and then I had tea with her.

We were having tea that day when Cousin Dorothea came in, all in a fuss
and quite eager. She had just got the letter.

'Such a nice answer from dear old Homer' she said. 'She'll be delighted
to do anything for relations of mine, and she doesn't think you _could_
find a healthier place. It's as bracing as anything, and yet not cold.
She says there's a small convalescent Home not far from the farm, and
that the place was chosen out of ever so many by some rich people who
built it, just because of its healthiness. Now I come to think of it,
I'm sure I've heard of that Home before, but I can't think from whom.'

'That's all very satisfactory indeed, and thank you very much, dear,'
said mother. 'But--what about the possibility of lodgings?'

'I was coming to that,' said Dorothea, and indeed she was almost out of
breath with such a lot to tell. 'Homer says there are really none to be
had----'

'Oh dear!' exclaimed mums and I.

'But,' Dorothea went on, 'they _have_ some spare rooms at the farm, and
occasionally they have had thoughts of letting them--I mean, of taking
lodgers. But they're _very_ plainly furnished, and she's always busy, so
her husband was rather afraid of beginning it. She wouldn't exactly like
to offer them, but she says if my friends would go down to see the
rooms, and thought they'd do, she would be pleased to do her best. I can
guarantee they'd be beautifully _clean_.'

Dorothea looked quite excited about it. She was so proud of being able
to help mums.

'I think it sounds charming,' said mother. 'How many rooms are there?'

'Two big bedrooms, and a tiny one, and a sort of best kitchen that could
be made comfortable in a plain way as a sitting-room,' said Dorothea
consulting the letter. 'You could take down a few sofa rugs, and two or
three folding chairs and so on, I daresay?'

'Oh yes, easily,' said mother. 'But I quite agree with Mrs. Parsley that
I had better see the rooms. How long does it take by train, and how far
is the farm--what's the name of it, by the bye?--from the station?'

'About a mile and a half. But they have a pony-cart of some kind and
could meet you. The name is Mossmoor--Mossmoor Farm, Fewforest.'

It seemed wonderfully lucky. We were all three as pleased as anything.
There was only one thing I wanted to make sure of.

'Mums,' I whispered. I was just giving her her second cup of tea. I
always make her tea when we're alone. 'Mums, if you do