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diff --git a/26322-h/26322-h.htm b/26322-h/26322-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..91e4763 --- /dev/null +++ b/26322-h/26322-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6662 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Peterkin, by Mrs. Molesworth. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 80%;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Peterkin, by Mary Louisa Molesworth + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Peterkin + +Author: Mary Louisa Molesworth + +Illustrator: H. R. Millar + +Release Date: August 15, 2008 [EBook #26322] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETERKIN *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Emmy, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>PETERKIN</h1> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Cover and frontispiece images"> +<tr><td align='left'><div class="figcenter" style="width: 317px;"> +<img src="images/icover.jpg" width="317" height="500" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> +</td><td align='left'><div class="figcenter" style="width: 285px;"><a name="front" id="front"></a> +<img src="images/i005.png" width="285" height="500" alt="Mamma . . . hugged him as if he'd been lost for a year. [Frontispiece." title="Mamma . . . hugged him as if he'd been lost for a year. [Frontispiece." /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Mamma . . . hugged him as if he'd been lost for a year.</span> <br /><span style="margin-left: 10em;">[<i>Frontispiece.</i></span></span> +</div></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/emblem.png" width="200" height="68" alt="Emblem" title="Emblem" /> +</div> + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>PETERKIN</h1> + + +<h3>BY</h3> + + +<h2>MRS. MOLESWORTH</h2> + + +<div class='center'>AUTHOR OF 'CARROTS,' 'CUCKOO CLOCK,' 'TELL ME A STORY'<br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +<br /> +<br /><i>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. R. MILLAR</i><br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +<br /> +<b>London</b><br /> +MACMILLAN AND CO., <span class="smcap">Limited</span><br /> +<small>NEW YORK : THE MACMILLAN COMPANY</small><br /> +1902<br /> +<br /> + +<small><i>All rights reserved</i></small><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'> +<small>TO</small><br /> +<br /> +"ALEX"<br /> +<br /> +ALEXANDER DOBREE HERRIES<br /> +<br /> +<small>I DEDICATE THIS LITTLE STORY</small><br /> +</div><div class='blockquot'>155 <span class="smcap">Sloane Street</span>, S.W.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>May Day</i> 1902</span><br /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><small>CHAP.</small></td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">What <i>can</i> have become of Him?</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">Found</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">An Invitation</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">Very Mysterious</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">'Stratagems'</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">Margaret</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">The Great Plan</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">A Terrible Idea</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">In A Fog</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">Beryl</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">Dear Mamma</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'> <span class="smcap">No Mystery after all</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">Mamma . . . hugged him as if he'd been lost for a year</span></div></td> +<td align='right' colspan='3'><a href="#front"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">Our missing Peterkin</span></div></td> +<td align='right' colspan='2'><i>To face page</i> </td> +<td align='right' valign='bottom'><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">No sooner did he catch sight of us two with his ugly round beady eyes . . . than he shut up</span></div></td> +<td align='center'>"</td> +<td align='center'>"</td> +<td align='right' valign='bottom'><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">Pete held out his brown-paper parcel. 'This is the poetry-book,' he said</span></div></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right' valign='bottom'><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">We had no difficulty in finding her bath-chair</span></div></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right' valign='bottom'><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">He looked at the tickets. . . . 'How's this?' he said</span></div></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right' valign='bottom'><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">'Now,' she began . . . drawing Margaret to her, 'tell me all about it'</span></div></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right' valign='bottom'><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'><span class="smcap">The frills had worked up all round his face</span></div></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right' valign='bottom'><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<h2>PETERKIN</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>WHAT <i>CAN</i> HAVE BECOME OF HIM?</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">We</span> were all at tea in the nursery. All except him. +The door burst open and James put his head in.</div> + +<p>'If you please, Mrs. Brough,' he began,—'Mrs. +Brough' is the servants' name for nurse. Mamma +calls her 'Brough' sometimes, but we always call her +'nurse,' of course,—'If you please, Mrs. Brough, is +Master Peterkin here?'</p> + +<p>Nurse looked up, rather vexed. She doesn't like +burstings in.</p> + +<p>'Of course not, James,' she said. 'He is out +driving with his mamma. You must have seen them +start.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<p>'It's just that,' said James, in his silly way. 'It's +his mamma that wants to know.'</p> + +<p>And then we noticed that James's face was much +redder than usual. It may have been partly that he +had run upstairs very fast, for he is really very good-natured, +but it looked as if he was rather in a fuss, +too.</p> + +<p>Nurse sat very bolt up in her chair, and <i>her</i> face +began to get queer, and her voice to get vexeder. +Lots of people get cross when they are startled or +frightened. I have noticed it.</p> + +<p>'What do you mean, James? Please to explain,' +she said.</p> + +<p>'I can't stop,' he said, 'and I don't rightly understand, +myself. His mamma sent Master Peterkin +home before her, half-an-hour ago or more, but he +hasn't come in, not as I've seen, nor nobody else, I'm +afraid. So where he's got to, who can say?'</p> + +<p>And James turned to go.</p> + +<p>Nurse stopped him, getting up from her place as +she spoke.</p> + +<p>'Was he in the carriage?' she asked.</p> + +<p>'Of course not. Beckett would have seen him +in, all right, if he had been,' said James, in a very +superior tone. 'He was to run home by himself a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +bit of a way, as I take it,' he added, as he hurried off +at last.</p> + +<p>'I must go downstairs to your mamma,' said +nurse. 'Miss Blanchie, my dear, will you look after +Miss Elvira, and see that she doesn't spill her tea?'</p> + +<p>'<i>Nursie</i>,' said Elvira, in a very offended tone, +'you know I never spill my tea now.'</p> + +<p>'Not since the day before yesterday,' I was +beginning to say, but I didn't. For I thought to +myself, if there was any real trouble about Peterkin, +it wouldn't be at all a good time to tease each other. +I don't think Elf—that's Elvira's pet name—had +understood about him being lost. Indeed, I don't +think I had quite taken it in myself, till I saw how +grave the two eldest ones were looking.</p> + +<p>'Clem,' I said, 'do you think there can really be +anything the matter?'</p> + +<p>Clement is the eldest of us all, and he is always +the one we go to first if we are in any trouble. But +he is sometimes rather slow; he is not as quick and +clever as Blanche, and she often puts him down at +first, though she generally comes round to his way in +the end. She answered for him now, though I +hadn't spoken to her.</p> + +<p>'How can there not be something the matter?' she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +said sharply. 'If Peterkin has been half-an-hour or +an hour, perhaps, wandering about the streets, it +shows he has at least lost his way, and who knows +where he's got to. I wish you wouldn't ask such +silly questions, Giles.'</p> + +<p>Then, all of a sudden, Elf burst out crying. It +may have been partly Blanche's sharp tone, which +had startled her, and made her take more notice of +it all.</p> + +<p>'Oh, Clem, Clem,' she wailed, 'could he have been +stolened?'</p> + +<p>'No, no, darling,' said Clement, dabbing her face +with his pocket-handkerchief. 'There are kind policemen +in the streets, you know. They wouldn't let a +little boy like Peterkin be stolen.'</p> + +<p>'But they does take little boys to pison,' said +Elf. 'I've see'd them. It's 'cos of that I'm frightened +of them for Peterkin.'</p> + +<p>That was not quite true. She had never thought +of policemen till, unluckily, Clem spoke of them in +his wish to comfort her. She did not mean to say +what was not true, of course, but there never was +such a child as Elf for arguing, even then when she +was only four years old. Indeed, she's not half as +bad now that she is eight, twice as old, and I often<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +tell her so. Perhaps that evening it wasn't a bad +thing, for the talking about policemen stopped her +crying, which was even worse than her arguing, once +she started a good roar.</p> + +<p>'It's just because of that, that I'm so frightened +about dear sweet little Peterkin,' she repeated.</p> + +<p>'Rubbish, Elf,' I began, but Clem looked at me +and I stopped.</p> + +<p>'You needn't be frightened that Peterkin will be +taken to prison, Elfie,' he said in his kind, rather +slow way. 'It's only naughty little boys that the +policemen take to prison, and Peterkin isn't naughty,' +and then he wiped Elf's eyes again, and she forgot to +go on crying, for just then nurse came upstairs. <i>She</i> +was not actually crying, of course, but she did look +very worried, so Clem and Blanche's faces did not +clear up at all. Nor did mine, I suppose. I really +did not know what to think, I was waiting to see +what the others thought, for we three younger ones +looked up to Clement and Blanche a good deal, and +we still do. They are twins, and they seem to mix +together so well. Blanche is quick and clever, and +Clement is awfully sensible, and they are both very +kind, though Clem is the gentlest. They are nearly +sixteen now, and I am thirteen past, so at the time I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +am writing about they were twelve and I was going +to be ten my next birthday, and Peterkin was eight +and Elvira five. I won't say much about what sort +of a boy Peterkin was, for as my story is mostly +about him and the funny things he did and thought, +it will show of itself.</p> + +<p>He <i>was</i> a funny child; a queer child in some ways, +I mean, and he still is. Mamma says it is stupid to +say 'funny' when we mean queer or odd, but I think +it says it better than any other word, and I am sure +other children will think so too.</p> + +<p>Blanche was the first to speak to nurse.</p> + +<p>'Is mamma really frightened about Peterkin, +nurse?' she asked. 'Tell us what it is.'</p> + +<p>But nurse had caught sight of her darling pet +baby's red eyes.</p> + +<p>'Miss Blanchie,' she said, 'I asked you to look +after Miss Elvira, and she's been crying.'</p> + +<p>'You asked me to see that she didn't spill her tea, +and she hasn't spilt it. It's some nonsense she has +got in her head about policemen taking strayed +children to prison that she has been crying about,' +replied Blanche, rather crossly.</p> + +<p>'I only wish,' began nurse, but the rest of her +sentence she mumbled to herself, though I heard part<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +of it. It was wishing that the policemen <i>had</i> got +Peterkin safely.</p> + +<p>'Of course, your poor mamma is upset about it,' +she went on, though I could see she did not want to +say very much for fear of Elf's beginning to cry +again. 'It was this way. Your mamma had to go +round by Belton Street, and she did not want to +keep Master Peterkin out so late to miss his tea, so +she dropped him at the corner of Lindsay Square, +and told him to run home. It's as straight as +straight can be, and he's often run that far alone. +So where he's got to or gone to, there's no +guessing.'</p> + +<p>'And what is mamma doing?' asked Blanche.</p> + +<p>'She has sent Mr. Drew and James off in different +directions,' said nurse, 'and she has gone herself +again in the carriage to the station, as it's just time +for your papa's train, and he will know what more +to do.'</p> + +<p>We did not live in London then; papa went up +and down every day from the big town by the sea +where our home was. Clement thinks perhaps I +had better not say what town it is, as some people +might remember about us, and I <i>might</i> say things +that would vex them; so I won't call it anything,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +though I must explain that it is not at all a little +place, but quite big enough for any one to lose their +way in, if they were strangers. But Peterkin wasn't +a stranger; and the way he had to come was, as +nurse said, as straight as straight.</p> + +<p>We all listened with grave faces to what nurse +told us. Suddenly Clement got up—I can't say +'jumped up,' for he was always rather slow.</p> + +<p>'Nurse,' he said, 'mamma's out, so I can't ask her +leave. But I've got an idea about Peterkin. Will +you give me leave to go out for half-an-hour or so? +I promise you I won't go far, but I would rather not +tell you where I want to go, as it may be all +nonsense.'</p> + +<p>Nurse looked at him doubtfully. She trusted +Clem the most of us all, I know, and she had good +reason to do so, for he was and is very trustworthy. +And it was nice of him to ask her leave, considering +he was twelve years old and quite out of the nursery, +except that he still liked having tea there when he +came in from school every evening.</p> + +<p>'Well, Master Clement,' said nurse, 'I don't quite +know. Supposing you go out and don't get back as +soon as you expect? It would be just a double +fright for your poor mamma.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Let me go too!' I exclaimed, and I jumped up so +suddenly that I made all the cups rattle and nearly +threw over the table altogether. 'Then if anything +stops Clem getting back quickly, I can run home +and explain. Anyway you'd be more comfortable if +you knew the two of us were on the hunt together. +You don't mind my coming, do you, Clem?'