first, with Penelope just behind her, for Angel was so unused to coming
to the front that somehow she let them both pass her. And so Betty had
hold of the door-handle first, and was trying to see through the steamy
window almost before the horses stopped.

'There he is, the darling!' she exclaimed; 'I see him. Godfrey dear,
I'm your aunt Elizabeth; come and let me kiss you.'

'Bless him for his papa's own boy,' puffed Penny behind her. 'I knew
your dear papa, love.'

And at this moment the door opened suddenly, and the two received into
their arms a thin, severe-looking gentleman, with scanty grey hair and
a rather annoyed expression of face.

'Good gracious, Elizabeth, what is the meaning of this?' he exclaimed,
as Betty clasped him round the waist in the dark. 'Penelope, what in
the world are you doing? Is the whole place gone demented?'

Penny fell back in great confusion, but Betty was undaunted.

'I beg your pardon, Cousin Crayshaw,' she said, 'it wasn't you I meant
to kiss--I thought you were Godfrey. Isn't Godfrey here?'

'Your brother's child is here of course,' said Mr. Crayshaw rather
sharply, and turning back to the carriage, he said:

'Godfrey, come here and get out at once; don't keep every one waiting.'

'I won't!' said a very decided voice from the darkness inside the big
chaise.

'You will do as you are told,' said Mr. Crayshaw severely; 'come out at
once.'

'I won't!' said the voice again.

'Perhaps he's frightened,' suggested Betty, peeping in under her
cousin's arm. 'Godfrey dear, I'm your Aunt Elizabeth. Come and have
your supper, dear, I am sure you're hungry.'

'I don't want my Aunt Elizabeth, nor my supper,' said the rebellious
voice from the chaise. 'I am going to turn this carriage the other
way, and the horses will take me to the ship, and the ship will take me
home.'

'The horses will take you to the stable, sir,' said the exasperated Mr.
Crayshaw, 'and you can stay there if you prefer it to obeying me.'

'They will take me to the ship,' said the child's voice inside.

'They will do nothing of the kind, because you are to come with me
instantly,' said the gentleman, with his foot on the step.

He made a dive into the chaise, there was the sound of a scuffle, then
the clear voice could be heard exclaiming:

'Bad man, you are to let me go.'

'I shall do nothing of the sort, sir.'

'Then I'll be a leech.'

The next moment there was a sort of spring from a littl