"Why do they call you Indians?" she asked them abruptly, as Miss Falkner
having left them they walked across the lawn towards the band.
"We are not Indians," one of the little girls said indignantly. "We have
been living in India and came to England last month. Mother and father
are still out there."
"Oh," said Jill in a relieved tone: "I was afraid you would be half
black. Mona told me you were coming. What do you do in India?"
Their tongues were loosened, they poured out such a volley of "ride
through bazaars," "tiffins," "ayahs," "dobies," "punkahs," "rupees,"
"gymkanas," and other unknown words and terms that Jill grew quite
bewildered.
She questioned them eagerly and was quite impressed with all the strange
things they had seen and heard.
"What kind of things do you do?" they asked in their turn. "It seems so
dull to us in England, but that's because we are shut up in a school-room
with a governess."
"We're never dull," said Jill warmly. "Never! And we're always doing
new things every day. Do you see Jack and Bumps anywhere?"
"Who are they? Is Bumps a dog? What a funny name!"
"She's my little sister; we've always called her Bumps because she
tumbles about and hurts herself so. They've gone off together somewhere.
Now if we find them you'll see the sort of things we do. Whenever Jack
and Bumps are missing, they are always up to something!"
Jill commenced a rapid and thorough search for her brother and sister.
Miss Falkner was also looking for them, but it was a long time before
their search was successful. At last coming to a small artificial lake
which was tenanted by some wild waterfowl and white swans, they heard
a commotion, and found Jack and Bumps very busy indeed.
Bumps was sitting in a wheelbarrow to which were harnessed with yards
of tape and ribbon, two of the swans. It had been a difficult task, to
judge from the children's heated, dirty faces. The birds were screeching
and fluttering their wings, nearly choking themselves in their efforts
to free themselves.
Jack was pushing the wheelbarrow behind, trying to follow the lead of
the distressed and angry birds. Bumps, elated by her position, was
brandishing a small whip and trying to manage her reins, which seemed
a difficult matter.
How they had got hold of the swans at all was a wonder, but Jack's white
suit was covered with green slime and soaked with water.
"I'm Snow White," called out Bumps, "but these thtupid thwans won't
go prop'ly!"
Miss Falkner said very little, but what she said had the effect of
bringing Jack to his senses.
"Well," she said; "you have shortened your happy day by this! What a
pity! You evidently were tired of the party. We will go straight back
to the school-room and stay there for the rest of the day."
In two minutes she had liberated the unhappy swans and was marching Jack
and Bumps--one on each side of her--back to the house. The little girls
watched them, half in amusement half in pity.
"That's what I say," said Rose, one of the twins, "a governess spoils
every bit of fun!"
"Miss Falkner doesn't," said Jill loyally, "but Jack does sometimes go
too far. He nearly hung Bumps the other day. He was pretending to do
it, but he got the rope too tight round her neck. She was a Royalist
and he was Oliver Cromwell. We had had it in our lesson that day. He
said he really felt she was his enemy, and he would have to get rid of
her! Miss Falkner was very angry. She is very quiet when she is angry,
but she's very nice. I love her!"