ful noise ever
since we came."

"Poor little creatures! they are frightened, they want to be taken up and
held."

"They would spoil my clean frock," said Audrey hesitating.

Mr. Vivian picked up the three little squealing things and held them in
his own arms. Their cries soon changed to a contented note. "They can't
hurt my old coat," he remarked with a smile, "not that I'd mind much if
they did, poor little beggars."

Audrey felt vexed and ashamed and could think of no reply to make.
For a moment silence fell, broken only by the singing of the birds all
around them.

Close to them and to Peter was a large clump of bracken on which Mr.
Vivian's eyes rested lazily. Suddenly he deposited his three little
charges on the ground again, "What was the colour of your rabbit?" he
asked in a lowered tone.

"White and light brown," said Audrey, "quite a common kind. It wasn't a
valuable one, but the children----"

"If you get up very gently and go round to that side of the clump of
ferns," Mr. Vivian broke in hastily, "I think we shall get the gentleman.
I feel pretty sure he is in there. I saw something big move when Peter
stepped close. Now then, stoop down on that side and grab him if he runs
out, and I will be on the look out for him here."

There was no need though for Audrey to grab, for the poor frightened
creature only stared up bewildered when Mr. Vivian opened the ferns above
its head, and with one sure grasp lifted it up and into his arm.

"Now," he said, as pleased almost as Debby and Tom themselves could be,
"I'll pop my gentleman into his basket while I hurry on to tell the news,
and relieve those poor little aching hearts."

Surprise at his presence, or awe of his rugged face and grey hairs were
entirely swallowed up in the joy his news brought them. To the three
Carlyle children he was a complete stranger, but they took him to their
hearts then and there.

"We will give you the very, very nicest tea we can possibly give you,"
cried Faith enthusiastically, when each in turn and all together had
poured out their thanks. "I hope you are longing for some, for we want to
give you something that you want very much."

"I did not know I was," laughed the old gentleman, "but now you have
mentioned it I find it is _the_ one thing I want."

Tom and Debby ran on ahead to rejoice over their newly-recovered darling,
the rest trooped back more slowly. Audrey seeing them coming got up and
began to bustle