id
Kit, contemptuously. 'His pocket was full of rotten skewers and things.'

'That's the modern treatment,' said Wilfred again.

'Modern treatment be hanged!' remarked Peter, with a laugh. 'Jill hates
him too; he treated her as if she was about ten years old.'

'Jill's furious because Auntie Anna has asked him to dinner next week;
and we shall have gone back by then, so she'll have him to herself all
the evening,' chuckled Wilfred.

'How is Jill?' asked Barbara, as soon as she could get in a word.

There was a little pause. 'She's all right,' said Christopher,
indifferently, after a moment or two.

'Kit likes her _awfully_,' proclaimed Robin, with his head on one side.

'So does Peter,' added Christopher, hastily. 'He was awfully gone on her
this morning, because she mended his cap when no one was looking.'

'I don't think she means to be young-ladyish, really,' remarked Wilfred,
patronisingly. 'Last night, when you kids had gone to bed, she sang to
Egbert and me. She can sing!'

'Now, why didn't she sing to us before?' demanded Peter. 'That's where
she's so awfully rum.'

'She hasn't been properly trained, that's all,' said Christopher.

'Why, she's studied under the best master in Paris!' interrupted Wilfred.

'You goat! I meant _her_, not her singing,' snapped Christopher.

'Oh, well, we all know why _you_ like her,' retorted Wilfred. 'It's
because she came and sucked up to you by offering to read aloud to you,
before Dr. Hurst said you might go----'

'I never said I did like her,' disputed Kit.

The door opened before they settled the matter; and the foraging party
returned, laden with spoil.

'I brought everything I could find that looked interesting,' announced the
head-mistress. 'You must be ravenous after riding all that way; and I'm
sure I am, though I've done nothing but sit by the fire all the evening
and make time-tables. You might clear them out of the way for me, will
you, Robin? And you, Wilfred, can move the other things on to the floor,
or anywhere else you like. Will you hold this tray, Peter, while I lay
the cloth? No, I don't want you, Christopher, thank you. Can't you see
that Babs is bubbling over with news for you? Go and keep her company
by the fire till supper is ready.'

It was very queer that she should know all their names like that, and
Egbert declared afterwards that he did not think he had told her anything
about them, though somehow she had kept him talking all the time