</p> + +<p>'No,' said Clem, 'but do let's go.'</p> + +<p>'And you won't be long?' pleaded nurse.</p> + +<p>Clem shook his head.</p> + +<p>'I don't think we can be—not if there's anything +in my idea', he called out, as we ran off.</p> + +<p>We didn't take a minute to pull on our coats, +which were hanging in the hall. I daresay I should +never have thought of mine at all, if Clem hadn't +reminded me, even though it was late in November +and a cold evening. And as soon as we were outside +and had set off at a good pace, I begged Clem +to tell me what his idea was, and where we were +going to look for Peterkin.</p> + +<p>'It's the parrot,' he replied; 'the parrot in Rock +Terrace.'</p> + +<p>'I don't know what you mean,' I said. 'I never +heard of a parrot, and I don't know where Rock +Terrace is.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Nonsense,' said Clem, stopping for a moment. +'You must have forgotten.'</p> + +<p>'I haven't indeed,' I said.</p> + +<p>'Not about the parrot that Peterkin has been +dreaming of ever since we passed it on Saturday, +when we were out with mamma—next door to old +Mrs. Wylie's?' Clem exclaimed.</p> + +<p>'No,' I repeated. 'I wasn't with you that day, +and——'</p> + +<p>'No more you were,' said Clem.</p> + +<p>'And,' I went on, 'I don't know where Mrs. +Wylie lives, though I've often seen her herself at +our house. And you know, Clement, that's just like +Peterkin. If he's got anything very much in his +head, he often doesn't speak of it, except to any one +who knows about it already.'</p> + +<p>'He hasn't said very much about it, even to me,' +said Clement. 'But, all the same, I know he has got +it tremendously in his head.'</p> + +<p>'How do you mean? Is he making up fairy +stories about it?'</p> + +<p>'Perhaps! You see he had never heard a parrot +speaking. I'm not sure if he knew they ever did. +But he wanted very much to see it again, and it just +came into my mind all at once, that if he had a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +chance he might have run round there and lost his +way. I don't suppose he <i>meant</i> to when mamma +told him to go home. It may just have struck +him when he got to the corner of Lindsay +Square.'</p> + +<p>I did not answer. We were walking so fast that +it was not easy to go on speaking. But I did think +it was very clever of Clement to have thought of it. +It was so like Peterkin.</p> + +<p>Clement hurried on. It was quite dark by now, +but the lamps were lighted, and Clem seemed +quite sure of his way. In spite of feeling rather +unhappy about Peterkin, I was enjoying myself a +little. I did not think it possible that he was really +badly lost, and it was very exciting to rush along +the streets after dark like this, and then I could not +help fancying how triumphant we should feel if we +actually found him.</p> + +<p>It was not very surprising that I did not know +where Rock Terrace was, or that I had never even +heard of it. It was such a tiny little row of such tiny +houses, opening out of one corner of Lindsay Square. +The houses were rather pretty; at least, very neat-looking +and old-fashioned, with a little bit of garden +in front, and small iron gates. They looked as if old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +maids lived in them, and I daresay there were a +good many.</p> + +<p>Clement hurried along till he was close to the +farther off end. Then he stopped short, and for the +first time seemed at a loss.</p> + +<p>'I don't know the number,' he said, 'but I'm +sure it was almost the end house. And—yes—isn't +that a big cage on the little balcony, Giles? Look +well.'</p> + +<p>I peeped up. The light of the lamps was not +very good in Rock Terrace.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' I said. 'It is a big cage, but I can't see +if there's a bird in it.'</p> + +<p>'Perhaps they take him in at night,' said Clement. +Then he looked up again at the balconies.</p> + +<p>'Let me see,' he went on, 'which side is Mrs. +Wylie's? Mamma went in at the—' but before +he had time to finish his sentence his doubts were +set at rest—his doubts and all our fears about +Peterkin. For the door on the left of the parrot's +home opened slowly, letting out what seemed, in +contrast with the darkness outside, a flood of light, +just within which, in the small hall or lobby of the +miniature house, stood two figures—the one, that of +a short thin old lady with white hair, dressed all in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +black; the other, a short fat little boy in a thick +coat—our missing Peterkin!</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 274px;"> +<img src="images/i027.png" width="274" height="500" alt="OUR MISSING PETERKIN.—p. 13." title="OUR MISSING PETERKIN.—p. 13." /> +<span class="caption">OUR MISSING PETERKIN.—p. 13.</span> +</div> + +<p>They were speaking to each other most politely.</p> + +<p>'So pleased to have seen you, my dear,' said +Mrs. Wylie. 'Give my love to your dear mamma. +I will not forget about the parrot, you may be +sure. He shall have a proper invitation. And—you +are quite certain you can find your way +home? Oh, dear!—that poor child must have +been bemoaning herself again! Polly always +knows.'</p> + +<p>And as we stood there, our minds scarcely +made up as to what we should do, we heard +a queer croaking voice, from inside the house on +the right of Mrs. Wylie—the parrot's voice, of +course, calling out—</p> + +<p>'I'm so tired, Nana; I'm so tired. I won't be +good; no, I won't.'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wylie and Peterkin both stood silent for a +moment, listening. So did we. Then Clement +opened the gate and ran up the two or three steps, +I following him.</p> + +<p>'Peterkin!' he exclaimed, 'mamma has been so +frightened about you.'</p> + +<p>And Peterkin turned round and looked up in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +his face with his big blue eyes, apparently quite +astonished.</p> + +<p>'Has mamma come back?' he said. 'I've only +been here for a minute or two. I just wanted to +look at the parrot.'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wylie was a quick-witted old lady. She +took it all in, in a moment.</p> + +<p>'Dear, dear!' she said. 'I am afraid it is my +fault. I saw the dear boy looking up at the parrot +next door when I came in from my stroll round to +the pillar-box with a letter, and he told me he was +one of Mrs. Lesley's little sons, and then we got +talking. But I had no idea his mamma would be +alarmed. I am afraid it has been much more than +a few minutes. I <i>am</i> sorry.'</p> + +<p>It was impossible to say anything to trouble the +poor old lady: she looked as if she were going to cry.</p> + +<p>'It will be all right now,' said Clement. 'Mamma +will be so delighted to see him safe and sound. +But we had better hurry home. Come along, +Peterkin.'</p> + +<p>But nothing would make Peterkin forget his good +manners. He tugged off his sailor cap again, which +he had just put on, and held out his hand, for the +second or third time, I daresay, as he and his old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +lady had evidently been hobnobbing over their +leave-takings for some minutes before we made our +appearance.</p> + +<p>'Good-bye!' he said; 'and thank you very much. +And I'll ask mamma to let me come whenever you +fix the day for the parrot. And please tell me all +he tells you about the little girl. And—thank you +very much.'</p> + +<p>They were the funniest pair. She so tiny and +thin and white, with bright dark eyes, like some +bird's, and Peterkin so short and sturdy and rosy, +with his big dreamy ones looking up at her. She +was just a little taller than he. And suddenly I +saw his rosy face grow still rosier; crimson or +scarlet, really. For Mrs. Wylie made a dash at him +and kissed him, and unluckily Peterkin did not like +being kissed, except by mamma and Elf. His +politeness, however, stood him in good stead. He +did not pull away, or show that he hated it, as lots +of fellows would have done. He stood quite still, +and then, with another tug at his cap, ran down the +steps after Clem and me.</p> + +<p>Clement waited a moment or two before he +spoke. It was his way; but just now it was a good +thing, as Mrs. Wylie did not shut the door quite at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +once, and everything was so quiet in that little side +street, in the evening especially, that very likely our +voices would have carried back to her. I, for my +part, was longing to shake Peterkin, though I felt +very inclined to burst out laughing, too. But I +knew it was best to leave the 'rowing' to Clem.</p> + +<p>'Peterkin,' he began at last, 'I don't know what +to say to you.'</p> + +<p>Peterkin had got hold of Clem's hand and was holding +it tight, and he was already rather out of breath, +as Clem was walking fast—very fast for him—and +he has always been a long-legged chap for his age, +thin and wiry, too; whereas, in those days—though, +thank goodness, he is growing like a house on fire +<i>now</i>—Peterkin was as broad as he was long. So to +keep up with Clement's strides he had to trot, and +that sort of pace soon makes a kid breathless, of +course.</p> + +<p>'I—I never thought mamma'd be flightened,' he +managed to get out at last. He had been a long +time of saying his 'r's' clearly, and now they still all +got into 'l's' if he was bothered or startled. 'I +never thought she'd be flightened.'</p> + +<p>'Then you were a donkey,' I burst out, and +Clement interrupted me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>'How could she not have been frightened?' he +went on. 'She told you to run straight home, +which wouldn't have taken you five minutes, and +you have been at least an hour.'</p> + +<p>'I thought it wouldn't be no farther to come this +way,' replied Peterkin, 'and I only meant to look at +the pallot one minute. And it would have been +very lu—<i>rude</i> not to speak to the old lady, and go +into her house for a minute when she asked me. +Mamma always says we mustn't be rude,' said +Peterkin, plucking up some spirit.</p> + +<p>'Mamma always says we must be <i>obedient</i>' +replied Clement, severely.</p> + +<p>Then he relapsed into silence, and his quick +footsteps and Peterkin's short trotty ones were the +only sounds.</p> + +<p>'I believe,' I couldn't help murmuring, half to +myself, half to Peterkin—'I believe you've got some +rubbish in your head about the parrot being a fairy. +If I were mamma I'd stop your——' but at that I +stopped <i>myself</i>. If Clement had heard me he would +have been down upon me for disrespectfulness in +saying to a baby like Pete what I thought mamma +should or should not do; and I didn't care to be +pulled up by Clement before the little ones.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>Peterkin was as sharp as needles in some ways. +He guessed the end of my unfinished sentence.</p> + +<p>'No,' he half whispered, 'mamma'd <i>never</i> stop me +reading faily stolies—you know she wouldn't, Gilly, +and it's velly unkind of you to say so.'</p> + +<p>'I didn't say so,' I replied.</p> + +<p>'Be quiet, both of you,' said Clem, 'and hurry on,' +for we had slackened a little.</p> + +<p>But in spite of the breathlessness of the pace, I +heard another gasp from Peterkin—</p> + +<p>'It <i>is</i> velly like the blue-bird,' were the words I +distinguished.</p> + +<p>And 'I knew I was right,' I thought to myself +triumphantly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>FOUND</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">The</span> carriage was standing waiting at our own house +when we got there. And there was some bustle +going on, for the front door was not shut, and we +could see into the hall, which of course was brightly +lighted up.</div> + +<p>Papa was there, speaking to some one; he had his +hat on, as if he was just coming out again. And—yes—it +was Drew he was speaking to, and James too, +I think—but behind them was poor mamma, looking +so dreadfully unhappy. It did make me want to +shake Peterkin again.</p> + +<p>They did not see us as quickly as we saw them, +for it was dark outside and they were all talking: +papa giving directions, I fancy.</p> + +<p>So they did jump when Clem—hurrying for once—rushed +up the steps, dragging Peterkin after him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>'We've found him—we've found him!' he shouted. +'In with you, Pete: show yourself, quick.'</p> + +<p>For mamma had got quite white, and looked as if +she were going to faint or tumble down in some kind +of a fit; but luckily before she had time for anything, +there was that fat boy hugging and squeezing her so +tight that she'd have been clever to move at all, +though if she <i>had</i> tumbled down he would have +made a good buffer.</p> + +<p>'Oh, mamma, mamma—oh, mummy,' he said, and +by this time he was howling, of course, 'I never meant +to flighten you. I never did. I thought I'd been +only five minutes, and I thought it was nearly as +quick home that way.'</p> + +<p>And of course mamma didn't scold him! She +hugged him as if he'd been lost for a year, and as if +he was the prodigal son and the good brother mixed +up together.</p> + +<p>But papa looked rather stern, and I was not +altogether sorry to see it.</p> + +<p>'Where have you been, Peterkin?' he said. And +then he glanced up at us two—Clem and me—as +Peterkin seemed too busy crying to speak. 'Where +has he been?' papa repeated. 'It was very clever of +you to find him, I must say.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>And mamma's curiosity began to awaken, now +that she had got old Pete safe in her arms again. +She looked up with the same question in her face.</p> + +<p>'Where—' she began.</p> + +<p>And I couldn't help answering.</p> + +<p>'It was all Clem's idea,' I said, for it really was +only fair for Clem to get some praise. 'He thought +of the parrot.'</p> + +<p>'The <i>parrot</i>', mamma repeated, growing more +puzzled instead of less.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' said Clement. 'The parrot next door to +Mrs. Wylie's. Perhaps you don't remember, mamma. +It was the day Peterkin and I were out with you—Giles +wasn't there—and you went in to Mrs. Wylie's +and we waited outside, and the parrot was in a cage +on the balcony, and we heard it talk.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' said Peterkin, 'he <i>talked</i>,' as if that was +an explanation of everything.</p> + +<p>Mamma's face cleared.</p> + +<p>'I think I do remember something about it,' she +said. 'But I have never heard you mention it since, +Peterkin?'</p> + +<p>'No,' said Peterkin, getting rather red.</p> + +<p>'He has spoken of it a little to me,' said Clement; +'that's how I knew it was in his mind. But Peterkin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +often doesn't say much about what he's thinking a +lot about. It's his way.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' said Peterkin, 'it's my way.'</p> + +<p>'And have you been planning all these days to +run off to see the parrot again?' asked mamma. I +wasn't quite sure if she was vexed or not, but <i>I</i> was; +it seemed so queer, queer as Pete often was, for him +not to have confided in somebody.