"Aye, they do! And you say those youngsters and Miss Penny are there? Who took 'em there, I'd like to know. They went out this morning with that Mr. Grandon."

Before Jon could answer David nudged him. A shabby little green car was coming towards them down the road and they could see it was driven by the girl in the white mackintosh. As soon as she recognized the boys she stopped, leaned out and smiled at them.

"Glad you could both manage it. Decent of you to come. Hop in..."

"You must be David Morton? Penny told me about you. You're not much like the twins, are you?"

David grunted, but Jon was amused to see him redden. This girl made him feel like that, too! Then she turned to him:

"You've got the papers and things, Jon? Penny was very keen you should bring them."

Jon did not hesitate, but nodded briefly. She smiled at him radiantly, but before she could speak he said: "What's all the fuss about, anyway, and why didn't Penny ring me up herself, and why hasn't Mr. Grandon brought the twins home as he promised?"

"One thing at a time," she laughed as she let in the clutch. "My aunt met Mr. Grandon and the others at lunch in Hastings and she asked them to give her a lift home and stay to tea. Apparently, you people have got some old maps and papers which interest my aunt, and from what I hear Penny now wants her to see them. She didn't come and speak to you herself because she was helping to get the tea. I had the car out this afternoon and had just got back, so they asked me to telephone and then meet you. We haven't got a phone at the bungalow. As for Mr. Grandon, he realized that Mrs. Warrender would wonder where he was, so when I promised to bring you all back later he left the twins and started just before me. Hasn't he passed you?"

"Haven't seen him," Jon said suspiciously.

"We came down the steps," David explained.

"That accounts for it, then. Just as you walked down he would be coming up through the town. Now are you both satisfied?"

The wind was so strong now that it slowed down the little car and once actually lifted it off two wheels for a second when a sudden gust caught it broadside on. But their driver kept a cool head and laughed.

"Getting a bit rough," was all she said.

The wind was bringing rain again now and the reeds and tall bullrushes growing in the dike at the side of the road were laid almost flat on the water, which seethed as it was struck by the squall. Although the car windows were closed they could barely hear each other speak for the relentless, roaring of the wind.