"You first," said Mr.MacAngus, again to Janet; "you're the eldest, I can see.""My name," said Janet, "is Janet Avory.I live in Chiswick.Our caravan is the Slowcoach.We are going to Stratford-on-Avon.Our horse is called Moses.Our--""Oh, Janet," said Hester, "you're not leaving anything for us to tell!""Very well," said Janet, "that's all."
"My name," said Mary, "is Mary Rotheram.I am the daughter of a doctor at Chiswick.My brother and I are the Avories' guests.I am fourteen.Father has one of your pictures.""Good judge!" Mr.MacAngus said.
"Now, Macbeth," he said, pointing to Robert.
"My name isn't Macbeth," said Robert.
"No," said the artist, "but that's how I think of you.Why? Can anyone tell me?""I can," said Hester."Because he woke you up--'Macbeth hath murdered sleep.'""Splendid!" said Mr.MacAngus."As a reward you shall tell your story before Macbeth does.""I am nine," said Hester."My name is Hester.I adore Shakespeare.I am Janet's sister.""Good!" said Mr.MacAngus."We will read Shakespeare together this afternoon.From the way you walk I can see that this is blister day.We will all take it easy and be happy, and you shall cure your lameness.Now, Mac.""I am thirteen," said Robert."I am the geographer of the party.I am sorry for murdering your sleep, but glad, too, because you're so jolly.""Now you," said Mr.MacAngus to Jack Rotheram.
"I am not an Avory," said Jack."I am Mary's brother.I am twelve.I am going to Osborne next year.""Very sensible of you," said Mr.MacAngus."And you, sir," he added to Horace Campbell, "the burglar's friend.""My name is Horace Campbell," he replied."I am the son of the Vicar of Chiswick.I am nine.I am also the Keeper of the Tin-opener.""Oh, yes," said Jack, "I forgot that.I am the Preserver of Enough Oil in the Beatrice Stove.""I am proud to meet such important personages," said Mr.MacAngus."And now, lastly, you,"--he said to Gregory,--"the little nipper, the tiny tot of the party."Gregory was furious.He scowled at the artist like thunder.
"Go on," said Mr.MacAngus; "don't mind me.I always tease little important boys.""My name is Gregory Bruce Avory," said Gregory, "and I am seven.I am going to be an aviator.I have to ask the farmers if we may camp in their fields, and I keep the corkscrew.Please tell me," he added, "why you call your horse Pencil? ""Because he draws me," said Mr.MacAngus.
"And now," he continued, "let us do the most interesting thing in the world to people like ourselves: let us examine each other's caravans."After they had finished visiting each other, and Mr.MacAngus had given them, speaking as an old campaigner, some very useful if simple hints, such as always pitching the tent with its back to the wind; and keeping inside a supply of dry wood to light the fires with; and tying fern on Moses's head, against the flies; and carrying cabbage leaves in their own hats, against the heat; and walking with long staves instead of short walking sticks--after this he made them all sit round their fire, and sketched them, and the picture hangs at this very moment in Mrs.Avory's bedroom at "The Gables."After lunch, which he shared with them, adding to the pot some very fragrant mixed herbs from a little packet, they lay on the grass round him, and he read to them from Shakespeare--first from "Macbeth," which was very dreadful, but fine, and then from "Midsummer Night's Dream " and the "Winter's Tale."After supper he took them outside the Hollow, and they lay on their backs and studied the stars, about which he knew everything that can be known, and nothing whatever that Gregory wanted to know.
And they went to bed early, to be ready for the long journey on the morrow-- with their feet covered with Mr.Lenox's ointment--declaring it was one of the most delightful days they had ever spent.
