CHAPTER XIX. THE KNIGHT AND THE DRAGON

A telegram had been received in the morning, which kept Valetta and Fergus on the qui vive all day. Valetta was an unspeakable worry to the patient Miss Vincent, and Fergus arranged his fossils and minerals.

Both children flew out to meet their father at the gate, but words failed them as he came into the house, greeted the aunts, and sat down with Fergus on his knee, and Valetta encircled by his arm.

'Yes, Lilias is quite well, very busy and happy---with her first instalment of children.'

'I am so thankful that you are come,' said Adeline. 'Jane ventured to augur that you would, but I thought it too much to hope for.'

'There was no alternative,' said Sir Jasper.

'I infer that you halted at Avoncester.'

'I did so; I saw the poor boy.'

'What a comfort for his sister!'

'Poor fellow! Mine was the first friendly face he had seen, and he was almost overcome by it'---and the strong face quivered with emotion at the recollection of the boy's gratitude.

'He is a nice fellow,' said Jane. 'I am glad you have seen him, for neither Mr. White nor Rotherwood can believe that he is not utterly foolish, if not worse.'

'A boy may do foolish things without being a fool,' said Sir Jasper. 'Not that this one is such another as his father. I wish he were.'

'I suppose he has more of the student scholarly nature.'

'Yes. The enlistment, which was the making of his father, was a sort of moral suicide in him. I got him to tell me all about it, and I find that the idea of the inquest, and of having to mention you, you monkey, drove him frantic, and the dismissal completed the business.'

What are the answers to this following set of questions:

1. Where were they all day?
2. What held them there?
3. When did it arrive?
4. Was anyone distracted by something?
5. Whom?
6. How did Miss Vincent feel?
7. Is someone a new parent?
8. Do they have a lot of spare time?
9. Who was met at the gate?
10. How many kids were there?
11. Was someone acting in an ignorant way?
12. Who was it?
13. Did Jane think he was mean?
14. How did she feel about him?
15. Who had seen him?
16. Was someone putting something in order?
17. Who?
18. What was he organizing?
19. Who let him sit on their knee?
20. Was he holding anyone else?
21. Whom?
1. on the qui vive
2. A telegram
3. in the morning
4. yes
5. Fergus
6. worried
7. yes
8. yes
9. their father
10. Two
11. yes
12. the poor boy
13. no
14. She thought he was a nice fellow
15. Sir Jasper
16. yes
17. Fergus
18. his fossils and minerals
19. his father
20. yes
21. Valetta