They crowded round as she put her hands on her hips and began.

" 'Tis very strange that just as soon as my poor sister is taken away that the house fills up, but so it is and this very afternoon there's a new gentleman coming here to stay for a while."

"But he can't do that," Dickie said. "We don't want him, do we, twin?"

"I shouldn't think so," Mary said. "But we could look at him first."

"And that's just what I mean," Agnes said as she faced the Lone Pine Club grouped round her. "There's to be no nonsense. He spoke to me on that dratted telephone this very morning while you were out... Very nice and gentlemanly he sounded, but quiet and peace he must have because he's been sick and in hospital."

"Did you tell him about us, Agnes?" David asked.

"I did that, and he said he supposed he must just put up with that but he must have quiet, so maybe he'll order a fire in his bedroom and stay up there. He told me he's out walking a lot and collecting bits o' stone and the like from the hills around... But you must all promise Agnes that you'll behave yourselves with him so that he doesn't complain..."

"Don't worry, Agnes," said David. "We'll stand by you and wait on him if it will help. When's he coming?"

"I reckon he'll be here for tea," Agnes said, "and thank you for helping. Be off with you now."

They went back to the lounge and looked out of the window. The afternoon was cold and grey and the street deserted.

Penny ran back to the fire.

"Come on over here," she called. "Pile on some logs, Jon. Draw the curtains. Shut out this beastly day and let's have fun here... I don't want to go out again to-day and we don't have to, do we?"

Nobody argued with her. They pulled up some chairs, flung the cushions on the floor and were happily scorched by the leaping flames.

But the time went so quickly and they were talking so hard that they did not hear Agnes when she opened the door, switched on the light, and said, "And this is Mr Cantor, who would be liking a look at the fire I've no doubt while I'm getting the tea for you all."

The Lone Piners blinked in the sudden glare and looked up at the stranger..

They saw a short, stout little man with a rosy, innocent face, wearing glasses with heavy horn sides. His head was white and shining but he had brushed several long wisps of hair across his bare brow in an attempt to disguise his baldness.