“What do you mean by being shotted, Diana?”

But here Diana pursed up her rosy lips and looked rather solemn.

“That’s a secret,” she answered.  “Uncle William, may I have a whole holiday to-day?”

“I think so, my dear little girl.  I really think that can be managed.  It is too hot to work—­at least, I find it so.”

“Then course I does also,” answered Diana, clapping her hands.  “Shall we go out into the garding—­what you say?”

“Would you like to?” he asked.

“Yes, more particular in fruit garding.  We can eat cherries and strawberries, and pelt each other.  What you say?”

Mr. Dolman looked out of the open window.  He was pretty certain that his wife by this time was absent in the village.  The clock on the mantelpiece pointed to half-past eleven; the early dinner would not be ready until one o’clock.  It would be cool and pleasant in the fruit garden, and it would please poor little Diana, who, in his opinion, had been very harshly treated.

“All right,” he answered, “but, you know, your aunt is not to be told.”

He rose from his chair as he spoke, and, stretching out his long hand, allowed Diana to curl her fingers round one of his.

“I should wather think Aunt Jane isn’t to know,” replied Diana, beginning to skip in her rapture.  “I don’t like aunts; I always said so.  I like uncles; they isn’t half bad.  You isn’t bad, for an old man.  You is awfu’ old, isn’t you?”

“Not so very old, Diana.  I’m not forty yet.”

“Forty!  What a ter’ble age!” said Diana.  “You must ’member all the kings and queens of England; don’t you, Uncle William?”

“Not quite all, Diana.  Now, I’ll just take you through the garden, for I think a little fresh air will do you good.”

“And if I pop cherries into your mouf it ’ll do you good,” answered Diana.  “Oh, we’ll have a lovely time!”

So they did, and Mr. Dolman devoutly hoped that there was no one there to see.  For Diana rapidly recovered her spirits, and picked cherries in quantities and pelted her uncle; and then she ran races and incited him to follow her, and she picked strawberries, heaps and heaps, and got him to sit down on a little bench near the strawberry beds, and popped the delicious ripe berries into his mouth; and although he had never played before in such a fashion with any little girl, he quite enjoyed it, and presently entered the house with his lips suspiciously red, and a confession deep down in his heart that he had spent quite a pleasant morning.

At dinner-time Diana and her uncle walked into the room, side by side.

“Well, William,” said Mrs. Dolman, “I hope you have finished your sermon.”

“Not quite, my dear,” he answered.

“Not kite, my dear,” echoed Diana.

Mr. Dolman gave her a half-terrified glance, but she was stanch enough, and had not the least idea of betraying the happy morning they had spent together.