"Will you come into the dining-room?
Everything's ready now." They all followed him, three of the younger ones--Tom, Dolly and Rosamund--laughing and whispering together.

Somehow Timmy never associated himself with those of his brothers and sisters nearest to him in age.
Radmore came last of all with Janet.

He felt as if he were in a strange, unreal dream.

It was all at once so like and so unlike what he had expected to find it.

All these quiet, demure-looking young strangers, instead of the jolly, familiar children he had left nine years ago--and, as he realised with a sharp pang--no George.