Within a few minutes Mrs. Thurston returned, got into the car and drove very swiftly down a stony, narrow lane bordered with pine trees. The twins, David and Macbeth were bumped about in the back, and although David tried once or twice to start a friendly conversation, Mrs. Thurston was too preoccupied to answer. When they joined the main road and turned left, Peter said: "We're going round the end of the mountain and just coming to the little village we saw from the top this afternoon... There's a jolly spring which comes bubbling out of the wall just here. Will you stop for a minute, please, Mrs. Thurston? I'd like them to see it."

"We're too late to stop now," she said curtly, and drove faster than ever. The twins muttered mutinously to each other, but nobody spoke again until Peter said: "Here's your lane, and if Mrs. Thurston drops you here you'll be all right? I'll ride over in the morning and bring your things, and I'd like to meet your mother, too."

As the car pulled up into the side of the road a tall man in uniform stepped from the hedge and grinned at the children as they got out.

"Hullo!" said Mr. Ingles. "Had a good day? We was wondering how you'd be getting on. Not been lost, I hope?"

He turned to Mrs. Thurston and then recognized Peter. "And you, too, Peter. Where did you find 'em? Pity young Tom couldn't join you to-day, but he has to work for his keep... I was wondering if I could beg a lift down to Onnybrook, as I'm on guard to-night? Thank you kindly..." and he got in before anybody could answer.

Mrs. Thurston did not look very pleased, but she did wave to them before driving off again quickly. As they walked up the darkening lane the bats came fluttering crazily round their heads. Macbeth trotted sedately between the twins and David wondered whether Mother would be really angry. They passed Ingles without seeing anyone, and David would not let them whistle or call for Tom.

At last they turned the corner by the stream, and there, leaning on their own gate, was Mrs. Morton waiting for them. The twins raced ahead and were pouring out an incoherent story by the time David arrived.

"I was beginning to get anxious," she smiled at him over their heads, "but it sounds as if you've had a lovely day. Is everything all right?... Tell me all about it at supper."

But at supper Mary fell asleep in her chair, and was furious when she was roused. And after, when the twins were both in bed, David found he was really too tired to do justice to their story. But when he was trying to tell his mother all about Mrs. Thurston, several unusual things occurred to him.