"Then they sat and swayed backwards and forwards again and muttered
something that sounded like Pom!"

"That would be 'Om', and then?"

"I couldn't wait any longer for I had some letters to write."

She smiled at him.

"I shall give you another cup of tea to reward you for your report,"
she said. "It has all been most interesting. Tell me again about the
breathing in and holding your breath."

Georgie did so, and illustrated in his own person what had happened.
Next moment Lucia was imitating him, and Peppino came round in order to
get a better view of what Georgie was doing. Then they all sat,
inhaling through one nostril, holding their breath, and then expelling
it again.

"Very interesting," said Lucia at the end. "Upon my word, it does give
one a sort of feeling of vigour and lightness. I wonder if there is
something in it."




Chapter THREE


Though "The Hurst" was, as befitted its Chatelaine, the most