</p> + +<p>But we were mistaken.</p> + +<p>'No, no, truly, mamma,' he said, speaking in a +much more determined way now, and shaking his +curly head. 'I didn't ever think of it till after I'd +got out of the calliage and I saw it was the corner of +the big square where the little houses are at one end, +and then I only meant to go for one minute. I +thought it was nearly as quick that way, and I ran +fast. I never meant to flighten you, mamma,' he +repeated again, his voice growing plaintive. 'I +wasn't planning it a bit all these days. I only kept +thinking it <i>were</i> like the blue-bird.'</p> + +<p>The last sentence was almost in a whisper; it was +only a sort of honesty that forced him to say it. As +far as Clement and I were concerned, he needn't +have said it.</p> + +<p>'I knew he'd got some fairy-story rubbish in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +head,' I muttered, but I don't think Peterkin heard +me, though papa and mamma did; for I saw them +glance at each other, and papa said something under +his breath, of which I only caught the words 'getting +too fanciful,' and 'schoolboy,' which made +mamma look rather unhappy again.</p> + +<p>'I don't yet understand how old Mrs. Wylie got +mixed up in it all,' said papa.</p> + +<p>'She lives next door to the parrot,' said Clem, and +we couldn't help smiling at the funny way he said it.</p> + +<p>'And she saw me when she was coming back from +the post, and she was very kind,' Peterkin went on, +taking up the story again, as the smile had encouraged +him. 'She 'avited me to go in, up to her +drawing-room, so that I could hear him talking +better. And he said lots of things.'</p> + +<p>'Oh yes, by the bye,' I exclaimed, 'there was +something about a little girl, Mrs. Wylie said. +What was it, Pete?'</p> + +<p>But Peterkin shut up at this.</p> + +<p>'I'll tell you the next time I go there. Mummy, +you will let me go to see that old lady again, won't +you?' he begged. 'She was so kind, and I only +thought I'd been there five minutes. Mayn't I go +again to see her?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>'<i>And</i> the parrot,' said mamma, smiling. She +was sharp enough to take in that it was a +quarter for Mrs. Wylie and three quarters for the +parrot that he wanted so to go back to Rock Terrace. +'Well, you must promise never to pay visits on your +own account again, Peterkin, and then we shall see. +Now run upstairs to the nursery as fast as you can +and get some tea. And I'm sure Clem and Giles will +be glad of some more. I hope poor nurse and +Blanche and Elfie know he is all right,' she added, +glancing round.</p> + +<p>'Yes, ma'am. I took the liberty of going up to +tell the young ladies and Mrs. Brough, when Master +Peterkin first returned,' said James in his very +politest and primmest tone.</p> + +<p>'That was very thoughtful of you,' said mamma, +approvingly, which made James get very red.</p> + +<p>We three boys skurried upstairs after that. At +least I did. Clement came more slowly, but as his +legs were long enough to take two steps at a time, he +got to the top nearly as soon as I did, and Peterkin +came puffing after us. I was rather surprised that +Blanche and Elf had been content to stay quietly in +the nursery, considering all the excitement that had +been going on downstairs, and I think it was very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +good of Blanche, for she told me afterwards that she +had only done it to keep Elvira from getting into +one of her endless crying fits. They always say Elf +is such a nervous child that she can't help it, but <i>I</i> +think it's a good bit of it cross temper too.</p> + +<p>Still she is rather growing out of it, and, after all, +that night there was something to cry about, and +there might have been worse, as nurse said. She had +been telling the girls stories of people who got lost, +though she was sensible enough to make them turn +up all right at the end. She can tell very interesting +stories sometimes, but she keeps the <i>best</i> ones +to amuse us when we are ill, or when mamma's gone +away on a visit, or something horrid like that has +happened.</p> + +<p>They all three flew at Peterkin, of course, and +hugged him as if he'd been shipwrecked, or putting +out a fire, or something grand like that. And he +took it as coolly as anything, and asked for his tea, as +if he deserved all the petting and fussing.</p> + +<p>That was another of his little 'ways,' I suppose.</p> + +<p>Then, as we were waiting for the kettle to boil up +again to make fresh tea, if you please, for his lordship—though +Clem and I were to have some too, of +course, and we did deserve it—all the story had to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +told over for the third or fourth time, of the parrot, +and old Mrs. Wylie meeting Pete as she came in, and +his thinking he'd only been there about five minutes, +and all the rest of it.</p> + +<p>'And what did the Polly parrot talk about?' +asked Elf. She had a picture of a parrot in one of +her books, and some rhymes about it.</p> + +<p>'Oh,' answered Peterkin,' he said, "How d'ye +do?" and "Pretty Poll," and things like that.'</p> + +<p>'He said queerer things than that; you know +he—' I began. I saw Pete didn't want to tell about +the parrot copying the mysterious child that Mrs. +Wylie had spoken of, so I thought I'd tease him a +bit by reminding him of it. I felt sure he had got +some of his funny ideas out of his fairy stories in his +head; that the little girl—for Mrs. Wylie had spoken +of a 'her'—was an enchanted princess or something +like that, and I wasn't far wrong, as you will see. +But I didn't finish my sentence, for Peterkin, who was +sitting next me, gave me a sort of little kick, not to +hurt, of course, and whispered, 'I'll tell you afterwards.' +So I felt it would be ill-natured to tease +him, and I didn't say any more, and luckily the +others hadn't noticed what I had begun. Blanchie +was on her knees in front of the fire toasting for us,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +and Elf was putting lumps of sugar into the cups, to +be ready.</p> + +<p>Pete was as hungry as a hunter, and our sharp +walk had given Clem and me a fresh appetite, so we +ate all the toast and a lot of plum-cake as well, and +felt none the worse for it.</p> + +<p>And soon after that, it was time to be tidied up +to go down to the drawing-room to mamma. Peterkin +and Elvira only stayed half-an-hour or so, but +after they had gone to bed we three big ones went +into the library to finish our lessons while papa and +mamma were at dinner. Sometimes we went into +the dining-room to dessert, and sometimes we +worked on till mamma called us into the drawing-room: +it all depended on how many lessons we'd got +to do, or how fast we had got on with them. Clement +and Blanche were awfully good about that sort of +thing, and went at it steadily, much better than I, +I'm afraid, though I could learn pretty quickly if I +chose. But I did not like lessons, especially the +ones we had to do at home, for in these days Clem +and I only went to a day-school and had to bring +books and things back with us every afternoon. +And besides these lessons we had to do at home for +school, we had a little extra once or twice a week, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +we had French conversation and reading on half-holidays +with Blanche's teachers, and they sometimes +gave us poetry to learn by heart or to translate. We +were not exactly <i>obliged</i> to do it, but of course we +didn't want Blanche, who was only a girl, to get ahead +of us, as she would very likely have done, for she did +grind at her lessons awfully. I think most girls do.</p> + +<p>It sounds as if we were rather hard-worked, but I +really don't think we were, though I must allow that +we worked better in those days, and learnt more in +comparison, than we do now at—I won't give the +name of the big school we are at. Clement says it +is better not—people who write books never do give +the real names, he says, and I fancy he's right. It +is an awfully jolly school, and we are as happy as +sand-boys, whatever that means, but I can't say that +we work as Blanche does, though she does it all at +home with governesses.</p> + +<p>That part of the evening—when we went back to +the drawing-room to mamma, I mean—was one of the +times I shall always like to remember about. It is +very jolly now, of course, to be at home for the +holidays, but there was then the sort of 'treat' +feeling of having got our lessons done, and the little +ones comfortably off to bed, and the grown-up-ness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mamma looked so pretty, as she was always +nicely dressed, though I liked some of her dresses +much better than others—I don't like her in black +ones at all; and the drawing-room was pretty, and +then there was mamma's music. Her playing was +nice, but her singing was still better, and she used to +let us choose our favourite songs, each in turn. +Blanche plays the violin now, very well, they say, +and mamma declares she is really far cleverer at +music than she herself ever was; but for all that, +I shall never care for her fiddle anything like +mamma's singing; if I live to be a hundred, I shall +never forget it.</p> + +<p>It is a great thing to have really jolly times like +those evenings to think of when you begin to get +older, and are a lot away from home, and likely to +be still less and less there.</p> + +<p>But I must not forget that this story is supposed +to be principally about Peterkin and his adventures, +so I'll go on again about the night after he'd been +lost.</p> + +<p>He and I had a room together, and he was +nearly always fast asleep, like a fat dormouse, when +I went up to bed. He had a way of curling himself +round, like a ball, that really did remind you of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +dormouse. I believe it kept him from growing; +I really do, though I did my best to pull him out +straight. He didn't like that, ungrateful chap, and +used to growl at me for it, and I believe he often +pretended to be asleep when he wasn't, just to stop +me doing it; for one night, nurse had come in to +know what the row was about, and though she +agreed with me that it was much better for him to +lie properly stretched at his full length, she said I +wasn't to wake him up because of it.</p> + +<p>But if he was generally fast asleep at night when +I came to bed, he certainly made up for it by +waking in the morning. I never knew anything +like him for that. I believe he woke long before +the birds, winter as well as summer, and then +was his time for talking and telling me his stories +and fancies. Once I myself was well awake I didn't +mind, as it was generally rather interesting; but I +couldn't stand the being awakened ages before the +time. So we made an agreement, that if I didn't +wake him up at night, he'd not bother me in the +morning till I gave a sign that I was on the way to +waking of myself. The sign was a sort of snort +that's easy to make, even while you're still pretty +drowsy, and it did very well, as I could lie quiet in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +dreamy way listening to him. He didn't want me +to speak, only to snort a little now and then till I +got quite lively, as I generally did in a few minutes, +as his stories grew more exciting, and there came +something that I wanted him to alter in them.</p> + +<p>That night, however, when I went up to bed +there was no need to think of our bargain, for +Peterkin was as wide awake as I was.</p> + +<p>'Haven't you been to sleep yet?' I asked him.</p> + +<p>'Not exactly,' he said. 'Just a sort of half. I'm +glad you've come, Gilley, for I've got a lot of things +in my head.'</p> + +<p>'You generally have,' I said, 'but <i>I'm</i> sleepy, if +you're not. That scamper in the cold after you, my +good boy, was rather tiring, I can tell you.'</p> + +<p>'I'm very sorry,' said he, in a penitent tone of +voice, 'but you know, Giles, I never meant to——'</p> + +<p>'Oh, stop that!' I exclaimed; 'you've said it +twenty times too often already. Better tell me a +bit of the things in your head. Then you can go to +sleep, and dream them out, and have an interesting +story ready for me in the morning.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, but—' objected Pete, sitting up in bed +and clasping his hands round his knees, his face very +red, and his eyes very blue and bright, 'they're not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +dreamy kind of things at all. There's really something +very misterist—what is the proper word, +Gilley?'</p> + +<p>'"Mysterious," I suppose you mean,' I said.</p> + +<p>'Yes, misterous,' repeated he, 'about what the +parrot said, and I'm pretty sure that old lady thinks +so too.'</p> + +<p>'Didn't she explain about it, at all?' I asked him. +I began to think there <i>was</i> something queer, perhaps, +for Peterkin's manner impressed me.</p> + +<p>'Well, she did a little,' he replied. 'But I'd +better tell you all, Gilley; just what I first heard, +before she came up and spoke to me, you know, +and——'</p> + +<p>Just then, however, there came an interruption.</p> + +<p>Mamma put her head in at the door.</p> + +<p>'Boys,' she said, 'not asleep yet? At least <i>you</i> +should be, Peterkin. You didn't wake him, I hope, +Giles?'</p> + +<p>I had no time for an indignant 'No; of course, +not,' before Pete came to my defence.</p> + +<p>'No, no, mummy! I was awake all of myself. +I wanted him to come very much, to talk a little.'</p> + +<p>'Well, you must both be rather tired with all the +excitement there has been,' mamma said. 'So go to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +sleep, now, and do your talking in the morning. +Promise,—both of you—eh?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' we answered; 'word of honour, mamma,' +and she went away, quite sure that we would keep +our promise, which was sealed by a kiss from her.</p> + +<p>Dear little mother! She did not often come up +to see us in bed, for fear of rousing us out of our +'beauty' sleep, but to-night she had felt as if she +must make sure we were all right after the fuss of +Peterkin's being lost, you see.</p> + +<p>And of course we were as good as our word, and +only just said 'Good-night!' to each other; Pete +adding, 'I'll begin at the beginning, and tell you +everything, as soon as I hear your first snort in the +morning, Giles.'</p> + +<p>'You'd better wait for my second or third,' +I replied. 'I'm never very clear-headed at the first, +and I want to give my attention, as it's something +real, and not one of your make-ups,' I said. 'So, +good-night!'</p> + +<p>It is awfully jolly to know that you are trusted, +isn't it?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>AN INVITATION</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">I slept</span> on rather later than usual next morning. +I suppose I really was tired. And when I began +to awake, and gradually remembered all that had +happened the night before, I heartily wished I +hadn't promised Peterkin to snort at all.