"I aint going to keep you," said the woman; "only, p'r'aps, if you two are so hungry, p'r'aps I could give you a bit of supper." "Oh, yes, Diana! Do let her," said Orion. "What sort of supper?" asked Diana, who never allowed herself to be taken unawares. "Would it be stwawberries and k'eam, or would it be cake and milk?" "Strawberries and cream, and milk and cake, plenty and plenty," said the woman. "And what do you say to delicious soup and honey, p'r'aps? Oh, come along, my little loves; I'll give you something fine to eat." "Do let's go," said Orion; "my tumtum's so empty it feels like a big hole." "I know," said the woman, in a very sympathetic voice. "I have had it myself like that at times. It's sort of painful when it's like that; aint it?" "Yes," answered Orion. He went up to his sister, and took her hand. "Come along, Di," he said. "Do let this nice woman give us our supper." "You may be sure I won't give it," said the woman, "unless both you little children ask me in a very perlite voice. You must say, 'Please, Mother Rodesia.'" "I can't say that keer sort of name," said Diana. "Well, then, call me mother without anything else. They often does that at home--often and often. All the little kids is desp'ate fond of me. I dote so on little children. My heart runs over with love to 'em." "You would not let a little girl be beated?" said Diana. "Be beaten?" replied the woman. "No, that I wouldn't; it would be downright cruel." "I was beated to-day," said Diana; "it was an enemy did it, and I'm going to have her shotted." "Oh, I wouldn't do that!" said the woman. "You might be hanged up for that." "What's being hanged up?" asked Diana. "It's something very bad--I need not tell you now; but there are laws in this country, and if you shoot your enemies you are hanged up for it. You are not allowed to do those sort of things in this country." "Yes, I are," answered Diana, "'cos I are the gweat Diana. You underland, don't you?" "I don't know that I do; but, anyhow, I have no time to stand talking now. Come along, and you can tell me afterwards. I have got such a nice supper--plenty of strawberries and cream, plenty of milk and cake." "Oh, my tumtum," said Orion, pressing his hand to that part of his little body with great solemnity. "How soon will the supper be over? and how soon can we get back home?" asked Diana. "That depends on where your home is, my pretty little dear," said Mother Rodesia. "It's at Wectory, stoopid woman." "I don't know that place, miss." "Don't you know my Uncle William Dolman?" "What! the rector?" said the woman. "And so you come from the _Rectory_?" She looked frightened for a moment, and her manner became hesitating. "Are you one of the rector's children, my little love?" she asked. "No; he's only an uncle; he belongs to an aunt. I hate aunts. He's not a bad sort his own self; but I hate aunts!" "Then you wouldn't mind if you was to leave her?"