you can't think of someone as a stranger when you've seen him asleep on your dinner table.
Jim Brading had become one of the family.
while they were eating, they asked him lots of questions, but not another word was said about them spending a night in the Goblin.
they were beginning to think he had forgotten, and then,suddenly, the offer was made again, and mother was there to hear it.
'what are you going to do until your uncle comes?'
wait around for him,'said Jim.'but look, I meant what I said earlier. why don't you come with me for a few days?
I can find room for you...'
'sleeping on a ship,' said Titty.' oh, mother...'
they'd love it, of course,' said mother,' but I can't let them go just now. their father's on his way home and we've come to meet him at Harwich. I can't meet him and tell him that most of his family's gone off to sea.'
! i wouldn't take them to sea,' said Jim.' just on the rivers and Harwich harbour. there's plenty to see.'
' I say, mother, couldn't we?' said John.
'just for a few days,' said Titty.
If you say when you want them back,' said Jim, 'I'll promise to get them back to Pin Mill in plenty of time.'
'I'm not sure, so I'm going to think about it,' said mother.'and Mr Brading must think about it, too. he may wake up in the morning and not like the idea.'
Oh, mother!' said Susan, who had not said a word till then.
'no, Susan,' said mother firmly. ' mr Brading's tired and he should be in bed asleep now. And so should Bridget. We'll talk about it again in the morning.'