Here was a blow! For the Rotherams always went to Sea View too, and had a
tent on the little strip of beach under the wood adjoining the Avories',
and they did everything together. And now it was very likely that the
Avories would not get lodgings at all, and certainly would not get any half
so good as Mrs. Dudeney's, where their ways were known, and their
bathing dresses were always dried at once in case they wanted to go in
again, and so on.

They were all discussing this together, and saying what a shame it was,
when suddenly the unfamiliar sound of the opening of the old stableyard
gates was heard, and then heavy wheels scrunched in and men's voices called
out directions, such as, "Steady, Joe!" "A little bit to the near side,
Bill!" and so forth.

Now, since the stable yard had not been used for years, it was no wonder
that the whole party was, so to speak, on tiptoe, longing to run and
investigate. But Mrs. Avory had always objected very strongly to
inquisitiveness, and so they stayed where they were and waited expectantly.
And then, after a minute or so, Kink came up to the table with a twinkle in
his old eye and a letter in his old hand.

"Didn't we hear the sound of a carriage?" Mrs. Avory asked.

"Did you, mum?" said old Kink, who was a great tease.

"I'm sure there were wheels," said Mrs. Avory.

Kink said nothing.

"Of course there were wheels," said Robert. "Don't be such an old humbug."