D POV

"Oohh! Look at them! Won't you just look at them?"

The she-devil herself came to us, and I could barely hold the sour face in.

"Dana, don't worry. She'all be gone in five minutes,"Eric whispered.

"It'll be five minutes too many, Si."

"Aww. The little small things."

"Children, this is Mrs. Quickly."

"Oh, you mustn't start on a so formal footing. You must call me Auntie Selma."

"She wears too much perfume for a third time widow," I muttered.

"Dana, you'll get us in trouble," Simon hissed.

"At least I'm not the one hissing."

"Dana, just shush."

"Oh, dear. One does work up such a thirst in this heat."

"Never heard of a flirting widow before."

"Dana!"

"Oh. Tea. Yes, of course. Do go through. I'll, um,-"

"And leave these dear creatures? How can you ask it of me?"

As soon as they left, I felt like I was about to throw up. Luckily I didn't. Unluckily, Si sharply took my wrist.

"Dana, why do you have to keep making comments?"

"Simon, you know that I can't help it that I always speak my mind. I thought you of all people can understand that."

"But really, in front of her!? She'll know about the pranks. Come on! Let's go have a laugh."

S POV

As Mrs. Quickly talked about God knows what, I lowered the spider on the dumb blonde's head. (A/N no offense to all you blondes out there. My best friend is a blonde, and she is the smartest girl I know.)

"It's on her head," Tora whispered.

Papa noticed it, got on the widow to grab the spider, and put it in a box on the mantle. Mrs. Quickly started to talk again, and Papa gave her some food. He noticed it had worms in it, Dana's idea. She ate it and reached for more, but Papa stopped her. He offered her tea, and out came toad mucus. He opened the teapot, and a frog hopped out. Dana giggled right next to me. The jelly came out and was about to drop when Papa pulled Mrs. Quickly to the floor. Of course, she took it the wrong way. I gave Eric the signal to start the machine. I smirked.

"Finally, the best part," Dana whispered, and I knew she was smirking as well.

Mrs. Quickly got up and reached for the doorknob, but Papa got it first. He started to shake because of the electricity. Mrs. Quickly had opened the door. We immediately went back to our room,laughing.

"Papa's coming," I told Eric and Sebastian.

We came out and went on the steps. Dana was sitting with Tora.

Papa came in, saying,"She's gone. The only person in the whole world that stands between us and total ruin, and she's gone."

I stood next to Sebastian who asked,"What's "ruin?""

"There's no time to mince words. I can't support my own family. I never have been able to. There are just so many of you. But you are all so delicious."

"Mr. Brown, it just got harder when I came to live with you, right?"

"Dana, it's not anyone's fault. And Aggy came along and your mother was so ill, I said to her,"I think we should stop now, dear" and she said-she said,"I know." The fact of the matter is your Great-Aunt Adelaide has been supporting us for years with a monthly allowance. A little while ago, she told me I had to remarry or the allowance will stop. This woman today was my last chance. Our last chance."

"Ours?" I asked.

"When the money stops, the house would be taken. Some of you will perhaps will be put in the workhouse. Some will be put in the care of others. And, Dana, you'll be living with your father and stepmother."

"No."

"I don't know how many of you will be allowed to stay together. I'm sorry I have failed you, children."

With those sorrowful words, he left. Dana's eyes were full of tears and her hand covered her mouth.

"This isn't happening," she cried. She came down from her chair and hugged me.

"Do something," Lilly commanded.

"What would you suggest?"

Eric stood up, saying,"Change what happened. Bang your stick. Make it undo itself."

"Please, Nanny McPhee. Think of Aggy and Chrissie," Dana added, hugging me from the side again. "They could be beaten, or worse, killed. They have a bright future ahead of them."

"I cannot. These were your own actions. Simon promised that you would accept the consequences."

"Chrissie, come here. This might be the last chance I'll be able to hug you," Dana said, hugging her as tight as she could.

"What shall we do? Help us, Nanny McPhee! Tell us what to do!" I said.

"You must undo it for yourself."

"How? How?"

"Think. You are very clever children. Think."