In this room there were cases of stuffed birds, and a
stuffed pike that was just like life. There was a wonderful old
cabinet, black and red and gold, very mysterious, and oak chests, and
two fat white Indian idols sitting cross-legged on the mantelpiece. It
was very delightful; but Molly liked it best in the daytime. And she was
glad of the night-light.

She thought of Bertie, and Cicely, and Eva, and baby, and Vincent, and
wondered whether measles hurt much.

Next day Aunt Maria was quite bearable. The worst thing she said was
about people coming when they weren't expected, and upsetting
everything.

'I'll try not to upset anything,' said Molly, and went out and got the
gardener to put up a swing for her.

Then she upset herself out of it, and got a bump on her forehead the
size of a hen's egg, and that, as Aunt Maria very properly said, kept
her out of mischief for the rest of the day.

Next morning Molly had two letters. The first was from Bertie. It said:

'DEAR MOLLY,

'It is rough lines on you, but we did not mean to keep it up, and
it is your fault for coming home the day before you ought to have.
We did it to kid old Simpshall, because she was so beastly about us
making a real battlefield. We only painted all the parts of us that
show with vermilion, and put spots--mixed crimson lake and Prussian
blue--all over, and we pulled down the blinds and said our heads
ached, and so they did with crying--I mean the girls cried. She was
afraid to come near us; but she was sorry she had been such a
beast. And when she had come to the door and said so through the
keyhole we owned up, but you had gone by then. It was a rare
lark, but we've got three days bedder for it. I shall lower this on
the end of a fishingline to the baker's boy, and he will post it.
It is like a dungeon. He is going to bring us tarts, like a
faithful page.

'Your affectionate bro.,
'BERTRAND DE LISLE CARRUTHERS.'

The other letter was from mother.

'MY DARLING MOLLY,

It was all a naughty hoax, intended to annoy poor Miss Simpshall.
Your brothers and sisters had painted their faces red and
purple--they had not measles at all. But since you _are_ at Aunt
Maria's I think you may as well stay ...'

'How awful!' said Molly. 'It _is_ too bad!'

'... stay and make it your annual visit. Be a good girl, dear, and
do not