5
　　Settling in at Craggy-Tops
　　It seemed ages before Aunt Polly got through to Mr Roy. The master wasworried and puzzled. Jack¹ and Lucy-Ann had not returned, of course, and atfirst he had thought they had gone off for one of their walks, and that Jackhad found some unusual bird and had forgotten all about time.
　　But as the hours went by and still the children had not come back, hebecame seriously worried. It did not occur to him that they might have gonewith Philip, or he would have telephoned to the boy’s aunt at once.
　　He was most relieved to hear Mrs Sullivan, Philip’s aunt, speaking,giving him the news that the children were safe.
　　‘They arrived here with Philip,’ she said, with some sharpness. ‘I cannotthink how it was that they were allowed to do this. I cannot possibly keepthem.’
　　Mr Roy’s heart sank. He had hoped for one wild moment that hisproblem concerning Jack and Lucy-Ann, and that tiresome² parrot, wassolved. Now it seemed as if it wasn’t.
　　‘Well, Mrs Sullivan,’ said Mr Roy politely, though he did not feel at allcivil, ‘I’m sorry about it. The children went down to see Philip off, and Isuppose the boy persuaded them to go with him. It’s a pity you could notkeep them for the rest of the holidays, as they would probably be happierwith you and Philip. No doubt they have told you that their uncle cannothave them back these holidays. He sent me a cheque for a large sum ofmoney, hoping that I could have them. But I should be pleased to hand thisover to you if you felt that you could take charge of them, and we could getMr Trent’s consent to it.’
　　There was a pause. ‘How much was the cheque?’ asked Mrs Sullivan.
　　There was another pause after Mr Roy told her the sum of money thathad been sent. It certainly was a very generous amount. Mrs Sullivanthought quickly. The children would not cost much to keep. She could seethat they kept out of Jocelyn’s way. That girl Lucy-Ann could help Dinahwith the housework. And she would be able to pay off a few bills, whichwould be a great relief to her.
　　Mr Roy waited hopefully at the other end of the wire. He could not bearthe thought of having the parrot back again. Jack was bearable, Lucy-Annwas nice – but Kiki was impossible.
　　‘Well,’ said Mrs Sullivan, in the sort of voice that meant she wasprepared to give in. ‘Well – let me think now. It’s going to be difficult –because we’ve so little room here. I mean, though the house is enormous,half of it is in ruins and most of it is too draughty to live in. But perhaps wecould manage. If I use the tower-room again . . .’

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