CHAPTER XIX

THE BIG HOUSE WOULD SEEM EMPTY NO
MORE

  

“NHE two children did not know exactly
whether they were frightened or not.
If it had not seemed impossible that
Ls anything should go entirely wrong
while J ohn Holt was near them, they would have felt
rather queer. But John Holt was evidently not the
least alarmed.

“Look here,” he said, “I’m glad of it. I want to
see that woman.”

“Do you?” exclaimed Robin and Meg together.

“Yes, I do,” he said. “Come along, and let’s go and
find her.” And he strode out towards the Agricultural
Building as if he were going towards something
interesting.

It is true that the Agricultural Building had
been too nearly connected with Aunt Matilda’s
_ world to hold the greatest attractions for the little
pilgrims. It had indeed | gone rather hard with