</div> + +<p>I took care not to open my eyes for a good bit, +but I couldn't carry on humbugging that I was still +asleep for very long. Something made me open my +eyes, and as soon as I did so I knew what it was. +There was Pete—bolt upright—as wide awake as if +he had never been asleep, staring at me with all his +might, his eyes as round and blue as could be. +You know the feeling that some one is looking at +you, even when you don't see them. I had not +given one snort, and I could not help feeling rather +cross with Peterkin, even when he exclaimed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>'Oh, I am so glad you're awake!'</p> + +<p>'You've been staring me awake,' I said, very +grumpily. 'I'd like to know who could go on sleeping +with you wishing them awake?'</p> + +<p>'I'm very sorry if you wanted to go on sleeping,' +he replied meekly. He did not seem at all surprised +at my saying he had wakened me. He used to +understand rather queer things like that so quickly, +though we counted him stupid in some ways.</p> + +<p>'But as I am awake you can start talking,' +I said, closing my eyes again, and preparing to +listen.</p> + +<p>Pete was quite ready to obey.</p> + +<p>'Well,' he began, 'it was this way. Mamma +didn't want me to be late for tea, so she stopped at the +end of that big street—a little farther away than +Lindsay Square, you know——'</p> + +<p>'Yes, Meredith Place,' I grunted.</p> + +<p>'And,' Pete went on, 'told me to run home. +It's quite straight, if you keep to the front, of +course.'</p> + +<p>'And you did run straight home, didn't you?' +I said teasingly.</p> + +<p>'No,' he replied seriously, but not at all +offended. 'When I got to the corner of the square<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +I looked up it, and I remembered that it led to the +funny little houses where Clem and I had seen the +parrot. So, almost without settling it in my mind, I +ran along that side of the square till I came to Rock +Terrace. I ran <i>very</i> fast——'</p> + +<p>'I wish I'd been there to see you,' I grunted +again.</p> + +<p>'And I thought if I kept round by the back, I'd +get out again to the front nearly as soon—running +all the way, you see, to make up. And I'd scarcely +got to the little houses when I heard the parrot. +His cage was out on the balcony, you know. And +it is very quiet there—scarcely any carts or +carriages passing—and it was getting dark, and I +think you hear things plainer in the dark; don't you +think so, Gilley?'</p> + +<p>I did not answer, so he went on.</p> + +<p>'I heard the parrot some way off. His voice is +so queer, you know. And when I got nearer I could +tell every word he said. He kept on every now and +then talking for himself—real talking—"Getting cold. +Polly wants to go to bed. Quick, quick." And then +he'd stop for a minute, as if he was listening and +heard something I couldn't. <i>That</i> was the strange +part that makes me think perhaps he isn't really a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +parrot at all, Giles,' and here Pete dropped his voice +and looked very mysterious. I had opened my eyes +for good now; it was getting exciting.</p> + +<p>'What did he say?' I asked.</p> + +<p>'What you and Clement heard, and a lot more,' +Peterkin replied. 'Over and over again the same—"I'm +so tired, Nana, I won't be good, no I won't."'</p> + +<p>'Yes, that's what we heard,' I said, 'but what was +the lot more?'</p> + +<p>'Oh, perhaps there wasn't so <i>very</i> much more,' +said he, consideringly. 'There was something about +"I won't be locked up," and "I'll write a letter," and +then again and again, "I won't be good, I'm so tired." +That was what you and Clement heard, wasn't it?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' I said.</p> + +<p>'And one funny thing about it was that his voice, +the parrot's, sounded quite different when he was talking +his own talking, do you see?—like "Pretty Poll +is cold, wants to go to bed"—from when he was copying +the little girl's. It was always croaky, of course, +but <i>squeakier</i>, somehow, when he was copying her.'</p> + +<p>Peterkin sat up still straighter and looked at me, +evidently waiting for my opinion about it all. I was +really very interested, but I wanted first to hear all +he had in his head, so I did not at once answer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Isn't it very queer?' he said at last.</p> + +<p>'What do you think about it?' I asked.</p> + +<p>He drew a little nearer me and spoke in a lower +voice, though there was no possibility of any one ever +hearing what he said.</p> + +<p>'P'raps,' he began, 'it isn't <i>only</i> a parrot, or +p'raps some fairy makes it say these things. The +little girl might be shut up, you see, like the princess +in the tower, by some <i>bad</i> fairy, and there might be +a <i>good</i> one who wanted to help her to get out. I +wonder if they ever do invite fairies to christenings +now, and forget some of them,' he went on, knitting +his brows, 'or not ask them, because they are bad +fairies? I can't remember about Elf's christening +feast; can you, Gilley?'</p> + +<p>'I can remember hers, and yours too, for that +matter,' I replied. 'You forget how much older I +am. But of course it's not like that now. There +are no fairies to invite, as I've often told you, Pete. +At least,' for, in spite of my love of teasing, I never +liked to see the look of distress that came over his +chubby face when any one talked that sort of +common sense to him, 'at least, people have got +out of the way of seeing them or getting into fairy-land.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>'But we <i>might</i> find it again,' said Peterkin, +brightening up.</p> + +<p>And I didn't like to disappoint him by saying I +could not see much chance of it.</p> + +<p>Then another idea struck me.</p> + +<p>'How about Mrs. Wylie?' I said. 'Didn't she +explain it at all? You told her what you had heard, +didn't you? Yes, of course, she heard some of it +herself, when we were all three standing at the door +of her house.'</p> + +<p>'Well,' said Peterkin, 'I was going to tell you the +rest. I was listening to the parrot, and it was much +plainer than <i>you</i> heard, Gilley, for when you were +there you only heard him from down below, and I +was up near him—well, I was just standing there +listening to him, when that old lady came up.'</p> + +<p>'I know all about that,' I interrupted.</p> + +<p>'No, you don't, not nearly all,' Peterkin persisted. +He could be as obstinate as a little pig sometimes, +so I said nothing. 'I was just standing there when +she came up. She looked at me, and then she went +in at her own gate, next door to the parrot's, you +know, and then she looked at me again, and spoke +over the railings. She said, "Are you talking to the +parrot, my dear?" and I said, "No, I'm only listening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +to him, thank you"; and then she looked at me again, +and she said, "You don't live in this terrace, I think?" +And I said, "No, I live on the Esplanade, number 59." +Then she pulled out her spectacles—long things, you +know, at the end of a turtle-shell stick.'</p> + +<p>'Tortoise-shell,' I corrected.</p> + +<p>'Tortoise-shell,' he repeated, 'and then she looked +at me again. "If you live at 59," she said, "I think +you must be one of dear Mrs. Lesley's little sons," and +I said, "That's just what I am, thank you." And then +she said, "Won't you come in for a few minutes? +You can see the Polly from my balcony, and it is +getting cold for standing about. Are you on your +way home from school?" So I thought it wouldn't +be polite not to go in. She was so kind, you see,' and +here his voice grew 'cryey' again, 'I never thought +about mamma being flightened, and I only meant to +stay a min——'</p> + +<p>'Shut up about all that,' I interrupted. 'We've +had it often enough, and I want to hear what happened.'</p> + +<p>'Well,' he said, quite briskly again, 'she took me +in, and up to her drawing-room. The window was a +tiny bit open, and she made me stand just on the +ledge between it and the balcony, so that I could see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +the parrot without his seeing me, for she said if he +saw me he'd set up screeching and not talk sense any +more. He knows when people are strangers. The +cage was close to the old lady's end of the balcony, +so that I could almost have touched it, and then I +heard him say all those queer things. I didn't speak +for a good while, for fear of stopping him talking. +But after a bit he got fidgety; I daresay he knew +there was somebody there, and then he flopped about +and went back to his own talking, and said he was +cold and wanted to go to bed, and all that. And +somebody inside heard him and took him in. And +then—' Pete stopped to rest his voice, I suppose. +He was always rather fond of resting, whatever +he was doing.</p> + +<p>'Hurry up,' I said. 'What happened after +that?'</p> + +<p>'The old lady said I'd better come in, and she +shut up the window—I suppose she felt cold, like +the parrot—and she made me sit down; and then I +asked her what made him say such queer things in +his squeakiest voice; and she said he was copying +what he heard, for there was a little girl in the <i>next</i> +house—not in his own house—who cried sometimes +and seemed very cross and unhappy, so that Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +Wylie often is very sorry for her, though she has +never really seen her. And I said, did she think +anybody was unkind to the little girl, and she said +she hoped not, but she didn't know. And then she +seemed as if she didn't want to talk about the little +girl very much, and she began to ask me about if I +went to school and things like that, and then I said +I'd better go home, and she came downstairs with +me and—I think that's all, till you and Clement came +and we all heard the parrot again.'</p> + +<p>'I wonder what started him copying the little girl +again, after he'd left off,' I said.</p> + +<p>'P'raps he hears her through the wall,' said Pete. +'P'raps he hears quicker than people do. Yes,' he +went on thoughtfully, 'I think he must, for the old +lady has never heard exactly what the little girl said. +She only heard her crying and grumbling. She told +me so.'</p> + +<p>'I daresay she's just a cross little thing,' I said. +'And I think it was rather silly of Mrs. Wylie to let +you hear the parrot copying her. It's a very bad +example. And you said Mrs. Wylie seemed as if she +didn't want to talk much about her.'</p> + +<p>'I think she's got some plan in her head,' said +Peterkin, eagerly, 'for she said—oh, I forgot that—she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +said she was going to come to see mamma some +day very soon, to ask her to let me go to have tea +with her. And I daresay she'll ask you too, Gilley, +if we both go down to the drawing-room when she +comes.'</p> + +<p>'I hope it'll be a half-holiday, then,' I said, 'or, +anyway, that she will come when I'm here. It is +very funny about the crying little girl. Has she +been there a long time? Did your old lady tell +you that?'</p> + +<p>Peterkin shook his head.</p> + +<p>'Oh no, she's only been there since Mrs. Wylie +came back from the country. She told me so.'</p> + +<p>'And when was that?' I asked, but Pete did not +know. He was sometimes very stupid, in spite of +his quickness and fancies. 'It's been long enough +for the parrot to learn to copy her grumbling,' I +added.</p> + +<p>'That wouldn't take him long,' said Peterkin, in +his whispering voice again, '<i>if</i> he's some sort of a +fairy, you know, Gilley.'</p> + +<p>This time, perhaps, it was a good thing he spoke in +a low voice, for at that moment nurse came in to +wake us, or rather to make us get up, as we were +nearly always awake already, and if she had heard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +the word 'fairy,' she would have begun about Peterkin's +'fancies' again.</p> + +<p>Some days passed without our hearing anything +of the parrot or the old lady or Rock Terrace. We +did not exactly forget about it; indeed, it was what +we talked about every morning when we awoke. +But I did not think much about it during the day, +although I daresay Pete did.</p> + +<p>So it was quite a surprise to me one afternoon, +about a week after the evening of all the fuss, when, +the very moment I had rung the front bell, the door +was opened by Pete himself, looking very important.</p> + +<p>'She's come,' he said. 'I've been watching for you. +She's in the drawing-room with mamma, and mamma +told me to fetch you as soon as you came back from +school. Is Clem there?'</p> + +<p>'No,' I said, 'it's one of the days he stays later +than me, you know.'</p> + +<p>Peterkin did not seem very sorry.</p> + +<p>'Then she's come just to invite you and me,' he +said. 'Clement <i>is</i> too big, but she might have asked +him too, out of polititude, you know.'</p> + +<p>He was always fussing about being polite, but I +don't think I answered her in that way.</p> + +<p>'Bother,' I said, for I was cross; my books were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +heavier than usual, and I banged them down; 'bother +your politeness. Can't you tell me what you're talking +about? Who is "she" that's in the drawing-room? +I don't want to go up to see her, whoever +she is.'</p> + +<p>'Giles!' said Peterkin, in a very disappointed +tone. 'You can't have forgotten. It's the old lady +next door to the parrot's house, of course. I told you +she meant to come. And she's going to invite us, +I'm sure.'</p> + +<p>In my heart I was very anxious to go to Rock +Terrace again, to see the parrot, and perhaps hear +more of the mysterious little girl, but I was feeling +rather tired and cross.</p> + +<p>'I must brush my hair and wash my hands first,' +I said, 'and I daresay mamma won't want me without +Clement. She didn't say me alone, did she?'</p> + +<p>'She said "your brothers,"' replied Peterkin, 'but +of course you must come. And she said she hoped +"they" wouldn't be long. So you must come as you +are. I don't think your hands are very dirty.'</p> + +<p>It is one of the queer things about Peterkin that +he can nearly always make you do what he wants if +he's really in earnest. So I had to give in, and he +went puffing upstairs, with me after him, to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +drawing-room, when, sure enough, the old lady was +sitting talking to mamma.</p> + +<p>Mamma looked up as we came in, and I saw that +her eyes went past me.</p> + +<p>'Hasn't Clement come in?' she asked, and it +made me wish I hadn't given in about it to Pete.</p> + +<p>'No, mamma,' I said. 'It's one of his late days, +you know. And Peterkin made me come up just as +I was.'</p> + +<p>I felt very ashamed of my hair and crushed collar +and altogether. I didn't mind so much about my +hands; boys' hands <i>can't</i> be like ladies'. But Mrs. +Wylie was so awfully neat—she might have been a +fairy herself, or a doll dressed to look like an old +lady. I felt as clumsy and messy as could be. But +she was awfully jolly; she seemed to know exactly +how uncomfortable it was for me.