By a kindly provision of nature they had been able, in the darkness, to follow the fortunes of that vociferous fray.
In three minutes Lady Ryehampton had forgotten the battle-song.

She was charmed, lost in admiration of the home, of the fatness and healthiness of the blinking kittens, the neatness and the cleanliness.
She gushed enthusiastic approbation.

"To think," she cried, "that you have done this yourself! A boy of thirteen!" "Erebus did quite as much as I did," said the Terror quickly.
"And Wiggins helped a lot.

He's a friend of ours," said Erebus no less quickly.
Lady Ryehampton's face softened to Erebus--to Erebus, the instructor of parrots.
Sir Maurice joined them.

His eyes were red and moist, as if they had but now been full of tears.
"It's a very creditable piece of work," he said in a tone of warm approval.
Lady Ryehampton looked round the home once more; and her face fell.
She said uneasily: "But you must be heavily in debt." "In debt ?" said the Terror.