“Hate me or not, you’ll stay where you are until dinner-time,” said Mrs. Dolman, and she left the room, locking the door after her.

Diana flew to it and kicked it furiously, but although she kicked and screamed and shouted herself hoarse, no one heard her, and no one came to the rescue.  At last, worn out with her frantic grief, she threw herself down in the middle of the floor and, babylike, forgot her sorrows in profound slumber.

The rest of the children were having a fairly happy morning, and Iris, who was trying to make the best of things, did not miss her little sister until the preparation gong for dinner sounded.  The moment its sonorous notes were heard pealing over the Rectory garden, little Ann got up soberly, and Lucy and Mary also rose to their feet.

“That is the first gong, Iris,” said Ann; “we must go in to clean our hands and have our hair brushed.  Mamma would be very angry if we were not all in the dining room when the second gong sounds.  There is only five minutes between the two gongs, so we had better go and get ready at once.”

Iris was quite ready to accompany her cousins into the house.  Now, for the first time, however, she missed Diana.

“Where is Di?” she said.  “Apollo, have you seen her?”

Apollo was coming up the lawn; Iris ran down to meet him.

“Oh, there’s Orion with Philip and Conrad,” said Iris, “but where can Di be?  I thought she was with you, Apollo.”

“I have not seen her for the greater part of the morning,” replied Apollo.  “Have you, Orion?”

“Not I,” answered Orion, giving himself a little shake.  “I say, Phil,” he continued, “is it true that you can take me fishing with you this afternoon?”

“Yes; but pray don’t talk so loud.  I’ll take you, if you won’t split about it.”

“What’s ’split’?” questioned Orion.

“Hush, you little beggar!” Philip drew Orion to one side and began to whisper in his ear.  Orion’s face got very red.

“Oh!” he said.  “Well, I won’t tell.  What are you talking about, Iris?”

“I want to find Diana,” said Iris.

“I have not seen her,” said Orion.  “I wish you would not bother me, Iris.  I am talking to Philip.  Phil and I has got some secrets.  Very well, Phil; we’ll walk on in front, if you like.”

“Yes, come along,” said Philip; “you can come too, Conrad.  Now, Orion, if you are not going to be a silly goose and a tell-tale, I’ll—­” Here he dropped his voice to a whisper, and Orion bent an attentive ear.

Iris, in some bewilderment, turned to her girl cousins.

“I must find Diana,” she said.

“She may be in the house,” said Ann.  “Perhaps she has gone to the nurseries—­perhaps she is with Simpson.”

The whole party entered the house, which was very cool and pleasant in contrast to the hot outside world.  They met Mr. Dolman striding across the hall.

“You had better be quick, children,” he called out.  “Mamma won’t be pleased unless you are all waiting and ready to sit down to table when the second gong sounds.”