"That's what that little ass, Armine, has been presuming to din into
your ears," said Bobus; "as if the old women didn't prefer beef and
blankets to your coming poking piety at the poor old parties."
"By the bye," cried Caroline, starting, "those children have never
come home, and see how it rains!"
Jock volunteered to take the pony carriage and fetch them, but he had
not long emerged from the park in the gathering twilight before he
overtook two figures under one umbrella, and would have passed them
had he not been hailed.
"You demented children! Jump in this instant."
"Don't turn!" called Armine. "We must take this," showing a parcel
which he had been sheltering more carefully than himself or his
sister. "It is cord and tassels for the banner. They sent wrong
ones," said Barbara, "and we had to go and match it. They would not
let me go alone."
"Get in, I say," cried Jock, who was making demonstrations with the
"national weapon" much as if he would have liked to lay it about
their shoulders.
"Then we must drive onto the Parsonage," stipulated Armine.
"Not a bit of it, you drenched and foolish morsel of humanity. You
are going straight home to bed. Hand us the parcel. What will you
give me not to tie this cord round the Reverend Petronella's neck?"
"Thank you, Jock, I'm so glad," said Babie, referring probably to the
earlier part of his speech.
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