train; and they'd get me on the way back.

[Illustration: I believed they had really gone away, and left me all
alone]

After a few minutes the trunks were in the launch, the house was locked
and Mr. Taylor had the key. The Aunties kissed me good-bye, and Aunty
Edith promised to tell Uncle Burt I was a good boy, and Aunty May said
she'd come back for me as soon as she could--and they shook hands with
Mr. Taylor and he said, "Sho, I gotter feed them Teddy-cats," and went
down the steps. Then they got into the launch and went off, and I waved
at them as long as I could see them; and then I sat down by the canal
bank and felt as if I couldn't bear it, for it wasn't till then I
believed they had really gone away and left me all alone.

[Illustration]




CHAPTER VIII


AT TURNERS'

Up at Turners' it was nice. They had a big stone house with lots of room
in it, and the girls, Charlotte and Grace, were nice to play with, and
Mrs. Turner always seemed to know what a boy wanted. She did pat me on
the head and call me "pigeon" sometimes, but then, she did that to Mr.
Turner, too, so I didn't mind.