</p> + +<p>'Quite right, quite right,' she said. 'For I must +be getting back. It looks rather stormy, I'm afraid. +It was very thoughtful of you both, my dear boys, +to hurry. I should have liked to see Mr. Clement +again, but that must be another time. And may we +fix the day now, dear Mrs. Lesley? Saturday next +we were talking of. Will you come about four +o'clock, or even earlier, my dears? The parrot stays<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +out till five, generally, and indeed his mistress is very +good-natured, and so is her maid. They were quite +pleased when I told them I had some young friends +who were very interested in the bird and wanted to +see him again. So you shall make better acquaintance +with him on Saturday, and perhaps—' but here +the old lady stopped at last, without finishing her +sentence.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, as each of us told the other afterwards, +both Peterkin and I finished it for her in our +own minds. We glanced at each other, and the same +thought ran through us—had Mrs. Wylie got some +plan in her head about the little girl?</p> + +<p>'It is very kind indeed of you, Mrs. Wylie,' said +mamma. 'Giles and Peterkin will be delighted to +go to you on Saturday, won't you, boys?'</p> + +<p>And we both said, 'Yes, thank you. It will be +very jolly,' so heartily, that the old lady trotted off, +as pleased as pleased.</p> + +<p>Of course, I ran downstairs to see her out, and +Pete followed more slowly, just behind her. She +had a very nice, rather stately way about her, though +she was so small and thin, and it never suited Pete +to hurry in those days, either up or down stairs; his +legs were so short.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>We were very eager for Saturday to come, and +we talked a lot about it. I had a kind of idea that +Mrs. Wylie had said something about the little girl +to mamma, though mamma said nothing at all to us, +except that we must behave very nicely and carefully +at Rock Terrace, and not forget that, though +she was so kind, Mrs. Wylie was an old lady, and +old ladies were sometimes fussy.</p> + +<p>We promised we would be all right, and Peterkin +said to me that he didn't believe Mrs. Wylie was at +all 'fussy.'</p> + +<p>'She is too fairyish,' he said, 'to be like +that.'</p> + +<p>That was a very 'Peterkin' speech, but I did not +snub him for it, as I sometimes did. I was really so +interested in all about the parrot and the invisible +little girl that I was almost ready to join him in +making up fanciful stories—that there was an ogre +who wouldn't let her out, or that any one who tried +to see her would be turned into a frog, or things like +that out of the old fairy-tales.</p> + +<p>'But Mrs. Wylie <i>has</i> seen her,' said Peterkin, +'and <i>she</i> hasn't turned into a frog!'</p> + +<p>That was a rather tiresome 'way' of his—if I +agreed about fairies and began making up, myself, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +would get quite common-sensical, and almost make +fun of my ones.</p> + +<p>'How do you know that she doesn't turn into a +frog half the day?' I said. 'That's often the way in +enchantments.'</p> + +<p>And then we both went off laughing at the idea +of a frog jumping down from Mrs. Wylie's drawing-room +sofa, and saying, 'How do you do, my dears?' +instead of the neat little old lady.</p> + +<p>So our squabble didn't come to anything that +time.</p> + +<p>Blanchie and Elf were rather jealous of our invitation, +I think, though Blanche always said she didn't +care to go anywhere without Clement. But Elf +made us promise that some day we would get leave +to take her round by the parrot's house for her to +see him.</p> + +<p>Of course we never said anything to any one but +ourselves about the shut-up little girl, and Clement +had forgotten what he had heard that evening. He +was very busy just then working extra for some +prize he hoped to get at school—I forget what it +was, but he did get it—and Blanche was helping +him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>VERY MYSTERIOUS</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">Saturday</span> came at last. Of course jolly things and +times <i>do</i> come, however long the waiting seems. +But the worst of it is that they are so soon gone +again, and then you wish you were back at the +looking forward; perhaps, after all, it is often the +jolliest part of it.</div> + +<p>Clement says I mustn't keep saying 'jolly'; he +says 'nice' would be better in a book. He is looking +it over for me, you see. <i>I</i> think 'nice' is a girl's +word, but Clem says you shouldn't write slang in a +book, so I try not to; though of course I don't really +expect this story ever to be made into an actual +book.</p> + +<p>Well, Saturday came, and Peterkin and I set off +to Mrs. Wylie's. She was a very nice person to go +to see; she seemed so really pleased to have us.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +And she hadn't turned into a frog, or anything of +the kind. She was standing out on the little balcony, +watching for us, with a snowy-white, fluffy shawl on +the top of her black dress, which made her seem +more fairyish, or fairy-godmotherish, than ever. I +never did see any one so beautifully neat and spotless +as she always was.</p> + +<p>As soon as the front door was opened, we heard +her voice from upstairs.</p> + +<p>'Come up, boys, come up. Polly and I have both +been watching for you, and he is in great spirits to-day, +and so amusing.'</p> + +<p>We skurried up, and nearly tumbled over each +other into the drawing-room. Then, of course, +Peterkin's politeness came into force, and he walked +forward soberly to shake hands with his old lady +and give her mamma's love and all that sort of +thing, which he was much better at than I. She +had just stepped in from the balcony, but was quite +ready to step out again at the parrot's invitation.</p> + +<p>'Come quick,' he said, 'Polly doesn't like +waiting.'</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 309px;"> +<img src="images/i068.png" width="309" height="500" alt="NO SOONER DID HE CATCH SIGHT OF US TWO WITH HIS UGLY ROUND BEADY EYES . . . THAN HE SHUT UP.—p. 52." title="NO SOONER DID HE CATCH SIGHT OF US TWO WITH HIS UGLY ROUND BEADY EYES . . . THAN HE SHUT UP.—p. 52." /> +<span class="caption">NO SOONER DID HE CATCH SIGHT OF US TWO WITH HIS UGLY ROUND BEADY EYES . . . THAN HE SHUT UP.—p. 52.</span> +</div> + +<p>Really it did seem wonderful to me, though he +wasn't the first parrot I had ever seen, and though I +had heard him before—it did seem wonderful for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +bird, only a bird, to talk so sensibly, and I felt as if +there might be something in Peterkin's idea that +he was more than he seemed. And to this day +parrots, clever ones, still give me that feeling.</p> + +<p>They are very like children in some ways. They +are so 'contrairy.' You'd scarcely believe it, but no +sooner did the creature catch sight of us two with +his ugly, round, painted-bead-looking eyes—I don't +like parrot's eyes—than he shut up, and wild horses +couldn't have made him utter another word, much +less Mrs. Wylie.</p> + +<p>I was quite sorry for her, she seemed so disappointed.</p> + +<p>It was just like a tiresome baby, whose mamma +and nurse want to show off and bring it down to the +drawing-room all dressed up, and it won't go to anybody, +or say 'Dada,' or 'Mam-ma,' or anything, and +just screeches. I can remember Elvira being like +that, and I daresay we all were.</p> + +<p>'It is too bad,' said our old lady. 'He has got to +know me, and I have been teaching him some new +words. And his mistress and her maid are out this +afternoon, so I thought we should have him all to +ourselves, and it would be so amusing. But'—just +then a bright idea struck her—'supposing you two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +go back into the room, so that he can't see you, and +I will say "Good-bye, my dears," very loud and +plainly, to make him think you have gone. Then I +will come out again, and you shall listen from behind +the curtain. I believe he will talk then, just as he +has been doing.'</p> + +<p>Pete and I were most willing to try—we were all +three quite excited about it. It was really quite +funny how his talking got the Polly treated as if he +was a human being. We stalked back into the +drawing-room, Mrs. Wylie after us, saying in a very +clear tone—</p> + +<p>'Good-bye, then, my dears. My love to your +mamma, and the next time you come I hope Poll-parrot +will be more friendly.'</p> + +<p>And then I shut the door with a bang, to sound +as if we had gone, though, of course, it was all +'acting,' to trick the parrot. Peterkin and I peeped +out at him from behind the curtain, and we could +scarcely help laughing out loud. He looked so +queer—his head cocked on one side, listening, his +eyes blinking; he seemed rather disgusted on the +whole, I thought.</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Wylie stepped out again.</p> + +<p>'Polly,' she said, 'I'm ashamed of you. Why<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +couldn't you be kind and friendly to those nice boys +who came to see you?'</p> + +<p>'Pretty Poll,' he said, in a coaxing tone.</p> + +<p>'No,' she replied; 'not pretty Poll at all. Ugly +Poll, I should say.'</p> + +<p>'Polly's so tired; take Polly in. Polly's cold,' he +said, in what we called his natural voice; and then +it seemed as if the first words had reminded him of +the little girl, for his tone suddenly changed, and he +began again: 'I'm so tired, Nana. No, I won't be +good; no, I won't. I'll write a letter, and I won't +be locked up,' in the squeakier sort of voice that +showed he was copying somebody else.</p> + +<p>'Nonsense!' said Mrs. Wylie. 'You are not +tired or cold, Polly, and nobody is going to lock you +up.'</p> + +<p>He was silent for a moment, and peeping out +again, we saw that he was staring hard at the old +lady.</p> + +<p>Then he said very meekly—I am not sure which +voice it was in—</p> + +<p>'Polly be good! Polly very sorry!'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wylie nodded approvingly.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' she said, 'that's a much prettier way to +talk. Now, supposing we have a little music,' and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +she began to sing in a very soft, very thin, old voice +a few words of 'Home, Sweet Home.'</p> + +<p>There was something very piteous about it. I +think there is a better word than 'piteous'—yes, +Clement had just told it me. It is 'pathetic.' I +felt as if it nearly made me cry, and so did Peterkin. +We told each other so afterwards, and though we +were so interested in the parrot and in hearing him, +I wished he would be quiet again, and let Mrs. +Wylie go on with her soft, sad little song. But of +course he didn't. He started, too, a queer sort of +whistle, not very musical, certainly, but yet, no doubt, +there was a bit of the tune in it, and now and then +sounds rather like the words 'sweet' and 'home.' I +do think, altogether, it was the oddest musical +performance that ever was heard.</p> + +<p>And when it was over, there came another voice. +It was the maid next door, who had stepped quietly +on to the balcony—</p> + +<p>'I'm afraid, ma'am, I must take him in now,' +she said, very respectfully. 'It is getting cold, and +it would never do for him to get a sore throat just +as he's learning to sing so. You are clever with him, +ma'am; you are, indeed: there's quite a tune in his +voice.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Wylie gave a little laugh of pleasure.</p> + +<p>'And did the young gentlemen you were speaking +of never come, after all?' the maid asked, as she was +turning away, the big cage in her hand.</p> + +<p>'Oh yes,' said Mrs. Wylie, 'they are here still. +But Polly was very naughty,' and she explained +about it.</p> + +<p>'He's learnt that "won't be good" from next +door,' said the girl, 'and I do believe he knows what +it means.'</p> + +<p>'I very sorry; I be good,' here said the parrot.</p> + +<p>They both started.</p> + +<p>'Upon my word!' exclaimed the maid.</p> + +<p>'Has he learnt <i>that</i> from next door?' said Mrs. +Wylie, in a lower voice.</p> + +<p>'I hope so. It's very clever of him, and it's not +unlikely. The child is getting better, I believe, and +there's not near so much crying and complaining.'</p> + +<p>'So I have heard,' said the old lady, and we +fancied she spoke rather mysteriously, 'and I hope,' +she went on, but we could not catch her next +words, as she dropped her voice, evidently not wishing +us to hear.</p> + +<p>Peterkin squeezed my hand, and I understood. +There <i>was</i> a mystery of some kind!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Wylie came in and shut the glass door. +She was smiling now with pleasure and satisfaction.</p> + +<p>'I did get him to talk, did I not?' she said. 'He +<i>is</i> a funny bird. By degrees I hope he will grow +quite friendly with you too.'</p> + +<p>I did not feel very sure about it.</p> + +<p>'I'm afraid,' I said, 'that he will not see us enough +for that. It isn't like you, Mrs. Wylie, for I daresay +you talk to him every day.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' she replied, 'I do now. I have felt more +interested in him since—' here she hesitated a little, +then she went on again—'since the evening I found +Peterkin listening to him,' and she smiled very +kindly at Pete. 'Before that, I had not noticed him +very much; at least, I had not made friends with +him. But he has a wonderful memory; really +wonderful, you will see. He will not have forgotten +you the next time you come, and each time he will +cock his head and pretend to be shy, and gradually +it will get less and less.'</p> + +<p>This was very interesting, but what Peterkin and +I were really longing for was some news of the little +girl. We did not like to ask about her. It would +have seemed rather forward and inquisitive, as the +old lady did not mention her at all. We felt that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +she had some reason for it, and of course, though we +could not have helped hearing what she and the +parrot's maid had said to each other, we had to try +to think we <i>hadn't</i> heard it. Clement says that's +what you should do, if you overhear things not meant +for you, unless, sometimes, when your having heard +them might really matter. <i>Then</i>, he says, it's your +duty—you're in honour bound—to tell that you've +heard, and <i>what</i> you've heard.</p> + +<p>'Now,' said our old lady, 'I fancy tea will be +quite ready. I thought it would be more comfortable +in the dining-room. So shall we go downstairs?'