The Adventurous Seven | Page 7

and it is quite comfortable for people who do not mind roughing it, and
as we have not been used to any sort of luxury, of course we shall not
miss it," said Sylvia.
"I could not allow you to go as steerage passengers," replied Mr.
Runciman.
"We would much rather go as steerage passengers than not go at all,"
murmured Nealie.
"I will think about it and let you know," he said, but with so much
giving way in his tone that they burst into a chorus of imploring.
"Please, please decide now and write to tell Father that we are coming.

We are quite ready to start by the next boat, and it is so lonely living at
Beechleigh now that Aunt Judith is dead," pleaded Nealie, silencing the
others with a wave of her hand.
If one of the others had spoken then, Mr. Runciman would certainly
have refused, but because of her likeness to the dead he had to give way.
He reflected, too, that if he wrote the letter now it would be impossible
for him to draw back from his word, however angry his wife might be
when she heard what he had done.
"Very well, I will write to your father to-night," he said.
"Do not leave it until this evening; you might forget; there are so many
other things for you to remember," said Nealie softly. "If you will write
the letter now we will post it as we go through Braybrook Lees; then it
will be just in time for the outgoing mail. Tell dear Father that we are
coming by the next boat. We will be ready somehow."
"Yes, please, please, dear Mr. Runciman, write now," said Sylvia,
leaning forward in her most engaging manner, while even Ducky
smiled upon him, clasping her hands entreatingly, just as Sylvia and
Nealie were doing.
"Very well; but it will have to be a short letter, for the cart is coming
round in twenty minutes to take me over to Aldington," he said, giving
way before their entreaties and pulling out his watch to see what the
time was; and then he touched the bell at his side, saying to Nealie, as
Roberts appeared in answer to the summons: "My dear, if you and the
others will go into the housekeeper's room for a little refreshment I will
get the letter written, and you shall have it to take with you; then I will
write to London about your passage to-night."
"Oh, you are a dear, a most kind dear!" burst out Sylvia, flinging her
arms round his neck and kissing him on the cheek--a liberty she had
never in her life ventured upon before, and which considerably shocked
Nealie, who was afraid it would make him angry, and was agreeably
surprised to find that he only seemed to be startled by it.

Then they all trooped off to the housekeeper's room, where they made a
tremendous onslaught upon a big and very plummy cake; and they
were still drinking cups of steaming cocoa when Roberts appeared
again, this time bringing a letter on a silver salver, which he handed to
Nealie with a grave bow, saying that Mr. Runciman wished her to read
it and then to post it, and he would ride over to Beechleigh on the day
after to-morrow to tell them what arrangements he had been able to
make for their journey.
"It is jolly decent of him!" muttered Rupert, who had looked over
Nealie's shoulder while she read the letter.
"Oh, he is not half bad at the bottom, I should say!" remarked Rumple,
who was wondering if Mr. Runciman would feel flattered if he were to
make a short poem about this most gracious concession to their wishes.
The worst of it was that Mr. Runciman did not exactly lend himself to
poetry, that is, he was by no means an inspiring subject.
The housekeeper looked on in smiling amusement at their frank
criticism of the master of the house; but she was a kindly soul, and it
was only human to feel sorry for these poor young people, whom no
one seemed to want, now that old Miss Webber was dead. There had
been a good deal of wondering comment in the servants' hall and the
housekeeper's room at The Paddock as to what would be done with the
family. Everyone was quite sure that Mrs. Runciman would never
consent to receive them, even temporarily, and it was because of her
refusal to in any way recognize their claim upon her kindness that they
had been left for Mrs. Puffin to look after since the death of their
great-aunt.
When they could eat no more cake they bade a cordial goodbye to the
housekeeper, shook hands all round