“But you haven’t got a bow and arrow,” said Orion.

Diana was silent for a moment.

“Anyhow,” she said, with a little shake, “I isn’t going to be fwightened.  Let’s sit close together, and let’s think.”

“Why can’t we open that door and go out?” said Orion.  “Why should we stay in this horrid room?”

“’Cos our foots is bare,” said Diana.

“But don’t let’s mind that,” said Orion; “let’s go to the door and open it, and let’s run back to Rectory.  I’d rather have Aunt Jane and Miss Ramsay than this horrid room—­and oh, Diana! my tumtum has got a big hole in it again.”

“And mine has too,” answered Diana.  “I could eat a whole loaf, that I could.”

“Hush!” whispered Orion; “somebody’s coming.  Oh, come close to me, Diana!”

“Now, you isn’t to be fwightened, little boy,” said Diana.  “I is near you, and I isn’t fwightened of nobody.”

At that moment the door was flung open, and Mother Rodesia, accompanied by a tall, dark man, with a scowling face, came in.

“Mornin’, little dears,” said Mother Rodesia.  “Now I have got something to say to you.”

“P’ease, where’s Wectory?” asked Diana.

“You are not going there just for the present, my dear.  This man, Ben is his name—­you told me last night that you were fond of uncles—­you can call ’im Uncle Ben; he’s very kind and very, very fond of children.”

“Oh, yes!  I’m very fond of children,” said the man.  He spoke in a gruff voice which seemed to come right from the bottom of his chest.

“And as you don’t like aunts,” continued Mother Rodesia, “I have brought an uncle.  You can call ’im Uncle Ben; and if you do just what he says, why, you’ll be as happy as the day is long.”

“Look here,” said the man; “you stop your talk, Rodesia.  Before I makes myself an uncle to these kids I must see what sort they are.  You stand up along here, little gal, and let me examine you.”

Diana scrambled instantly to her feet and went straight up to the man.  She gave him a keen glance from her piercing black eyes.

“What wight has you to speak to me in that sort of style?” she said.  “You isn’t my uncle, and I isn’t going to have nothing to do with you.”

“There,” said Mother Rodesia; “did I say one word too much for her?”

The man burst into a loud laugh.

“No, that you didn’t,” he said; “and aint you frightened of me, missy?”

“Fwightened?” replied Diana; “that aren’t me.”  She turned her back and strode back to Orion.

“’Member you is a giant,” she said, in a whisper; “and giants never is fwightened.”

The man laughed again.

“Well, they are a queer little pair,” he said.  “I tell you what it is, Rodesia Lee; I’ll give you a pund apiece for ’em.  Come, now; not a penny more.”

Diana stared very hard indeed when these words were uttered.  She had not the faintest idea what a “pund apiece” meant.  Mother Rodesia seemed to consider.