"The water comes down in four big pipes," she said. "We shall come to them in a minute."

Soon they came to a rough wooden bridge and Peter showed them the pipes, now almost hidden in the bracken. They crossed and turned to the left and climbed again towards the cottage.

Mr. Sterling was in the garden when they arrived and when Peter told him who they were and how they had met, he removed his hat and twinkled at them.

"Getting very crowded up here, we are," he said. "I heard tell down at Onnybrook the other day that Ingles has a lad from London too. You'll be having company, lass."

Then he seemed to notice the twins for the first time. He looked at them very carefully, produced a pair of spectacles and had another look.

"Come along in for a bit," he said, "and we'll see what we can find."

The living-room was the tidiest, cleanest place they had ever seen. Everything gleamed. A table with a white cloth was laid for two places. Potatoes were bubbling in a shining saucepan on the little range and a brilliantly polished brass clock on the mantlepiece struck one as Peter came back from stabling Sally.

David wanted to ask about the reservoir but Mr. Sterling seemed too occupied with the dinner to pay much attention to him and, in any case, Peter soon took charge of the situation.

She explained that the visitors had brought their own sandwiches and that all they needed was three more plates and places at the table. There were only two more chairs, so David sat on a hard, black, shiny sofa and undid the haversack while the twins watched him hungrily. He was rather nervous about spilling crumbs and wasn't surprised when Mr. Sterling, after dishing up the potatoes, went to a cupboard for newspaper and spread the sheets on the floor.

Mary got a drink for Macbeth and then they all settled down to an unusual meal. Mr. Sterling did not say much, but once or twice David caught him peeping over his glasses at the twins who were eating like starving explorers.

When they had finished lunch Peter explained to her father that they were going up to the Mynd and possibly they would all be back to Hatchholt for tea,

"Do as you please, my dears," he said, "but just help tidy up a bit first and come back when you like. You're always welcome here if you keep the place clean."

So they helped wash up and then Peter suggested that they go up by the reservoir and sit in the sunshine for a little before they started on the final climb. Leaving their haversacks and satchels and Dickie's kettle in the house they followed Peter along a steep path then up a few steps to the wall of the dam and a little red-brick house which was built at the edge of the water.