Hes just going, said Dimmy, who looked quite worried. Go and tidy yourselves for tea.
As the children turned to go they heard the man speak again.
But why will you not sell me this little house? I am offering far more money to you for it than you will ever get when you want to sell it!
It has been in my family for two hundred years. said Dimmy firmly. It is true that I only live here in the summer-time, but I love it and I will not part from it.
Well, will you rent it to me for twelve months? asked the man.
No, said Miss Dimity. I have never let it, and I dont want to.
Very well, said the man angrily. Do as you please. But I think you are very foolish.
Im afraid I dont really mind what you think about me, said Dimmy with a laugh. Now,
please go. The children want their tea.
Oh, the children - yes, that reminds me, said the man sternly. Keep them out of the Old House from now on, or they will get into serious trouble. Im not going to have badly-behaved children running all over my house and grounds.
They are not badly behaved, said Dimmy, and they didnt know you were going to buy it till to-day. Good-day.
She showed the man out of the door. He went to the car frowning, started it with a great noise and roared off down the country lane.
Sort of fellow who likes a car to sound like a hundred aeroplanes, said Mike in disgust, looking out of his tower window. You know, Jack, theres something funny about that man. Why does he want to buy the Old House - and the Peep-Hole, too? Do you suppose hes going to do something that he wants no one to know of? This would be a marvellous place to do a bit of smuggling, for instance.
People use aeroplanes for that sort of thing nowadays, said Jack. No - I just cant imagine what hes going to do here - but Id dearly like to find out. And if Mr. Felipe, or whatever his name is, is up to something funny, I vote we find out what it is!
Yes, lets, said Nora excitedly. She and Peggy had come up to the boys room to brush their hair. I feel as if something is going to happen. Dont you?
I do rather, said Jack. Though it may all turn out to be quite ordinary.
Children! Are you never coming down to tea? called Miss Dimity. I suppose you dont want any jam-scones to-day?
Yes we do, yes we do! yelled the children, rushing down the winding stairs. Is there cream with them?
There was. Dimmy poured out their milk and handed the new scones thickly spread with raspberry jam.
Dimmy, who was that man? asked Jack.
He said his name was Mr. Felipe Diaz, said Dimmy, eating a scone. Fancy him thinking Id let him have the Peep-Hole! I certainly wouldnt sell my old home to a person like Mr. Diaz!
We think hes up to no good, said Jack, taking a second scone. And if he is, Dimmy, we are going to find out whats wrong!
Now dont you do anything of the sort, said Dimmy at once. Hes a man of his word, and if he says hell punish you if you trespass on his grounds you may be sure youll get into trouble if you disobey. Keep away from the Old House. Dont even peep over the wall.
The children said nothing. They didnt want to make any promises, because they never broke a promise, and it would spoil things if they had to promise Dimmy never to go near the Old House.
They ate a huge tea, and not a single scone or cake was left. You made too few scones, Dimmy dear, said Jack, getting up.
Oh no, I didnt, said Dimmy. You ate too many! I am just wondering whether I shall bother to think about supper for you - I am sure you couldnt possibly eat any more to-day.
The children laughed. They knew Dimmy was only teasing them. Were going out in Georges boat, said Jack. Why dont you come with us, Dimmy? Wed love to have you.
Dimmy shook her head. Ive plenty to do, she said. Go off and enjoy yourselves and see if you can possibly get an appetite for supper!
The children shot off to get Georges boat. He kept it tied to a rough little wooden pier in a cove nearby. He used it for fishing and it was a good, strong little boat.
George, did you see anything of the people who are going to buy the Old House? asked Jack eagerly.
Yes, said George, who was mending his fishing lines. They came and asked me to tidy up the garden a bit and to get a couple of women from the nearest village to scrub down the house. And they wanted to know a tidy lot about the coast around here!
Did they? What for? asked Mike.
Thats what Id like to know! said George, with a laugh. That mans up to no good, I reckon! He wanted me to sell him my boat too, when I told him it was the only one hereabouts.
Oh, George! You didnt sell it to him, did you? cried Jack in dismay.
Of course not, said George. I wouldnt part with my boat, not for a hundred pounds! I dont think they wanted the boat to use themselves though - I just think they didnt want me rowing round about this coast for a bit.
George! Do you think they are smugglers then? cried Mike. I thought smugglers used aeroplanes, not boats nowadays.
Theyve got some little game on, said George, packing up his nets neatly into the bottom of the boat. But Im not going to help them by selling my boat. Im going to keep my eyes open.