Fallodens, but four!

"What has mother been about?" He stood aghast. For there were not only
Lady Laura and Nelly, but Trix, a child of eleven, and Roger, the
Winchester boy of fourteen, who was still at home after an attack
of measles.

They beamed at him as they descended. The children were quite aware they
were superfluous, and fell upon him with glee.

"You don't want us, Duggy, we know! But we made mother bring us."

"Mother, really you ought to have given me notice!" said her reproachful
son. "What am I to do with these brats?"

But the brats hung upon him, and his mother, "fat, fair and forty,"
smiled propitiatingly.

"Oh, my dear Duggy, never mind. They amuse themselves. They've promised
to be good. And they get into mischief in London, directly my back's
turned. How nice you look in flannels, dear! Are you going to row this
afternoon?"

"Well, considering you know that my schools are coming on in a
fortnight--" said Falloden, exasperated.

"It's so annoying of them!" said Lady Laura, sighing. "I wanted to bring
Nelly up for two or three weeks. We could have got a house. But your
father wouldn't hear of it."