Would you like to see it, Billy ?" The five children drew a step nearer, inspecting him with merciless candour.
"Is it all right ?" asked Selwyn again, smilingly uneasy under the concentrated scrutiny.

"How about it, Drina?
Shall we shake hands ?" Drina spoke at last: "Ye-es," she said slowly, "I think it is all right to shake hands." She took a step forward, stretching out her hand.
Selwyn stooped; she laid her right hand across his, hesitated, looked up fearlessly, and then, raising herself on tiptoe, placed both arms upon his shoulders, offering her lips.
One by one the other children came forward to greet this promising new uncle whom the younger among them had never before seen, and whom Drina, the oldest, had forgotten except as that fabled warrior of legendary exploits whose name and fame had become cherished classics of their nursery.
And now children and dogs clustered amicably around him; under foot tails wagged, noses sniffed; playful puppy teeth tweaked at his coat-skirts; and in front and at either hand eager flushed little faces were upturned to his, shy hands sought his and nestled confidently into the hollow of his palms or took firm proprietary hold of sleeve and coat.
"I infer," observed Selwyn blandly, "that your father and mother are not at home.

Perhaps I'd better stop in later." "But you are going to stay here, aren't you ?" exclaimed Drina in dismay.
"Don't you expect to tell us stories?
Don't you expect to stay here and live with us and put on your uniform for us and show us your swords and pistols?
_Don't_ you ?" "We have waited such a very long time for you to do this," added Billy.
"If you'll come up to the nursery we'll have a drag-hunt for you," pleaded Drina.

"Everybody is out of the house and we can make as much noise as we please! Will you ?" "Haven't you any governesses or nurses or something ?" asked Selwyn, finding himself already on the stairway, and still being dragged upward.
"Our governess is away," said Billy triumphantly, "and our nurses can do nothing with us." "I don't doubt it," murmured Selwyn; "but where are they ?" "Somebody must have locked them in the schoolroom," observed Billy carelessly.

"Come on, Uncle Philip; we'll have a first-class drag-hunt before we unlock the schoolroom and let them out." "Anyway, they can brew tea there if they are lonely," added Drina, ushering Selwyn into the big sunny nursery, where he stood, irresolute, looking about him, aware that he was conniving at open mutiny.