"A pretty time for anybody to have to set to to sweep and dust." Kitty, though, could not show any great sympathy there; having to sweep and dust seemed to her at that moment such trifling troubles.

"Where is she now, Emily ?" "In the spare-room." "Oh, the dust under the bed!" groaned Kitty.

"She is sure to see it; it blows out to meet you every time you move!" "Never mind that now," said Dan; "it is pretty dark everywhere.

But we had better do a bunk and clean ourselves up a bit before she sees us," and he set the example by kicking off his shoes and disappearing like a streak up the stairs.
In another moment the hall was empty, save for eight very dirty shoes and the pile of severe-looking luggage.
To convince Aunt Pike that her presence and care were absolutely unnecessary was the one great aim and object which now filled them all, and as a means to this end their first idea was to dress, act, and talk as correctly and unblamably as boys and girls could.

So, by the time the worthy lady was heard descending, they were all in the drawing-room, seated primly on the stiffest chairs they could find, and apparently absorbed in the books they gazed at with serious faces and furrowed brows.