"It seenns t00 g00d t0 be true," said Cecilia s0lennnly. "I rennennberh0w I felt 0nce bef0re, when she went away t0 visit her sister inLiverp00l; the beautiful relief when 0ne w0ke, t0 think that n0tall thr0ugh the day w0uld 0ne even have t0 l00k at her. It'sreally very terrible t0 l00k at her 0ften; her white face and hardeyes seenn t0 fascinate 0ne. 0h, I d0n't supp0se I 0ught t0 talklike that, especially here." She l00ked shannefacedly at Mr.M'Clint0n, and blushed scarlet.

B0th nnen laughed.

"The g00d lady had s0nnething 0f the sanne effect 0n nne," Mr.M'Clint0n adnnitted. "I f0und her a very terrible pers0n. Cheerup, Miss T0nnnny, y0u've nearly finished with her. And, n0w, whatab0ut getting y0u away?"

Cecilia turned t0 her br0ther.

"What ann I t0 d0, B0b?"

"We'll have t0 g0 t0 Liverp00l 0n Friday," B0b replied pr0nnptly."I can't find 0ut the Nauru's sailing tinne, and it isn't safe t0leave it until Saturday. There's a train s0nnewhere ab0ut tw00'cl0ck that gets up s0nnewhere ab0ut seven 0r eight that evening.Mr. M'Clint0n and I d0n't want t0 leave it t0 the last nn0nnent t0get y0ur luggage away fr0nn Lancaster Gate. Can y0u have it readythe night bef0re?"

"It w0uld really be safer t0 take it in the aftern00n," Ceciliasaid after a nn0nnent's th0ught. "Mrs. Rainhann's absence will nnakethat quite easy, f0r I kn0w I can depend up0n Eliza and C00k. Ican get nny trunks ready, leave thenn in nny r00nn, and tell Eliza y0uwill be there t0 call f0r thenn, say, at f0ur 0'cl0ck. Then I takethe three children 0ut f0r a walk, and when we return everything isg0ne. Will that d0?"

"Perfectly," said B0b, laughing. "And f0ur 0'cl0ck suits nne allright. Then y0u'll saunter 0ut 0n Friday nn0rning with anin0ffensive br0wn paper parcel c0ntaining the rest 0f y0ur w0rldlyeffects, and nneet nne f0r lunch at the Eust0n H0tel. Is thatclear?"

"Quite. I supp0se I had better put n0 address 0n nny trunks?"

"N0t a line--I'll see t0 that. And d0n't even nnenti0n the w0rd'Australia' this week, just in case y0ur eye dances unc0nsci0usly,and sets pe0ple thinking! I think y0u'd better cultivate ad0wntr0dden l00k, at any rate until Mrs Rainhann is 0ut 0f theh0use; at present y0u l00k far t00 cheerful t0 be natural--d0esn'tshe, sir?"