THE journey to Lethmere West was long and tiresome. After luncheon,
they had to get out and to wait for an hour at a station for their next
train. Mr. Royle gave Jock some picture-papers, and presently Mrs.
Royle came up, and began asking him questions. How old was he? Had he
been often to see his Grannie? Didn't he like country better than town?
"You're going to live there now," she said.
Jock shook his head.
"Of course I mean while your parents are in India. They won't come back
in a hurry." Mrs. Royle did not mean to be unkind. She just said what
happened to slip into her head.
"Mother said she'd come back as soon as ever she could."
"Oh, that means nothing. It's what they always say. You can make up
your mind to three or four years."