"Do you know there is one thing we have never
once thought of," he said. "We are cousins."

It seemed so queer that they had talked so much
and never remembered this simple thing that they
laughed more than ever, because they had got into
the humor to laugh at anything. And in the
midst of the fun the door opened and in walked
Dr. Craven and Mrs. Medlock.

Dr. Craven started in actual alarm and Mrs.
Medlock almost fell back because he had accidentally
bumped against her.

"Good Lord!" exclaimed poor Mrs. Medlock,
with her eyes almost starting out of her head.
"Good Lord!"

"What is this?" said Dr. Craven, coming forward.
"What does it mean?"

Then Mary was reminded of the boy Rajah
again. Colin answered as if neither the doctor's
alarm nor Mrs. Medlock's terror were of the
slightest consequence. He was as little disturbed
or frightened as if an elderly cat and dog had
walked into the room.

"This is my cousin, Mary Lennox," he said.
"I asked her to come and talk to me. I like
her. She must come and talk to me whenever I
send for her."

Dr. Craven turned reproachfully to Mrs. Medlock.

[[186]]

p185 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p186w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p187

v?