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[⁹²] George looked gloomy. She had expected this but it was tiresome all the same. 'Anne's the only one who won't have to do lessons,' she said.

[⁹³] I'll do some too,' promised Anne. 'Perhaps not always, George, if it's a very fine day, for instance - but sometimes, just to keep you company.'

[⁹⁴] 'Thanks,' said George. 'But you needn't. I shall have Timmy.'

[⁹⁵] George's mother looked doubtful about this. 'We'll have to see what the tutor says about that, she said.

[⁹⁶] 'Mother! If the tutor says I can't have Timothy in the room, I jolly well won't do holiday lessons!’ began George, fiercely.

[⁹⁷] Her mother laughed. 'Well, well - here's our fierce, hot-tempered George again!’ she said. 'Go along, you two boys, and wash your hands and do your hair. You seem to have collected all the smuts on the railway.'

[⁹⁸] The children and Timothy went upstairs. It was such fun to be five again. They always counted Tim as one of themselves. He went everywhere with them, and really seemed to understand every single word they said.

[⁹⁹] 'I wonder what sort of a tutor Uncle Quentin will choose,' said Dick, as he scrubbed his nails. 'If only he would choose the right kind - someone jolly and full of fun, who knows that holiday lessons are sickening to have, and tries to make up for them by being a sport out of lesson-time. I suppose we'll have to work every morning.'

[¹⁰⁰] 'Hurry up. I want my tea,' said Julian. 'Come on down, Dick. We'll know about the tutor soon enough P

[¹⁰¹] They all went down together, and sat round the table. Joanna the cook had made a lovely lot of buns and a great big cake. There was not much left of either by the " time the four children had finished!

[¹⁰²] Uncle Quentin returned just as they were finishing. He seemed rather pleased with himself. He shook hands with the two boys and asked them if they had had a good term.

[¹⁰³] 'Did you get a tutor, Uncle Quentin?' asked Anne, who could see that everyone was simply bursting to know this.

[¹⁰⁴] 'Ah - yes, I did,' said her uncle. He sat down, whilst Aunt Fanny poured him out a cup of tea. 'I interviewed three applicants, and had almost chosen the last one, when another fellow came in, all in a hurry. Said he had only just seen the advertisement, and hoped he wasn't too late.'

[¹⁰⁵] 'Did you choose him?' asked Dick.

[¹⁰⁶] 'I did,' said his uncle. 'He seemed a most intelligent fellow. Even knew about me and my work! And he had the most wonderful letters of recommendation.'

[¹⁰⁷] 'I don't think the children need to know all these details,' murmured Aunt Fanny. 'Anyway - you asked him to come?'

[¹⁰⁸] 'Oh yes,' said Uncle Quentin. 'He's a good bit older than the others - they were rather young fellows - this one seems very responsible and intelligent. I'm sure you'll like him, Fanny. He'll fit in here very well. I feel I would like to have him to talk to me sometimes in the evening.'