"But it's a bore--a whole week of it--upsets one's work." "It needn't," said Jeremy, "if you stay indoors." This amused Mr.Somerset immensely.

He laughed a great deal.
"We always have to," said Jeremy, rather hurt.

"We're not allowed farther than the garden." "Ah, but I'm older than you are," said Mr.Somerset.

"It was the same with me once." "And what did you do?
Did you go all the same ?" "You bet, I did," said the red-faced hero, more intent on his reminiscences than on the effect that this might have on the morals of his pupil.
Jeremy waited then for the parental command that was always issued.

It was: "Now, children, you must promise me never to go outside the house this week unless you have asked permission first." And then: "And on no account to speak to any stranger about anything whatever." And then: "Don't look out of the back windows, mind." (From the extreme corners of the bedroom windows you could see a patch of the meadow whereon the gipsy-vans settled.) These commands had been as regular as the Fair, and always, of course, the children had promised obedience.