for
suddenly she was dreading the reception they might receive.

How forlorn they really were, those seven whom no one seemed to really
want! And yet how kind people had been to them in all that long, long
journey from Beechleigh in England. Of course, but for that bit of
absent-mindedness on the part of Rumple, Dr. Plumstead would have known
that his children were coming, and then he could have had a welcome of a
sort ready for them. As it was, it would be the naked truth which they
would have to face, and it was the fear that perhaps he would wish they
had not come that made Nealie feel so nervous, as she led Rocky along
the few remaining yards of that very bad stretch of road leading to the
doctor's house.

Sylvia had left Rupert for a few minutes and was hanging out of the
front of the wagon. Ducky still perched astride Rockefeller's broad
back, while the three younger boys were grouped close to Nealie, who
led the horse.

There was a bit of rising ground before the house, and so of necessity
the pace was slow; but at last they halted, and then stood for a moment
as if uncertain what to do next.

"Rumple, you had better knock," said Nealie in a choked tone, and then
was instantly sorry for what she had said, remembering that but for
Rumple's forgetfulness there might have been no need to knock at all.

"Let me knock," pleaded Don, wondering why Nealie looked so pale, and
Rumple seemed so scared.

"Yes, dear, you can knock, and Billykins will go with you," she said,
with a little gasp of relief.

The two small boys dashed through the gate and up the path to the door.
There had once been a garden in front of the house, but it was
wilderness pure and simple now, a choked jumble of weeds, and flowers
struggling for existence in the garden beds, and a wattle bush filled
the air with a sweet perfume which always afterwards reminded Nealie of
that moment of waiting before the house.

"There is no one at home, and the door is locked," cried Don, and then
he tried to peep in the window, but was not high enough to reach the
lowest pane.

"I expect he has been called out to a case," said Sylvia from her perch
in front of the wagon. "Nealie, can't you send the boys to find out
where Father keeps the key? I am sure that we ought to get Rupert out of
the wagon as soon as possible, for he seems to get more ill every
minute, poor dear!"

Ah, there was Rupert to be considered! Of choice Nealie would have
remained stand