"He's under the seat," said Dick solemnly.

"Come out, Tom," said his father, "and don't be such an ass."

Tom crawled out, a mass of dust and grime, not in the least disconcerted.

"I thought I could travel under the seat if I liked," he said.

"Oh, if you _like_!" said his father; but nurse, with a look of despair,
caught at his knickerbockers just as he was plunging into the dust again.
"Not whilst I have power to hold you back, Master Dick," she said.--"No,
sir, you haven't got the washing of him, and wild horses won't be equal
to it if he gets his way."

"Well, keep still, Tommy," said his father.

Tommy squirmed and wriggled, but nurse's hand was muscular, and the
strength of despair was in her grip. Mrs. Beauchamp realized that in a
few minutes the keeping in order of the turbulent crew would fall to her,
but for the present she tried to shut her ears to Susie's domineering
tones and Tommy's scornful answers. Susie always chose the most
unsuitable moments for displays of temper, and Mrs. Beauchamp sighed as
she looked at the firm little mouth and eager blue eyes. She felt so
very, very sorry to be leaving Dick the elder in London--so intolerably
selfish. Her voice was full of tender regret.

"It seems so horrid of me, Dick. It is _you_ who ought to be having the
holiday, not me."