Peter flopped down beside him and pushed him over so that she could see better. Then she gasped as Uncle Micah appeared with a twin holding each hand. Although they could not hear what was being said, it seemed that an animated conversation was in progress. Any conversation in which the twins took part was likely to be lively, as she knew, but she was surprised to see Uncle Micah pat Dickie on the head and then grimace behind his beard.

"Look at him, David! When he does that, he's smiling. He is, really! I saw him do it once before... But, David - they mustn't come here. We left the barn doors open, and I don't want him to see what we've done. He may have forgotten that he told Aunt Carol we could use the barn. Let's close the doors before they come round this way."

They rushed down.

"You take one door, Peter, and I'll do the other. Quick!"

Mary's clear treble sounded very near as they swung the doors together and stood with their ears to the crack.

"Now we've really met you we think we'd better call you Uncle Micah..."

"Oh, yes," said Dickie. "Everyone calls us by our proper names, like Dickie and Mary, and not Morton, like at school. So it'll be easier if we say Uncle..."

"'Specially as we'll see each other such a lot while we're here," Mary continued brightly. "Just you let us know when you're feeling lonely, and we'll come along and be with you and bring Mackie, too..."

"We don't mind a bit... It's really a pleasure. We often cheer up people. We cheer up Uncle Jasper Sterling - Peter's daddy, you know - quite a lot..."

Uncle Micah's bass rumble died away and Peter gestured upstairs. From the look-out window they saw the oddly-assorted group turn through the white gate leading to the potato field. Macbeth, a disconsolate little black shadow, followed this unexciting procession without enthusiasm.

David whistled. "I believe they've done it again, Peter. They're uncanny. They can charm anybody - but I'd like to know why they're taking so much trouble over him."

"So would I, David. But if they can do anything to stop Uncle looking so gloomy and make him like an ordinary, decent sort of uncle who would be glad to have people like us here having fun in his barns - well, then, it'll be a good thing if they stay out with him all the morning. Oh, look! here's Aunt Carol. Let's go down."

Mrs. Sterling was leaning on the gate watching one large and two small figures disappear down the cart-track. As David and Peter crossed the yard, she turned and laughed.

"Oh, Peter," she called, "you did recommend the twins, didn't you? They're wonderful! They make him laugh, and I haven't seen him do that for months."

"What did they do?" asked David.