Penny was the first to wake. The sun was still pleasantly hot on her face and glowed pinkly through her eyelids, which for a moment or two she kept blissfully closed. Then she heard a voice which seemed vaguely familiar and sat up in surprise. Kneeling on the turf facing her about two yards away was a boy of about sixteen, who was laughing at her as he put his finger to his lips and nodded towards Jon, who sat up suddenly.

"Sorry to wake you," he whispered. "I didn't realize you were here till I started to climb up. Do you mind? I want to listen to what's going on down below there without being seen... If you want a bit of fun, peep over the top here with me and watch... That funny old thing doesn't know what she's in for!"

Penny looked at the stranger with interest. He seemed to be a very nice boy-brown hair, dark eyes and very white teeth in a tanned face.

Slowly, and very cautiously, the three of them crawled to the edge of the wall, raised their heads and peeped over. Almost directly below them Miss Ballinger was sitting at her easel with her back to the castle walls. She was waving a large paint brush in her right hand and booming in her loud voice at two children who were standing one on each side of her.

"I do not like inquisitive children and I ask you both to go away. And I would like you to go a very long way away and take your objectionable little dog with you," and with the last words she gestured with the paint brush in the direction of a black Scottie dog which Penny felt certain she had seen before.

It was at once evident that this action of Miss Ballinger's was a mistake, for the dog, which had previously taken a dislike to the large woman, first bowed his head to the ground between his front paws and growled and then leapt upon the paint brush, seized it and pranced triumphantly away. In about five seconds the handle of the paint brush was a tangle of splinters, while the oily end was tossed into the air as if it had been a rat.

"Take the brute away," Miss Ballinger roared as she got off her stool and advanced threateningly towards the dog, who now began to circle round his enemy, barking loudly. "Call him off! He's dangerous! Take him away and yourselves too, you horrible little nuisances."

At the first sight of the two children Penny whistled softly in surprise, and Jon polished his glasses again. They were boy and girl twins about ten years of age and were amazingly alike.

The little girl was speaking now.

"Mackie!" she called. "Come here... At once, sir."