"We'll have breakfast without the twins. Let them sleep on. They haven't had much rest since they came here, and I think it's about time you all quietened down after these adventures."

It was then that David had his stupendous idea and nearly blurted it out to his mother. He knew the others would not really mind, but just in time he remembered that he ought to consult them first, so he contented himself by saying, "Can you and Agnes come out for a sort of picnic with us this afternoon about four o'clock? We're going to ask some other people as well, so perhaps we could have some potatoes and sandwiches and things? Could we?"

"Is that a proper invitation?" his mother smiled. "And how much food do you want?"

"Yes - I think it is. We want you, of course, Mother, and I don't think we ought to leave Agnes behind... Do you mind if I talk to the others first, though, about how many there are to come? Peter will be here soon, anyway."

"Perhaps that would be best," she said. "It would be a great honour for me to have an adventure with my family. I don't seem to have seen much of them since we got here."

David looked at her in surprise. Then, as they went in to breakfast, he did wonder a trifle guiltily whether perhaps they had been inclined to overlook her. And he thought, too, that he certainly must write a long letter to his father tomorrow and tell him all that had happened.

The twins came down the stairs in step, looking slightly surly and sleepy just as Agnes was clearing away. One glance at them confirmed David's suspicions that this was to be one of "their days." There may, yesterday, have been a few brief moments when Mary's heart turned towards Bill Ward to the temporary exclusion of her twin, but this was not to be a day of such infidelities. Dickie glanced at the almost empty table, and their mouths opened in protest. Mrs. Morton cut them short.

"Good morning, darlings. You've just come at the right time. You were such a help sleeping on this morning. Thank you very much... Agnes will bring in your eggs in a minute."

Slightly nonplussed, they kissed her and sat down.

Then Dickie said suddenly: "What have you been plannin', David?"

"We heard you saying something to Mummy," added Mary.

David almost blushed with surprise, but before he could defend himself there came the peewit's whistle from outside, and Peter rode through the gate. She tied up Sally and ran over to the open window.

"Good morning, everybody. Sorry if I'm early, but I couldn't wait. I've had my breakfast this morning, and when I passed Ingles, Tom was just off to work and said would we go down and see him presently, as he's too busy to come up here."