</p> + +<p>We were quite ready, and we followed her very +willingly. The dining-room was even smaller than +the drawing-room, and that was tiny enough. But +it was all so neat and pretty, and what you'd call +'old-fashioned,' I suppose. It reminded me of a doll-house +belonging to one of our grandmothers—mamma's +mother, who had kept it ever since she +was a little girl, and when we go to stay with her in +the country she lets us play with it. Even Peterkin +and I are very fond of it, or used to be so when we +were smaller. There's everything you can think of +in it, down to the tiniest cups and saucers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>The tea was very jolly. There were buns and +cakes, and awfully good sandwiches. I remember +that particular tea, you see, though we went to Mrs. +Wylie's often after that, because it was the first time. +The cups <i>were</i> rather small, but it didn't matter, for +as soon as ever one was empty she offered us more. +I would really be almost ashamed to say how many +times mine was filled.</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Wylie was very interesting to talk to. +She had never had any children of her own, she told +us, and her husband had been dead a long time. I +think he had been a sailor, for she had lots of curiosities: +queer shells, all beautifully arranged in a +cabinet, and a book full of pressed and dried seaweed, +and stuffed birds in cases. I don't care for stuffed +birds: they look too alive, and it seems horrid for +them not to be able to fly about and sing. Peterkin +took a great fancy to some of the very tiny ones—humming-birds, +scarcely bigger than butterflies; and, +long afterwards, when we went to live in London, Mrs. +Wylie gave him a present of a branch with three +beauties on it, inside a glass case. He has it now in +his own room. And she gave me four great big +shells, all coloured like a rainbow, which I still have +on my mantelpiece.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>Once or twice—I'm going back now to that first +time we went to have tea with her—I tried to get +the talk back to the little girl. I asked the old lady +if she wouldn't like to have a parrot of her own. I +thought it would be so amusing. But she said No; +she didn't think she would care to have one. The +one next door was almost as good, and gave her no +trouble or anxiety.</p> + +<p>And then Peterkin asked her if there were any +children next door. Mrs. Wylie shook her head.</p> + +<p>'No,' she said. 'The parrot's mistress is an old +maid—not nearly as old as I am, all the same, but +she lives quite alone; and on the other side there +are two brothers and a sister, quite young, unmarried +people.'</p> + +<p>'And is the—the little girl the only little girl or +boy in <i>her</i> house?' asked Peterkin.</p> + +<p>He did stumble a bit over asking it, for it had +been very plain that Mrs. Wylie did not want to +speak about her; but I got quite hot when I heard +him, and if we had been on the same side of the +table, or if his legs had been as long as they are now, +I'd have given him a good kick to shut him up.</p> + +<p>Our old lady was too good-natured to mind; still, +there was something in her manner when she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +answered that stopped any more questions from +Pete.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' she said, 'there are no other children in +that house, or in the terrace, except some very tiny +ones, almost babies, at the other end. I see them +pass in their perambulators, dear little things.'</p> + +<p>It was quite dark by the time we had finished +tea, and the lamps were lighted upstairs in the +drawing-room, where Mrs. Wylie showed us some +of the curiosities and things that I have already +written about.</p> + +<p>They were rather interesting, but I think we've +got to care more for collections and treasures like +that, now, than we did then. Perhaps we were not +quite old enough, and, I daresay, it was a good deal +that the great reason we liked to go to Mrs. Wylie's +was because of the parrot and the mysterious little +girl. At least, <i>Peterkin's</i> head was full of the little +girl. I myself was beginning to get rather tired of +all his talk about her, and I thought the parrot very +good fun of himself.</p> + +<p>So when the clock struck six, and Mrs. Wylie +asked us if mamma had fixed any time for us to be +home by—it wasn't that she wanted to get rid of +us, but she was very afraid of keeping us too late—we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +thought we might as well go, for mamma had +said, 'soon after six.'</p> + +<p>'Is any one coming to fetch you?' Mrs. Wylie +said.</p> + +<p>I didn't quite like her asking that: it made me +seem so babyish. I was quite old enough to look +after Pete, and the fun of going home by ourselves +through the lighted-up streets was one of the things +we had looked forward to.</p> + +<p>But I didn't want Master Peterkin to begin at +me afterwards about not being polite, so I didn't +show that I was at all vexed. I just said—</p> + +<p>'Oh no, Peterkin will be all right with me!'</p> + +<p>And then we said good-bye, and 'thank you very +much for inviting us.' And Pete actually said—</p> + +<p>'May we come again soon, please?'</p> + +<p>His ideas of politeness were rather original, +weren't they?</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Wylie was quite pleased.</p> + +<p>'Certainly, my dear. I shall count on your doing +so. And I am glad you spoke of it, for I wanted to +tell you that I am going to London the end of this +next week for a fortnight. Will you tell your dear +mamma so, and say that I shall come to see her on +my return, and then we must fix on another afternoon?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +I am very pleased to think that you care to +come, and I hope you feel the same,' she went on, +turning to me.</p> + +<p>She was so kind that I felt I had been rather +horrid, for I <i>had</i> enjoyed it all very much. And I +said as nicely as I could, that I'd like to come again, +only I hoped we didn't bother her. She beamed all +over at that, and Peterkin evidently approved of it +too, for he grinned in a queer patronising way he has +sometimes, as if I was a baby compared to him.</p> + +<p>I was just going to pull him up for it after we +had got on our coats and caps, and were outside and +the door shut, but before I had got farther than—'I +say, youngster,'—he startled me rather by saying, +in a very melancholy tone—</p> + +<p>'It's too bad, Giles, isn't it? Her going away, and +us hearing nothing of the little girl. I really thought +she'd have asked her to tea too.'</p> + +<p>'How you muddle your "her's" and "she's"!' I +said. But of course I understood him. 'I think +you muddle yourself too. If there's a mystery, and +you know you'd be very disappointed if there wasn't, +you couldn't expect the little girl to come to tea just +as if everything was quite like everybody else about +her.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>'No, that's true,' said he, consideringly. 'P'raps +she's invisible sometimes, or p'raps she's like the +"Light Princess," that they had to tie down for fear +she'd float away, or p'raps——'</p> + +<p>'She's invisible to us, anyway,' I interrupted, for, +as I said, I was getting rather tired of Pete's fancies +about the little girl, 'and so——'</p> + +<p>But just as I got so far, we both stopped—we +were passing the railing of the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'little's girl'">little girl's</ins> house +at that moment, and voices talking rather loudly +caught our ears. Peterkin touched my arm, and we +stood quite still. No one could see us, it was too +dark, and there was no lamp just there, though some +light was streaming out from the lower windows +of the house. One of them, the dining-room one, was +a little open, even though it was a chilly evening.</p> + +<p>It was so queer, our hearing the voices and +almost seeing into the room, <i>just</i> as we had been +making up our minds that we'd never know anything +about the little girl; it seemed so queer, that we +didn't, at first, think of anything else. It wasn't +for some minutes, or moments, certainly, that it came +into my head that we shouldn't stay there peeping +and listening. I'm afraid it wasn't a very gentlemanly +sort of thing to do. As for Peterkin, I'm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +pretty sure he never had the slightest idea that we +were doing anything caddish.</p> + +<p>What we heard was this—</p> + +<p>'No, I don't want any more tea. I'd better go to +bed. It's so dull, Nana.'</p> + +<p>Then another voice replied—it came from some +one further back in the room, but we could not distinguish +the words—</p> + +<p>'There aren't any stars. You may as well shut +the window. And stars aren't much good. I want +some one to play with me. Other little—' but just +then we saw the shadow of some one crossing the +room, and the window—it was a glass-door kind of +window like the ones up above, which opened on to +the balcony, for there was a little sort of balcony +downstairs too—was quickly closed. There was no +more to be heard or seen; not even shadows, for +the curtains were now drawn across.</p> + +<p>Pete gave a deep sigh, and I felt that he was +looking at me, though it was too dark to see, and +there was no lamp just there. He wanted to know +what I thought.</p> + +<p>'Come along,' I said, and we walked on.</p> + +<p>'Did you hear?' asked Peterkin at last. 'She +said she wanted somebody to play with her.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Yes,' I said, 'it is rather queer. You'd think +Mrs. Wylie might have made friends with her, and +invited her to tea. But it's no good our bothering +about it,' and I walked a little faster, and began to +whistle. I did not want Pete to go on again talking +a lot about his invisible princess, for such she seemed +likely to remain.</p> + +<p>It was far easier, however, to get anything into +Peterkin's fancy than to get it out again, as I might +have known by experience. We had not gone far +before I felt him tugging at my arm.</p> + +<p>'Don't walk so fast, Gilley,' he said—poor, little +chap, he was quite breathless with trying to keep up +with me, so I had to slacken a bit,—'and do let me +talk to you. When we get home I shan't have a +chance—not till to-morrow morning in bed, I +daresay; for they'll all be wanting to hear about +Mrs. Wylie, and what we had for tea, and everything.'</p> + +<p>I did not so much mind about <i>that</i> part of it, +but I did not want to be awakened before dawn the +next morning to listen to all he'd got to say. +So I thought I might as well let him come out with +some of it.</p> + +<p>'What do you want to talk about?' I said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Oh! of course, you know,' he replied. 'It's +about the <i>poor</i> little girl. I am so dreffully sorry +for her, Gilley, and I want to plan something. It's +no good asking Mrs. Wylie. We'll have to do something +ourselves. I'm afraid the people she's with +lock her up, or something. <i>P'raps</i> they daren't let +her go out, if there's some wicked fairy, or a witch, +or something like that, that wants to run off with +her.'</p> + +<p>'Well, then, the best thing to do <i>is</i> to lock her up,' +I said sensibly.</p> + +<p>But that wasn't Peterkin's way of looking at +things.</p> + +<p>'It's never like that in my stories,' he said—and I +know he was shaking his curly head,—'and some of +them are very, very old—nearly as old as Bible +stories, I believe; so they must be true, you see. +There's always somebody that comes to break the—the—I +forget the proper word.'</p> + +<p>'The enchantment, you mean,' I said.</p> + +<p>'No, no; a shorter word. Oh, I know—the +spell,' he replied. 'Yes, somebody comes to break +the <i>spell</i>. And that's what we've got to do, Gilley. +At least, I'm sure I've got to, and you must help me. +You see, it's all been so funny. The parrot knows,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +I should think, for I'm sure he's partly fairy. But, +very likely, he daren't say it right out, for fear of the +bad fairy, and——'</p> + +<p>'Perhaps he's the bad fairy himself,' I interrupted, +half joking, but rather interested, all the same, in +Peterkin's ideas.</p> + +<p>'Oh no,' he replied, 'I know he's not, and I'm +sure Mrs. Wylie has nothing to do with the bad +fairy.'</p> + +<p>'Then why do you think she won't talk about +the little girl, or invite her, or anything?' I asked.</p> + +<p>Pete seemed puzzled.</p> + +<p>'I don't know,' he said. 'There's a lot to find out. +P'raps Mrs. Wylie doesn't know anything about the +spell, and has just got some stupid, common reason +for not wanting us to play with the little girl, or +p'raps'—and this was plainly a brilliant idea—'<i>p'raps</i> +the spell's put on her without her knowing, +and stops her when she begins to speak about it. +Mightn't it very likely be that, Giles?'</p> + +<p>But I had not time to answer, for we had got to +our own door by now, and it was already opened, +as some tradesman was giving James a parcel. So +we ran in.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>'STRATAGEMS'</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">I really</span> don't quite know what made me listen to +Peterkin's fancies about his invisible princess, as I +got into the habit of calling her. It was partly, I +suppose, because it amused me—we had nothing +much to take us up just then: there was no skating +that winter, and the weather was dull and muggy—and +partly that somehow he managed to make me +feel as if there might really be something in it. I +suppose when anybody quite believes in a thing, it's +rather catching; and Peterkin's head was so stuffed +and crammed with fairy stories that at that time, +I think, they were almost more real to him than +common things.</div> + +<p>He went about, dreaming of ogres and magicians, +and all the rest, so much, that I scarcely think anything +marvellous would have surprised him. If I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +had suddenly shot up to the ceiling, and called out +that I had learnt how to fly, I don't believe he would +have been startled; or if I had shown him a purse +with a piece of gold in it, and told him that it was +enchanted, and that he'd always find the money in it +however often he spent it, he'd have taken it quite +seriously, and been very pleased.</p> + +<p>So the idea of an enchanted little girl did not +strike us as at all out of the way.</p> + +<p>We did not talk about her any more that night +after we had been at Mrs. Wylie's, for we had to +hurry up to get neat again to come down to the +drawing-room to mamma. Blanche and Elf were +already there when we came in, and they, and +mamma too, were full of questions about how we'd +enjoyed ourselves, and about the parrot, and what +we'd had for tea—just as I knew they would be; +I don't mean that mamma asked what we'd had for +tea, but the girls did.</p> + +<p>And then Pete and Elf went off to bed, and when +I went up he was quite fast asleep, and if he hadn't +been, I could not have spoken to him because of my +promise, you know.</p> + +<p>He made up for it the next morning, however.