go away as the latter was now having his "morning's nap."

Captain Sellers left with flags flying and drums beating three days
later. To friends and neighbours generally he confided the interesting
fact that his departure was hastened by a nightly recurring dream of
being bitten by sharks.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious
to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole
of an evening. First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him
divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his
own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he
communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.

"It was my own idea entirely," he said with a feeble attempt to conceal
a little natural pride. "Some people would call it an inspiration.
Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought
of your children--I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an
embrace by a hair's breadth. I was prepared to remind him that 'Absence
makes the heart grow fonder' and to follow it up with 'Distance lends
enchantment to the view'; but it was unnecessary. It will be a great
thing for Mrs. Chinnery."

Miss Hartley looked thoughtful.

"And you," said Robert reproachfully.

"If father is satisfied--" began Miss Hartley.

"'Satisfied' is a cold and inadequate word," said Robert. "He was
delighted. He could not have been more pleased if I had told him that
the entire five had succumbed to an attack of croup. I left my work to
look after itself to come and give you the news."

"You are very kind," said Joan, after some consideration.

"It is a good thing for all concerned," said Robert. "It is a load off
my mind. The last time I was here, I was interrupted at a most critical
moment by the entrance of Miss Trimblett."

"And now, instead of coming here to see them, you will have to go to
Mrs. Chinnery's," said Joan.

"When I want to," said Mr. Vyner with a forced smile, as the twins came
rushing into the room. "Yes."

The exodus took place three days afterward to the entire satisfaction of
all concerned. Tranquil Vale alone regarded the advent of the newcomers
with a certain amount of uneasiness, the joy of Ted and the twins
when they found that there was a river at the bottom of the garden,
threatening to pass all bounds. In a state of wild excitement they
sat on the fence and waved to pas