Why, who have they got with them ?" she said in surprise, as they drew nearer the group on the grass.
Before they were close enough to recognize faces the circle suddenly seemed to break up and fall apart.
One of its members turned sharply round and fled away across the grass, plunging into the thick bracken and bush, and disappearing from sight in less time than it takes to tell.
"Whoever had you with you ?" Esther said when they reached the children.
There was a half-second's silence, then Pip threw some sticks on the fire and said coolly: "Only a friend of Meg's, a frightened kind of kid who has quite a dread of the pater.

I believe she imagines soldiers go round with their swords sharpened, ready for use." He laughed lightly.

Nell joined in in a little hysterical way, and Baby began to cry.
Meg, white as death, picked her up and hurriedly began telling her the story of the three bears for comfort.
Esther looked a little puzzled, but, of course, never dreamt of connecting the flying figure with Judy.
And the Captain seemed delightfully blind and unsuspicious.

He lay down on the grass and let the General swarm all over him; he made jokes with Esther; he told several stories of his young days, and never even seemed to remark that his audience seemed inattentive and constrained.
"Haven't you made some tea ?" Esther said at last.

"We love billy tea, and thought you would be sure to have some ?" "Bunty hasn't come, he was to have brought the billy," Pip said, half sulkily.