Don't try to tell her everything at once , said Daddy from his hiding - place in the cabin.
As Mother came nearer , the four children were thinking of everything they had to tell her. It was a good thing she hadn't known that they had been to sea alone , and that Jim had been in hospital. But she would have to know now.
How could they tell her? They had all promised not to go to sea. And they had all promised to be back in time for tea yesterday.