"It seems to be just the thing; but how about the rent, George? I should think they were awful dear."
"I don't suppose they are any more than the houses in the rows, Bill. They are very small, you see, and I don't suppose they would suit workmen as well as the others; at any rate we will see."
Whereupon George noted down on a scrap of paper the name of the agent of whom inquiry was to be made.
"No. 8," he said; "but what's the name of the street? Oh, there it is. Laburnum Villas. No. 8 Laburnum Villas; that sounds first-rate, doesn't it? I will get Mrs. Grimstone to go round to the agent to-morrow."
This Mrs. Grimstone agreed to do directly she was asked. After speaking to her husband she said, "I will get the key from the agent's and will be there just after twelve to-morrow, so if you go there straight when you get out you will be able to see the rooms and what state it's in."
"But how about Bob's dinner?" George asked.
"Oh, he will have it cold to-morrow, and I will set it out for him before I start."
"That is very kind, Mrs. Grimstone, thank you very much. It would be just the thing."
Accordingly, at ten minutes past twelve on the following day the two boys arrived breathless at No. 8 Laburnum Villas.
"Hurrah!" George shouted, "there is Mrs. Grimstone at the window."
"It's a tidy little place," Mrs. Grimstone said; "and it's in good order and won't want any money laying out upon it."
The house was certainly small, but the boys were delighted with it. On the ground-floor were two little rooms opening with folding doors, and a little kitchen built out behind. There was a room over this, and two rooms above the sitting rooms.
"That's just the right number," George said, "a bedroom each for us; it couldn't be nicer; and what pretty paper!"
"And there is a good long slip of garden behind," Mrs. Grimstone said, "where you could grow lots of vegetables. Of course in the front you would have flowers."
"Seven and sixpence a week, including rates and taxes. I call it dear for its size, but then of course it's got the garden and it looks pretty and nice. The agent says it's been painted and papered from top to bottom since the last people left, but he says the owner won't let it unless somebody comes who is likely to stop, and he will want references of respectability."