ey caught a train on the funny little branch-line which turned them
out at Uffington, and, armed with Mr. Scott's present, "The Scouring of
the White Horse," which Mary carried and occasionally read scraps from
as they walked along, they made for the green hills and the famous
animal cut on their side. To reach it was impossible, for the London
train left at 6.24, and it was now nearly three, and there was tea to
be eaten; but they came near enough to see it distinctly, and to marvel
that the name of horse should ever have been given to it. As Gregory
said, "It's no more like a horse than Shakespeare is like a swan."

And then they had tea at a nice inn at Uffington, in a parlour full of
photograph frames, and returned to the station.

As the train left, they leaned back in their seats, a great deal more
tired than they had ever been in the Slowcoach.

"What a hateful rate this train goes at!" said Robert. "I prefer two
miles an hour."

"Oh, yes," they said.

At Paddington they found Collins and Eliza Pollard, with a station
omnibus, and they rattled down to Chiswick, pouring out the news,
especially that from Lycett's farm.

And so, after dropping Mary and Jack and Horace at their homes, they
came once again to "The Gables." A cold supper was waiting for
them--one of those nice late meals after a journey--and Mrs. Avory and
Runcie sat with them while they ate it.

"You must be glad to be back," Runcie said, "and to sleep in nice beds
once more."

"Oh, Runcie," said Hester, "you don't really understand anything."

"I understand what King Edward's head is like on a shilling," said
Runcie, with a little twinkle at Janet.

Janet blushed.

"What a shame," she said, "to tell that story! Hester, I suppose that
was you, in one of your letters."

"Yes," said Hester; "but, Janet darling, you told me always to tell all
the news."

CHAPTER 23

THE MOST SURPRISING ADVENTURE OF ALL

The children had been back two or three days, and Kink was still on the
road, when one morning a telegram came from him saying that he had
reached Hounslow, and Robert asked if they might all walk out to meet
him, and so return home triumphantly in a body. Mrs. Avory agreed, and
they trooped off, after the briefest lunch, taking Horace Campbell and
the Rotherams with them.

They had been gone two or three hours, and Mrs. Avory was sitting
talking with Runcie, when Eliza Pollard brought a card on the brass
tray that Janet had rep