ht of. If
only she didn't get ill, I thought I wouldn't mind how angry they were
with me. As to Peterkin, I would stand up for him, if he needed it,
though I didn't think he would. They'd be sure to remind me how much
older I was, and pleasant things like that. And yet when I went over and
over it in my own mind, I couldn't get it clear what else I could have
done. There _are_ puzzles like that sometimes, and anyway it was better
than if Margaret had run away alone, and perhaps got really lost.

And, after all, as you will hear, I hadn't much blame to bear. The name
of this chapter will show thanks to whom _that_ was.

When we were dressed--and oh, how we longed for clean collars!--we made
our way down to the dining-room. Beryl was there already, and I saw that
she looked even prettier by daylight, such as it was than the evening
before. She smiled kindly, and said she hoped we had managed to sleep
well.

'Oh yes, thank you,' we said, 'but--' and we both looked round the room.
'How is Margaret?'

'None the worse, I am glad to say,' Beryl answered, and then I thought
to myself I might have guessed it, by Beryl's bright face. 'I really
think it was only the fog that made her cough so last night. She looks a
very delicate little girl, however, and she speaks of having had a very
bad cold not long ago, which may have been something worse than a cold.
So I made her stay in bed for breakfast, till----'

At that moment the parlour-maid brought in a telegram. Beryl opened it,
and then handed it to me. It was from mamma.

'A thousand thanks for telegram and letter. Coming myself by earliest
train possible.'

'It's very good of mamma,' I said, and in my heart I was glad she was
coming before we--or I--saw papa. For though he is very kind too, he is
not quite so 'understanding,' and a good deal sharper, especially with
us boys. I suppose fathers need to be, and I suppose boys need it more
than girls.

'Yes,' said Beryl, and though she had been so awfully jolly about the
whole affair, I could tell by her tone that she was glad that some one
belonging to us was coming to look after us all. 'It is very
satisfactory. My aunt said she would come round early too. I think it
will be quite safe for Margaret to get up now, so I will go and tell her
she may. You will find some magazines and picture-papers in my little
sitting-room, behind this room, if you can amuse yourselves there till
auntie comes.'

I stopped her a moment as