"Well, David, I don't know that they did anything particular except chatter all the time - mostly together. They told us about your journey yesterday and said you got very over-tired and snappy, but that they helped you along and cheered you up. When they said they would go round the farm with him, I thought he'd be angry, but he wasn't, and said they were welcome... I like your twins, David. They're grand... Now let's finish off the barn."

And David, who usually pretended to be a little ashamed of the twins and their antics, reddened at this praise of them and promised himself that he would remember to tell their mother.

Then they went back to the barn and he soon found that Mrs. Sterling was a very practical person and quick to understand what they wanted. While Peter undid the sleeping-bags and bundles and spread them on the clean hay, he got out his note-book and made a list of the things they would still need.

"Three hurricane lamps (one for the girls upstairs).
Coke and coal for stove (Lone Piners to pay for this).
Water containers (a barrel would be grand).
Matches (sorry, we forgot to bring any).
Books (if the weather is bad. Sorry, we didn't bring ours).
Sack of potatoes.
Three more chairs (if possible
Cupboard for stores.

"I expect we shall think of lots of other things," David said. "We're awfully sorry to be such a nuisance... and... and if you don't mind me saying so, Mrs. Sterling, we do think it's jolly decent of you to help and lend us all these things. Don't we, Peter?"

"Yes, David, we do. If it hadn't been for Aunt Carol we'd never have got this place. Uncle first of all said this barn was never to be opened, but somehow Auntie won him over."

"Oh, well," her aunt smiled, "if I hadn't, the twins would have done. Now let me see the list... Hm! The lamps can be borrowed from the other barn. You'll find them on the wall, and the paraffin tank is in the yard at the back of the house. See that the wicks are trimmed, and don't overfill the lamps. You can have what coke and coal you want - that's at the back of the house, too. I shouldn't think we've got a barrel, so you had better borrow a big pail from the dairy. Water from the well. Matches are possible, but you must be careful with them, and you'd better be responsible, David. Books? Good idea. Borrow as many of mine as you like. I've got lots."

Mrs. Sterling went down the list. "Potatoes? Easy. Henry or Humphrey will let you have a sack. An old cupboard we can manage, I fancy, but I've no more chairs, though I think there's a hammock in the attic. Come on, David. Bring your list and a pencil and we'll go and see what we can find."