“Well, lie down now, child, and go to sleep.  I am afraid he is a bit feverish, ma’am.”

“No, that I aren’t,” said Orion.  “Only I’m drefful sick,” he added.

“Listen to me, Orion,” said Mrs. Dolman, seating herself on the edge of the bed and gazing very sternly at the little fellow.  “I intend to wring a confession out of you.”

“What’s to wring?” asked Orion.

“I am going to get you to tell me where you got the lollipops and ginger-beer.”

“I promised not to tell, and I aren’t going to,” answered Orion.

“But you must.  I insist.”

“Perhaps, Aunt Jane,” said Iris, “I could get him to tell.  You see he is not accustomed to—­not accustomed to——­” Her little face turned crimson.

“What do you mean, Iris?  Do you object to the way I speak to this child?”

“Mother never spoke to him like that,” said Iris.

“And oh! it is so hot, and he is not well, and I think I can manage him.  I may get him to tell me.”

“Yes, I’ll tell you,” said Orion, “’cos you’ll be faithful.”

“Well, really,” said Mrs. Dolman, “I am absolutely perplexed.  I suppose I must give in on this occasion, or that child will be really ill, and I by no means wish to have the expense of a doctor.  Miss Ramsay, you and I had better leave that little pair together.  You can remain with Orion until dinner-time, Iris.”

“Thank you very much indeed, Aunt Jane,” replied Iris.

That day at dinner Iris looked very grave.  Orion was better, but was not present.  Mrs. Dolman waited until the meal had come to an end, then she called the little girl to her side.

“Now, my dear Iris, what is all this mystery?” she asked.

“Orion has told me all about it, Aunt Jane, but I don’t think I’ll tell.  Please don’t ask me.”

“My dear.  I insist upon knowing.”

“It was not his fault, Aunt Jane, and I am almost sure he will never do it again; he is very sorry indeed.  I think he will try to be good in future.”

Mrs. Dolman was about to reply angrily, when a sudden memory came over her.  She recalled words her brother had used.

“I will give you the children,” he had said, “but you must try to be gentle with them.”

She looked at Iris now, and did not speak for nearly a minute.

“Very well,” she said then; “you are a queer child, but I am inclined to trust you.  Only please understand that if ever there is any misconduct in the future, I shall insist on knowing everything.”

“I am greatly obliged to you, Aunt Jane.  I could love you for being so kind.  I will promise that Orion never does anything of that sort again.”

The children all filed out of the dining room.  They had now, according to the rule of the day, to return to the schoolroom and lie down for an hour.  This part of the daily programme was intensely distasteful to the little Dolmans, and certainly the Delaneys did not appreciate it a bit better, but at long last the wearisome lessons were over, and the little people were free.