"I can pretty well guess why," said the big man severely. "If he
hadn't, I should have spanked you myself. How dare you say 'don't
be silly' to your mother?"

Peter hung his head.

"I didn't mean--" he began.

"I should just think you didn't mean it," said his father. "You'll
kindly remember you've no right by birth to be a cad, and it is
caddish for a gentleman to speak like that to a lady--whether he is
ten years old or a hundred."

"Besides," said Eustace, looking furiously at the small culprit,
"mother couldn't be silly if she tried."

Peter's humbled expression changed.

"It wasn't for you to kick me," he spluttered resentfully; "I'll
kick you back."

"Oh, if you like to be a donkey," began Eustace in a lordly tone.

"Who was donkey first?" demanded Peter.

"I guess," said Nesta, who was accustomed to these scenes, "the
buggy may be in sight at the first bend by now. I'm going to look."

Eustace followed.

"Well, Peter, what comes next?" asked Mr. Orban, without letting go
the child's wrists.

Peter looked over his shoulder towards his mother--the blue eyes
were swimming with tears, there was a choke in his voice.

"I'm sorry, mummie," he gasped.

The next moment he was clasped in his mother's arms, there was a
manful struggle with gathering tears, and then like an arrow from a
bow Peter was off to the veranda with every intention of thumping
Eustace soundly. But the news that greeted him there put the recent
fray right out of his mind.

"It is a buggy, Peter," said Nesta, "and I believe Bob Cochrane is
driving it."

Now the Cochranes were the Orbans' nearest neighbours--the family
that lived only five miles away. It consisted of a father and
mother and this young fellow Robert, who was six-and-twenty, the
idol and greatest admiration of the Orban children's hearts. In
their eyes there was nothing Bob could not do; his shooting, his
driving and riding, his jokes, his ways--everything about him was
wonderful. A visit from Bob was a splendid event, no matter what
the hour of the day.

Bob had a sister who was about the twins' age, and Nesta's only
friend.

"It looks just like Bob's driving," said Eustace.

Then they waited with eager faces, too excited to speak, till
suddenly they all cried at once,--

"It is Bob--it is--it is--it is!"

Mr. and Mrs. Orban came out on to the veranda, Becky toddling
behind.

"There is no doubt about it," said Mr. Orban as he watched the
jolting, bumpi