really rather interesting.”

“Ooooh — I’d love to go and see it,” said Anne, at once. “It looks so queer. Is Uncle Quentin all alone on Kirrin Island, Aunt Fanny?”

“Yes, I don’t like him to be alone,” said her aunt. “For one thing I am sure he doesn’t get his meals properly, and for another, I’m always afraid some harm might come to him when he’s experimenting — and if he’s alone, how would I know if anything happened to him?”

“Well, Aunt Fanny, you could always arrange for him to signal to you each morning and night, couldn’t you?” said Julian, sensibly. “He could use that tower easily. He could flash a signal to you in the morning, using a mirror, you know — heliographing that he was all right — and at night he could signal with a lamp. Easy!”

“Yes. I did suggest that sort of thing,” said his aunt. “I said I’d go over with you all tomorrow, to see him and perhaps, Julian dear, you could arrange something of the sort with your uncle? He seems to listen to you now.”

“Gracious! Do you mean to say Father wants us to invade his secret lair, and actually to see his strange tower?” asked George, surprised. “Well — I don’t think I want to go. After all, it’s my island — and it’s horrid to see someone else taking possession of it.”

“Oh, George, don’t begin all that again,” said Anne, with a sigh. “You and your island! Can’t you even lend it to your own father! Aunt Fanny, you should have seen George when your letter came. She looked so fierce that I was quite scared!”

Everyone laughed except George and Aunt Fanny. She looked distressed. George was always so difficult! She found fault with her father, and got up against him time after time — but dear me, how very, very like him she was, with her scowls, her sudden temper, and her fierceness! If only George was as sweet-tempered and as easy-going as these three cousins of hers!

George looked at her mother’s troubled face, and felt ashamed of herself. She put her hand on her knee. “It’s all right Mother! I won’t make a fuss. I’ll try and keep my feelings to myself, really I will. I know Father’s work is important. I’ll go with you to the island tomorrow.”

Julian gave George a gentle clap on the back. “Good old George! She’s actually learned, not only to give in, but to give in gracefully! George, you’re more like a boy than ever when you act like that.”