But before Jon could tell her his story, Mrs. Warrender came out to find them. And after supper they neither of them felt they could leave her. Once, under the cover of the radio, Penny whispered, "Meet you in our room at midnight," but Jon frowned and shook his head. "Too late. I'm too sleepy. But if you'll knock at my door about seven in the morning I'll come up."

She grimaced her dislike of him and then nodded agreement to his last suggestion. Soon after the News, to her aunt's surprise, she went up to bed. She did not care to admit it to Jon, but she was tired, too, and although she was keen to share his news she did realize that the early morning would be better fun.

But she nearly came back to find him when, at the bottom of her little staircase, she collided with Mr. Grandon - who was coming down.

5. Monday: Beach View

What are you both going to do today?" Mrs. Warrender asked at breakfast next morning. "Why don't you take some sandwiches and go out and explore while the weather is fine? There are wonderful sands at Camber, and there's the old castle, too, although I haven't been there yet. I can't do much with you today because the first guests arrive this afternoon."

"Oh dear!" Penny sighed. "What a pity! I don't think I'll like the Dolphin so much with strangers about. All right, Auntie - I know we're not supposed to see them and get in their way. We'll be good, I promise... But what are they like?"

"That's something we shall never know until they arrive, Penny. Until they come they are only names. And you mustn't talk about our guests as if they were - well, specimens!" she laughed.

"Well, I'm not going to worry about them," Jon said as he reached for the toast. "We three will stick together whatever happens, and we've got our room upstairs when you don't want us down here, Mother... Come on, Penny. Buck up. It's a good scheme to go out for the day."

As soon as Mrs. Warrender had gone to see about their sandwiches, Penny looked up and said:

"You can arrange what you like, Jon, but I absolutely refuse to do anything until you've told me what happened to you at the mill. Shall we go upstairs?"

Jon got up. "No," he said. "It's a grand morning. Let's go out and I'll tell you everything... Come on, little girl!"

They went over to their favourite wall and looked out over the swaying tamarisks to the Marsh, which was very green in the morning sunshine.

Then he told her his story. He told her how surprised he had been to see Miss Ballinger in Winchelsea and how he had only just got to the mill in time.