"So, you've been in the water! Where are the men ?" The children stammered out that they had seen no men.

They had just come up from the station.
Mrs.Stanhope shook her head.
"Some one must be sent to the fisherman's hut to tell the men to stop the search," she said coldly.

"I will leave the care of the children to more skilful hands"; and she withdrew without more words.
Aunt Clarissa put them to bed directly, and a big pitcher of hot tea was brought to each of them, from which they had to drink one steaming cup after another, till they were warmed through.

Then Clarissa sat down first by Emma's bed, and then by Fani's, to learn exactly what had happened, and whether they had met with any injuries that would need a doctor's attention.
In the midst of assurances that they were not injured, and of attempts to explain what had happened, the two tired miscreants fell asleep, and Aunt Clarissa went to her room with thankful heart that things were no worse.
The next morning Fani was determined, in spite of his weariness of limb, to be punctual at the breakfast table.

He sprang out of bed the moment that he waked, and dressed an hour too early.