“If you like to go and get a glass you can have a little drop yourself.” She turned and took up her glass again, and, starting nervously, nearly let it fall as a loud crash sounded outside. The bewildered Martha had fallen downstairs. CHAPTER XXII JOAN HARTLEY did not realize the full consequences of her departure from the truth until the actual arrival of the Trimblett family, which, piloted by Mr. Hartley, made a triumphant appearance in a couple of station cabs. The roofs were piled high with luggage, and the leading cabman shared his seat with a brass-bound trunk of huge dimensions and extremely sharp corners. A short, sturdy girl of seventeen jumped out as soon as the vehicles came to a halt, and, taking her stand on the curb, proceeded to superintend the unloading. A succession of hasty directions to the leading cabman, one of the most docile of men, ended in the performance of a marvellous piece of jugglery with the big trunk, which he first balanced for an infinitesimal period of time on his nose, and then caught with his big toe. “What did you do that for?” demanded Miss Trimblett, hotly. There is a limit to the patience of every man, and the cabman was proceeding to tell her when he was checked by Mr. Hartley. “He ought to be locked up,” said Miss Trimblett flushing. She took up a band-box and joined the laden procession of boys and girls that was proceeding up the path to the house. Still red with indignation she was introduced to Joan, and, putting down the band-box, stood eying her with frank curiosity. “I thought you were older,” she said at last. “I had no idea father was married again until I got the letter. I shall call you Joan.” “You had all better call me that,” said Miss Hartley, hastily. “Never more surprised in my life,” continued Miss Trimblett. “However—” She paused and looked about her. “This is George,” she said, pulling forward a heavy-looking youth of sixteen. “This is Ted; he is fourteen—small for his age—and these are the twins, Dolly and Gertrude; they’re eleven. Dolly has got red hair and Gerty has got the sweetest temper.” The family, having been introduced and then summarily dismissed by the arbitrary Jessie, set out on a tour of inspection, while the elders, proceeding upstairs, set themselves to solve a problem in sleeping accommodation that would have daunted the proprietor of a Margate lodging-house. A scheme was at last arranged by which Hartley gave up his bedroom to the three Misses Trimblett and retired to a tiny room under the tiles. Miss Trimblett pointed out that it commanded a fine view. “It is the only thing to be done,” said Joan, softly. “It isn’t very big for three,” said Miss Trimblett, referring to her own room, “but the twins won’t be separated. I’ve always been used to a room to myself, but I suppose it can’t be helped for the present.”