n see them sometimes strutting about with their tails spread out, and
roosting right up in the trees. People say that peacocks are the
laziest birds in existence. They go to rest earlier, and get up later
than anything else."

"Indeed!"

Still grimmer silence; still slower and more halting footsteps.
Presently the stranger stopped short and asked abruptly--

"How far are we still from Langton Terrace? Five minutes' walk--ten
minutes? We are more than half-way, I suppose?"

"Not quite, I am afraid. If you are tired, would you not rest on this
seat for a few minutes? It is really quite sheltered behind the trees.
If you can tell me which end of the terrace you want to reach, it will
make a little difference in the way we ought to take. There are three
blocks of houses, which are all known by the same name. You wanted to
go to--"

"Number 7," said the stranger; and sat down heavily upon the seat. He
leant both hands on his stick and rested his chin upon them, as though
thankful for the support; and Mollie stood before him staring fixedly at
his face.

Aquiline features, sharpened by suffering into yet finer lines, closely-
set lips drooping out into lines of fretful impatience, sunken eyes
beneath overhanging brows. She studied them one by one, until, struck
by her silence, the old man looked up in surprise.

"Number 7, I said. If you live in the neighbourhood, you may know the
house, and possibly its inmates?"

"Yes, I know them all; they are nice people and very kind to me. I've
known them quite a number of years."

"Mr and Mrs Connor have a large family, I believe--a number of young
children."

"Oh, dozens!" replied Mollie easily. She was enjoying herself
intensely, but trying to preserve an appearance of innocent calm. "What
an adventure," she was saying to herself--"oh, what an adventure. What
fun to tell it all to Ruth and the girls! I must remember every word,
so as to repeat it in style!" Aloud, she added carelessly, "There are
two girls, and lots of little boys. It seems as if there were boys,
boys everywhere, wherever you turn all over the house; but they are
ubiquitous creatures, so perhaps there are not quite so many as it
seems. They are handsome little fellows, and I believe clever too.
Mrs Connor is a very pretty woman, and always kind and gentle.
Everybody likes her. Mr Connor is nice too. I don't think he is at
all strong, and he has to work very hard for that big family."