The Captain insisted on Pip and Meg walking with him, and he sent
Baby and Nell on in front, one on either side of Esther, who was
alternately leading and carrying the General.
This arrangement being, as indeed Pip shrewdly suspected; to prevent
the possibility of any intercourse or formation of new plans.
And when they got home he invited them all to come into his
smoking-room, a little slit of a place off the dining-room.
Esther took the General upstairs, but the others followed him in
silence.
"Sit down, Pip, my boy," he said genially. "Come, Meg, make yourself
at home, take a seat in that armchair. Nell and Baby can occupy
the lounge."
They all sat down helplessly where he told them, and watched his
face anxiously.
He selected a pipe from the row over the mantelpiece, fitted a new
mouthpiece to it, and carefully filled it.
"As you are all in possession of my room," he said in an urbane voice,
"I can hardly smoke with any comfort here, I am afraid. I will come
and talk to you again later on. I am going to have a pipe first in
the old loft in the cow paddock. Keep out of mischief till I come back."
He struck a match, lighted his tobacco, and, without a glance at the
silent children, left the room, locking the door behind him.
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