that he was going on a rather long business
expedition: and Rosamund retorted, pertly, "Business on a Saturday? How
strange!" to receive the dry reply: "Yes, it does seem strange, doesn't
it?"

Half an hour later Betty and Timmy were busily engaged in washing up the
breakfast things when Godfrey Radmore strolled into the scullery.

"I thought that I was always to be in on this act?" he exclaimed. And it
was true that he had fallen into the way of helping to wash up, turning
what had always been a very boresome task into what Timmy to himself
called "great fun" for while Radmore washed and dried the plates and
dishes, he told them funny things about some of his early experiences in
Australia.

"We've done quite well without you. We're nearly through," said Betty
merrily. Somehow she felt extraordinarily light-hearted to-day.

Her visitor--for very well she knew he was her visitor rather than
Timmy's--came a little nearer, and shut the scullery door behind him.

"Look here," he said mysteriously, "I want just us three to take a secret
expedition to-day. I think I've found my house of dreams! If you'll then
both run upstairs and put on your things, we could go there and be back
in quite good time for tea."

"For tea?" repeated Betty, startled. "But who would look after lunch?"

"There's plenty of delicious cold mutton in the house," said Radmore
decidedly. He added with a certain touch of cunning: "I did ask your
mother, Timmy, if she'd come too, but she can't leave the house this
morning: she's expecting a very important telephone message--something
to do with the garden. She'll see about lunch, for she's particularly
anxious,"--he turned to Betty,--"that _you_ should have a good blow this
time. We shall get a little lunch while we are out, and be home by four."

"Let's take lunch with us," broke in Timmy eagerly. "We can eat it
anywhere." He had always had a passion for picnics.

Betty was the last human being to make any unnecessary fuss. Also,
somehow, she felt as if to-day was not quite like other days. She could
not have told why. "All right. I'll cut some sandwiches, and then I'll go
and get ready," she said.

Janet was in the hall when Betty came down.

"That's right," she said heartily, "I'm glad you're going to have a real
outing at last!"

She took the girl in her arms and kissed her, and Betty felt touched. Her
step-mother was not given to affectionate demonstration. And then, all at
once, Janet l