Mr.
Amory first went to examine a place on the wheel where a gate-post had
removed some of the paint, and he then put a foot on the step; but Diogenes
sprang up and growled so seriously that he withdrew.
"Please remove the dog," he said.
While this was being done, and the father and his two sons were inside,
Janet explained the situation to the others. They refused at first to
believe it.
"Do you mean to say," Robert exclaimed, "that the Slowcoach isn't ours at
all?"
"Yes," said Janet.
"It belongs to those measly pip-squeaks?" said Robert.
"Yes," said Janet.
Robert held his head in a kind of stupor.
CHAPTER 24
THE END
They had a very solemn tea. Everyone was depressed and mortified.
"We couldn't help it, could we, mother?" Janet said several times.
"Of course not," said Mrs. Avory. "It's no one's fault except the foolish
man who brought the caravan here. What has Kink said about it?" But as no
one had asked him, he was called to the cedar-tree, beneath which tea was
laid on fine days.
"Here's a go, mum," he said.
"What did the man say who brought the caravan?" Mrs. Avory said.
"As near as I can remember he showed me the letter, and said, Is that all
right?' I looked at it, and read, 'To be given to
Mrs.
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