</p> + +<p>I suppose he had had an extra good night, for I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +felt him looking at me long before I was at all inclined +to open my eyes, or to snort for him to know +I was awake. And when at last I did—it's really +no good trying to go to sleep again when you feel +there's somebody fidgeting to talk to you—there he +was, his eyes as bright and shiny as could be, sitting +bolt up with his hands round his knees, as if he'd +never been asleep in his life?</p> + +<p>I couldn't help feeling rather cross, and yet I +had a contradictory sort of interest and almost eagerness +to hear what he had to say. I suppose it was a +kind of love of adventure that made me join him in +his fancies and plans. I knew that his fancies were +only fancies really, but still I felt as if we might get +some fun out of them.</p> + +<p>He was too excited to mind my being grumpy.</p> + +<p>'Oh, Gilley!' he exclaimed at my first snort, 'I +am so glad you are awake at last.'</p> + +<p>'I daresay you are,' I said, 'but I'm not. I should +have slept another half-hour if you hadn't sat there +staring me awake.'</p> + +<p>'Well, you needn't talk,' he went on, in a 'smoothing-you-down' +tone; 'just listen and grunt sometimes.'</p> + +<p>I did grunt there and then. There was one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +comfortable thing about Peterkin even then, and it +keeps on with him now that he is getting big and +sensible. He always understands what you say, +however you say it, or half say it. He was not the +least surprised at my talking of his staring me +awake, though he had not exactly meant to do so.</p> + +<p>'It has come into my mind, Giles,' he began, very +importantly, 'how queer and lucky it is that the old +lady is going away for a fortnight. I should not +wonder if it had been managed somehow.'</p> + +<p>He waited for my grunt, but it turned into—</p> + +<p>'What on earth do you mean?'</p> + +<p>'I mean, perhaps it's part of the spell, without +her knowing, of course, that she should have to go to +London. For if she was still there, we couldn't do +anything without her finding out.'</p> + +<p>'I don't know what you mean about doing anything,' +I said. 'And please don't say "we." I +haven't promised to join you. Most likely I'll do my +best to stop whatever it is you've got in that rummy +head of yours.'</p> + +<p>'Oh no, you won't!' he replied coolly. 'I don't +know that you could if you tried, without telling the +others. And you can't do that, of course, as I've +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>trusted you. It's word of honour, you see, though +I didn't exactly make you say so. And it's nothing +naughty or mischievous, else I wouldn't plan it.'</p> + +<p>'What is it, then? Hurry up and tell me, without +such a lot of preparation,' I grumbled.</p> + +<p>'I can't tell you very much,' he answered, ''cos, +you see, I don't know myself. It will show as we +go on—I'm certain you'll help me, Gilley. You +remember the prince in the "Sleeping Beauty" +did not know exactly what he would do—no more +did the one in——'</p> + +<p>'Never mind all that,' I interrupted.</p> + +<p>'Well, then, what we've got to do is to try to talk +to her ourselves without any one hearing. That's the +first thing. We will tell her what the parrot says, +and then it will be easy to find out if she knows +herself about the spell.'</p> + +<p>'But what do you think the spell is?' I asked, +feeling again the strange interest and half belief in +his fancies that Peterkin managed to put into me. +'What do you suppose your bad fairies, or whatever +they are, have done to her?'</p> + +<p>'There are lots of things, it might be,' he replied +gravely. 'They may have made her not able to walk, +or very queer to look at—p'raps turned her hair +white, so that you couldn't be sure if she was a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +girl or an old woman; or made her nose so long +that it trails on the floor. No, I don't think it's that,' +he added, after stopping to think a minute. 'Her +voice sounds as if she was pretty, even if it's rather +grumbly. P'raps she turns into a mouse at night, +and has to run about, and that's why she's so tired. +It might be that.'</p> + +<p>'It would be easy to catch her, then, and bring +her home in your pocket, if you waited till the +magic time came,' I suggested, half joking again, of +course.</p> + +<p>'It might be,' agreed Pete, quite seriously, 'or it +might be very, very difficult, unless we could make +her understand at the mouse time that we were +friends. We can't settle anything till we see her, +and talk to her like a little girl, of course.'</p> + +<p>'You certainly couldn't talk to her like anything +else,' I said; 'but I'm sure I don't see how you mean +to talk to her at all.'</p> + +<p>'I do,' said Peterkin. 'I've been planning it since +last night. We can go round that way once or twice +to look at the parrot, and just stand about. Nobody +would wonder at us if they saw we were looking at +him. And very likely we'd see <i>something</i>, as she +lives in the very next-door house. P'raps she comes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +to the window sometimes, and she might notice +us if we were looking up at the parrot. It would +be easiest if she was in the downstairs room.'</p> + +<p>'I don't suppose she is there all day,' I said. 'The +parrot would not have heard her talking so much if +she were. I think she must have been out on the +balcony sometimes when it was warmer.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' Peterkin agreed. 'I thought of that. Very +likely she only comes downstairs for her dinner and +tea. It's the dining-room, like Mrs. Wylie's.'</p> + +<p>'And if she only comes down there late she +wouldn't see us in the dark, and, besides, the parrot +wouldn't be out by then. And besides that, except +for going to tea to Mrs. Wylie's, we'd never get leave +to be out by ourselves so late. At least <i>you</i> wouldn't. +Of course, for me, it's sometimes nearly dark when I +come home from school.'</p> + +<p>I really did not see how Pete did mean to manage +it. But the difficulties I spoke of only seemed to +make him more determined. I could not help rather +admiring him for it: he quite felt, I fancy, as if he +was one of his favourite fairy-tale princes. And in +the queer way I have spoken of already, he somehow +made me feel with him. I did not go over all the +difficulties in order to stop him trying, but because I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +was actually interested in seeing how he was going +to overcome them.</p> + +<p>He was silent for a moment or two after my last +speech, staring before him with his round blue eyes.</p> + +<p>Then he said quietly—</p> + +<p>'Yes; I'd thought of most of those things. But +you will see. We'll manage it somehow. I daresay +she comes downstairs in the middle of the day, too, +for she's sure to have dinner early, and the parrot +will be out then, if we choose a fine day.'</p> + +<p>'But we always have to be in for our own dinner +by half-past one,' I said.</p> + +<p>'Well, p'raps <i>she</i> has hers at one, or even half-past +twelve, like we used to, till you began going to +school,' said he hopefully. 'And a <i>very</i> little talking +would do at the first beginning. Then we could be +very polite, and say we'd come again to see the +parrot, and p'raps—' here Peterkin looked rather +shy.</p> + +<p>'Perhaps what? Out with it!' I said.</p> + +<p>'We might take her a few flowers,' he answered, +getting red, 'if—if we could—could get any. They're +very dear to buy, I'm afraid, and we haven't any of +our own. The garden is so small; it isn't like if we +lived in the country,' rather dolefully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>'You wouldn't have known anything about Rock +Terrace, or the invisible princess, or the parrot, if we +lived in the country,' I reminded him.</p> + +<p>'No,' said Pete, more cheerfully, 'I hadn't thought +of that.'</p> + +<p>'And—' I went on, 'I daresay I could help you a +bit if it really seemed any good,' for I rather liked +the idea of giving the little girl some flowers. It +made it all look less babyish.</p> + +<p>Peterkin grinned with delight.</p> + +<p>'You <i>are</i> kind, Gilley!' he exclaimed. 'I knew +you would be. Oh, bother! here's nurse coming, and +we haven't begun to settle anything properly.'</p> + +<p>'There's no hurry,' I said; 'you've forgotten that +we certainly can't go there again till Mrs. Wylie's +out of the way. And she said, "the end of the week"; +that means Saturday, most likely, and this is—oh dear! +I was forgetting—it's Sunday, and we'll be late.'</p> + +<p>Nurse echoed my words as she came in—</p> + +<p>'You'll be late, Master Giles, and Master Peterkin, +too,' she said. 'I really don't think you should talk +so much on Sunday mornings.'</p> + +<p>It wasn't that we had to be any earlier on +Sundays than any other day, but that dressing in +your best clothes takes so much longer somehow,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +and we had to have our hair very neat, and all like +that, because we generally went down to the dining-room, +while papa and mamma and Clement and +Blanche were at breakfast, after we had had our own +in the nursery.</p> + +<p>There would be no good in trying to remember all +our morning talks that week about Peterkin's plans. +He did not get the least tired of them, and I didn't, +for a wonder, get tired of listening to him, he was so +very much in earnest.</p> + +<p>He chopped and changed a good bit in little parts +of them, but still he stuck to the general idea, and I +helped him to polish it up. It was really more interesting +than any of his fairy stories, for he managed +to make both himself and me feel as if we were going +to be <i>in</i> one of them ourselves.</p> + +<p>So I will skip over that week, and go on to the +next. By that time we knew that Mrs. Wylie was +in London, because mamma said something one day +about having had a letter from her. Nothing to do +with the little girl, as far as we knew; I think it +was only about somebody who wanted a servant, or +something stupid like that.</p> + +<p>It got on to the Monday of the next week <i>again</i>, +and by that time Pete had got a sort of start of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +plans. He had got leave to come to meet me at the +corner of Lindsay Square, once or twice in the last +few days. I used to get there about a quarter or +twenty minutes to one. We were supposed to leave +school not later than a quarter past twelve, but you +know how fellows get fooling about coming out of a +day-school, so, though it was really quite near, I was +often later.</p> + +<p>Mamma was pleased for Peterkin to want to come +to meet me. She was not at all coddling or stupid +like that about us boys, though her being in such a +fuss that evening Pete was lost may have seemed so. +And she was always awfully glad for us to be fond +of each other. She used to say she hoped we'd grow +up 'friends' as well as brothers, which always +reminded me of the verse about it in the Bible about +'sticking closer than a brother.' And I like to think +that dear little mummy's hopes will come true for +her sons.</p> + +<p>It wasn't exactly a fit of affection for me, of +course, that made Pete want to get into the way of +coming to meet me. Still, we <i>were</i> very good +friends; especially good friends just then, as you +know.</p> + +<p>So that Monday, which luckily happened to be a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +very nice bright day, he had no difficulty in getting +leave for it again. I had promised him to hurry +over getting off from school, so we counted on having +a good bit of time to spend in looking at the parrot +and talking to him, and in 'spying the land' +generally, including the invisible princess, if we got a +chance, without risking coming in too late for our +dinner. We had taken care never to be late, up till +now, for fear of Peterkin's coming to meet me being +put a stop to; but we hadn't pretended that we +would come straight home, and once or twice we had +done a little shopping together, and more than once +we had spent several minutes in staring in at the +flower-shop windows, settling what kind of flowers +would be best, and in asking the prices of hers from +a flower-woman who often sat near the corner of the +square. She was very good-natured about it. We +shouldn't have liked to go into a regular shop only +to ask prices, so it was a good thing to know a little +about them beforehand.</p> + +<p>I remember all about that Monday morning particularly +well. I did hurry off from school as fast as +I could, though of course—I think it nearly always +happens so—ever so many stupid little things turned +up to keep me later than I often was.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>I skurried along pretty fast, you may be sure, once +I did get out, and it wasn't long before I caught sight +of poor old Pete <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'eagly'">eagerly</ins> watching for me at the corner +of Lindsay Square. He did not dare to come farther, +because, you see, he had promised mamma he never +would, and that if I were ever very late he'd go home +again.</p> + +<p>I didn't give him time to be doleful about it.</p> + +<p>'I've been as quick as I possibly could,' I said, +'and it's not so bad after all, Pete. We shall have +a quarter of an hour for Rock Terrace at least, if +we hurry now. Don't speak—it only wastes your +breath,' for in those days, with being so plump and +sturdy and his legs rather short, it didn't take much +to make him puff or pant. He's in better training +now by a long way.</p> + +<p>He was always very sensible, so he took my +advice and we got over the ground pretty fast, only +pulling up when we got to the end, or beginning, of +the little row of houses.</p> + +<p>'Now,' said I, 'let's first walk right along rather +slowly, and if we hear the Polly we can stop short, +as if we were noticing him for the first time, the +way people often do, you know.'</p> + +<p>Peterkin nodded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I believe I see the corner of his cage out on the +balcony,' he said, half whispering, 'already.'</p> + +<p>He was right. The cage was out.</p> + +<p>We walked past very slowly, though we took care +not to look up as if we were expecting to see anything. +The parrot was in the front of the cage, +staring down, and I'm almost certain he saw us, and +even remembered us, though, out of contradiction, he +pretended he didn't.</p> + +<p>'Don't speak or turn,' I whispered to Pete. It +was so very quiet along Rock Terrace, except when +some tradesman's cart rattled past—and just now +there was nothing of the kind in view—that even +common talking could have been heard. 'Don't +speak or seem to see him. They are awfully conceited +birds, and the way to make them notice you +and begin talking and screeching is to pretend you +don't see them.'</p> + +<p>So we walked on silently to the farther end of the +terrace, in a very matter-of-fact way, turning to come +back again just as we had gone. And I could be +positive that the creature saw us all the time, for the +row of houses was very short, and he was well to the +front of the balcony.