by him. The children rushed
at Miles and, ably impeded by William, swarmed over him in riotous
welcome, wholly regardless of their nurse's voice which summoned them to
bed.

Meg stood waiting.

"Miss Morton's father lives in Cheltenham," Jan said to Mr. Withells,
who seemed rather left out. "She's going to see him on Tuesday--to spend
the day."

"Then," said Mr. Withells in his clear staccato, "she must take the
9.15--it's much the best train in the day. And the 4.55 back. No other
trains are at all suitable. I hope you will be guided by me in this
matter, Miss Morton. I've made the journey many times."

So had Meg; but Mr. Withells always irritated her to such an extent that
had it been possible, she would have declared her intention to go and
return by quite different trains. As it was, she nodded pleasantly and
said those were the very trains she had selected.

Miles thrust his head out from among the encompassing three and
respectfully implored Mr. Withells' advice about trains to Cricklade,
which lay off the Cheltenham route, even going so far as to note the
hours of departure and arrival carefully in a little book.

Finally Meg came and disencumbered Miles of the children and bore them
away.

When her voice took on a certain tone it was as useless to cope with Meg
as with Auntie Jan. They knew this, and like wise children gave in
gracefully.

Elaborate farewells had to be said to everybody, and with a final warm
embrace for Miles, little Fay called to him "Tum and see me in my baff."

"Captain Middleton will have gone long before you are ready for that,"
Meg said inhospitably, and trying to look very tall and dignified she
walked up the three steps leading to the nursery. But it is almost
impossible to look imposing with a lagging child dragging at each hand,
and poor Meg felt that her exit was far from effective.

William settled himself comfortably across his master's knees and in two
minutes was snoring softly.

Miles manifested so keen an interest in Mr. Withells' exhibits (he had
got a second prize and a highly commended) that the kindly little man
was quite attracted; and when Miles inquired about trains to Cheltenham
he gave him precisely the same advice that he had given Meg.

* * * * * * * *

The station at Amber Guiting is seldom crowded; it's on a shuttle line,
and except on market-day there is but little passenger traffic.

Therefore a