</p> + +<p>Our 'stratagem'—I have always liked the word,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +ever since I read <i>Tales of a Grandfather</i>, which I +thought a great take-in, as it's just a history book, +neither more nor less, and the only exciting part is +when you come upon stratagems—succeeded. As we +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'get'">got</ins> close up to the parrot's house, next door to +Mother Wylie's, you understand, <i>and</i>, of course, next +door to the invisible princess's, we heard a sound. +It was a sort of rather angry squeak or croak, but +loud enough to be an excuse for our stopping short +and looking up.</p> + +<p>And then, as we still did not speak, Master Poll, +his round eyes glaring at us, I felt certain, was forced +to open the conversation.</p> + +<p>'Pretty Poll,' he began, of course. 'Pretty Poll.'</p> + +<p>'All right,' I called back. 'Good morning, Pretty +Poll. A fine day.'</p> + +<p>'Wants his dinner,' he went on. 'I say, wants his +dinner.'</p> + +<p>'Really, does he?' I said, in a mocking tone, +which he understood, and beginning to get angry—just +what I wanted.</p> + +<p>'Naughty boy! naughty boy!' he screeched, very +loudly. Pete and I grinned with satisfaction!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>MARGARET</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">There's</span> an old proverb that mamma has often quoted +to us, for she's awfully keen on our all being 'plucky,' +and, on the whole, I think we are—</div> + +<p>'Fortune favours the brave.'</p> + +<p>I have sometimes thought it would suit Peterkin +to turn it into 'Fortune favours the determined.' +Not that he's <i>not</i> 'plucky,' but there's nothing like +him for sticking to a thing, once he has got it into his +head. And certainly fortune favoured him at the +time I am writing about. Nothing could have suited +us better than the parrot's screeching out to us +'naughty boy, naughty boy.'</p> + +<p>I suppose he had been taught to say it to errand-boys +and boys like that who mocked at him. But +we did not want to set up a row, so I replied gently—</p> + +<p>'No, no, Polly, good boys. Polly shall have his +dinner soon.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Good Polly, good Polly,' he repeated with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>And then—what <i>do</i> you think happened? The +door-window of the drawing-room of the next house, +<i>the</i> house, was pushed open a little bit, and out +peeped a child's head, a small head with smooth short +dark hair, but a little girl's head. We could tell that +at once by the way it was combed, or brushed, even +if we had not seen, as we did, a white muslin pinafore, +with lace ruffly things that only a girl would +wear. My heart really began to beat quite loudly, +as if I'd been running fast—we had been so excited +about her, you see, and afterwards Pete told me his +did too.</p> + +<p>The only pity was, that she was up on the drawing-room +floor. We could have seen her so much better +downstairs. But we had scarcely time to feel disappointed.</p> + +<p>When she saw us, and saw, I suppose, that we +were not errand-boys or street-boys, she came out a +little farther. I felt sure by her manner that she +was alone in the room. She looked down at us, +looked us well over for a moment or two, and then +she said—</p> + +<p>'Are you talking to the parrot?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>She did not call out or speak loudly at all, but her +voice was very clear.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' Peterkin replied. As he had started the +whole business I thought it fair to let him speak +before me. 'Yes, but he called out to us first. He +called us "naughty boys."'</p> + +<p>'I heard him,' said the little girl, 'and I thought +perhaps you <i>were</i> naughty boys, teasing him, you +know, and I was going to call to you to run away. +But—' and she glanced at us again. I could see +that she wanted to go on talking, but she did not +quite know how to set about it.</p> + +<p>So I thought I might help things on a bit.</p> + +<p>'Thank you,' I said, taking off my cap. 'My +little brother is very interested in the parrot. He +seems so clever.'</p> + +<p>At another time Pete would have been very +offended at my calling him 'little,' but just now he +was too eager to mind, or even, I daresay, to notice.</p> + +<p>'So he is,' said the little girl. 'I could tell you +lots about him, but it's rather tiresome talking down +to you from up here. Wait a minute,' she added, +'and I'll come down to the dining-room. I may go +downstairs now, and nurse is out, and I'm very dull.'</p> + +<p>We were so pleased that we scarcely dared look at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +each other, for fear that somehow it should go wrong +after all. We did glance along the terrace, but nobody +was coming. If only her nurse would stay out +for ten minutes longer, or even less.</p> + +<p>We stood there, almost holding our breath. But +it was not really—it could not have been—more than +half a minute, before the dark head and white pinafore +appeared again, this time, of course, on the +ground floor; the window there was a little bit open +already, to air the room perhaps.</p> + +<p>We would have liked to go close up to the small +balcony where she stood, but we dared not, for fear +of the nurse coming. And the garden was very tiny, +we were only two or three yards from the little girl, +even outside on the pavement.</p> + +<p>She looked at us first, looked us well over, before +she began to speak again. Then she said—</p> + +<p>'Have you been to see the parrot already?'</p> + +<p>'Oh yes,' said Peterkin, in his very politest tone, +'oh yes, thank you.' I did not quite see why he said +'thank you.' I suppose he meant it in return for her +coming downstairs. 'I've been here two, no, three +times, and Giles,' he gave a sort of nod towards me, +'has been here two.'</p> + +<p>'Is your name Giles?' she asked me. She had a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +funny, little, rather condescending manner of speaking +to us, but I didn't mind it somehow.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' I replied, 'and his,' and I touched Pete, 'is +"Peterkin."'</p> + +<p>'They are queer names; don't you think so? At +least,' she added quickly, as if she was afraid she had +said something rude, 'they are very uncommon. +"Giles" and "Perkin."'</p> + +<p>'Not "Perkin,"' I said, "Peterkin."'</p> + +<p>'Oh, I thought it was like a man in my history,' +she said, 'Perkin War—something.'</p> + +<p>'No,' said Peterkin, 'it isn't in history, but it's in +poetry. About a battle. I've got it in a book.'</p> + +<p>'I should like to see it,' she said. 'There's lots of +<i>my</i> name in history. My name is Margaret. There +are queens and princesses called Margaret.'</p> + +<p>Pete opened his mouth as if he was going to speak, +but shut it up again. I know what he had been +on the point of saying,—'Are you a princess?' 'a +shut-up princess?' he would have added very likely, +but I suppose he was sensible enough to see that if +she had been 'shut-up,' in the way he had been fancying +to himself, she would scarcely have been able to +come downstairs and talk to us as she was doing. +And she was not dressed like the princesses in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +stories, who had always gold crowns on and long +shiny trains. Still, though she had only a pinafore +on, I could see that it was rather a grand one, lots of +lace about it, like one of Elf's very best, and though +her hair was short and her face small and pale, there +was something about her—the way she stood and +the way she spoke—which was different from many +little girls of her age.</p> + +<p>Peterkin took advantage very cleverly of what she +had said about his name.</p> + +<p>'I'll bring you my poetry-book, if you like,' he +said. 'It's a quite old one. I think it belonged to +grandmamma, and she's as old as—as old as—' he +seemed at a loss to find anything to compare poor +grandmamma to, till suddenly a bright idea struck +him—'nearly as old as Mrs. Wylie, I should think,' +he finished up.</p> + +<p>'Oh,' said Margaret, 'do you know Mrs. Wylie? +I've never seen her, but I think I've heard her talk. +Her house is next door to the parrot's.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' said I, 'but I wonder you've never seen her. +She often goes out.'</p> + +<p>'But—' began the little girl again, 'I've been—oh, +I do believe that's my dinner clattering in the +kitchen, and nurse will be coming in, and I've never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +told you about the parrot. I've lots to tell you. +Will you come again? Not to-morrow, but on +Wednesday nurse is going out to the dressmaker's. +I heard her settling it. Please come on Wednesday, +just like this.'</p> + +<p>'We could come a little earlier, perhaps,' I +said.</p> + +<p>Margaret nodded.</p> + +<p>'Yes, do,' she replied, 'and I'll be on the look-out +for you. I shall think of lots of things to say. I +want to tell you about the parrot, and—about lots of +things,' she repeated. 'Good-bye.'</p> + +<p>We tugged at our caps, echoing 'good-bye,' and +then we walked on towards the farther-off end of the +terrace, and when we got there we turned and walked +back again. And then we saw that we had not left +the front of Margaret's house any too soon, for a +short, rather stout little woman was coming along, +evidently in a hurry. She just glanced at us as +she passed us, but I don't think she noticed us +particularly.</p> + +<p>'That's her nurse, I'm sure,' said Peterkin, in a +low voice. 'I don't think she looks unkind.'</p> + +<p>'No, only rather fussy, I should say,' I replied.</p> + +<p>We had scarcely spoken to each other before,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +since bidding Margaret good-bye. Pete had been +thinking deeply, and I was waiting to hear what he +had to say.</p> + +<p>'I wonder,' he went on, after a moment or two's +silence,—'I wonder how much she knows?'</p> + +<p>'Why?' I exclaimed. 'What do you think there +is to know?'</p> + +<p>'It's all very misterous, still,' he answered +solemnly. 'She—the little girl—said she had lots to +tell us about the parrot and other things. And she +didn't want her nurse to see us talking to her. And +she said she could come downstairs <i>now</i>, but, I'm +sure, they don't let her go out. She wouldn't be so +dull if they did.'</p> + +<p>'Who's "they"?' I asked.</p> + +<p>'I don't quite know,' he replied, shaking his head. +'Some kind of fairies. P'raps it's bad ones, or +p'raps it's good ones. No, it can't be bad ones, for +then they wouldn't have planned the parrot telling +us about her, so that we could help her to get free. +The parrot is a sort of messenger from the good +fairies, I believe.'</p> + +<p>He looked up, his eyes very bright and blue, as +they always were when he thought he had made a +discovery, or was on the way to one. And I, half in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +earnest, half in fun, like I'd been about it all the +time, let my own fancy go on with his.</p> + +<p>'Perhaps,' I said. 'We shall find out on Wednesday, +I suppose, when we talk more to Margaret. +We needn't call her the invisible princess any more.'</p> + +<p>'No, but she is a princess sort of little girl, isn't +she?' he said, 'though her hair isn't as pretty as +Blanche's and Elf's, and her face is very little.'</p> + +<p>'She's all right,' I said.</p> + +<p>And then we had to hurry and leave off talking, +for we had been walking more slowly than we knew, +and just then some big clock struck the quarter.</p> + +<p>I think, perhaps, I had better explain here, that +none of us—neither Margaret, nor Peterkin, nor I—thought +we were doing anything the least wrong in +keeping our making acquaintance a secret. What +Margaret thought about it, so far as she did think of +that part of it, you will understand as I go on; and +Pete and I had our minds so filled with his fairies +that we simply didn't think of anything else.</p> + +<p>It was growing more and more interesting, for +Margaret had something very jolly about her, though +she wasn't exactly pretty.</p> + +<p>I can't remember if it did come into my mind, a +very little, perhaps, that we should tell somebody—mamma,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +perhaps, or Clement—about our visits to +Rock Terrace even then. But if it did, I think I put +it out again, by knowing that Margaret meant it to +be a secret, and that, till we saw her again, and heard +what she was going to tell us, it would not be fair to +mention anything about it.</p> + +<p>We were both very glad that Wednesday was only +the day after to-morrow. It would have been a great +nuisance to have had to wait a whole week, perhaps. +And we were very anxious when Wednesday morning +came, to see what sort of weather it was, for on +Tuesday it rained. Not very badly, but enough for +nurse to tell Peterkin that it was too showery for +him to come to meet me, and it would not have been +much good if he had, as we couldn't have spoken to +Margaret.</p> + +<p>Nor could we have strolled up and down the +terrace or stood looking at the parrot, even if he'd +been out on the terrace, which he wouldn't have been +on at all on a bad day—if it was rainy. It would have +been sure to make some of the people in the houses +wonder at us; just what we didn't want.</p> + +<p>But Wednesday was fine, luckily, and this time I +got off from school to the minute without any one or +anything stopping me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>I ran most of the way to the corner of Lindsay +Square, all the same; and I was not too early either, +for before I got there I saw Master Peterkin's sturdy +figure steering along towards me, not far off. And +when he got up to me I saw that he had a small +brown-paper parcel under his arm, neatly tied up +with red string.</p> + +<p>He was awfully pleased to see me so early, for his +round face was grinning all over, and as a rule it was +rather solemn.</p> + +<p>'What's that you've got there?' I asked.</p> + +<p>He looked surprised at my not knowing.</p> + +<p>'Why, of course, the poetry-book,' he said. 'I +promised it her, and I've marked the poetry about +"Peterkin." It's the Battle of Blen—Blen-hime—mamma +said, when I learnt it, that that's the right +way to say it; but Miss Tucker' ('Miss Tucker' was +Blanche's and the little ones' governess) 'called it +Blen<i>nem</i>, and I always have to think when I say it. +I wish they didn't call him "<i>little</i> Peterkin," though,' +he went on, 'it sounds so babyish.'</p> + +<p>'I don't see that it matters, as it isn't about you +yourself,' I said. 'I'd forgotten all about it; I think +it's rather sharp of you to have remembered.'</p> + +<p>'I couldn't never forget anything I'd promised <i>her</i>,'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +said Pete, and you might really have thought by his +tone that he believed he was the prince going to +visit the Sleeping Beauty—after she'd come awake, I +suppose.</p> + +<p>We did not need to hurry; we were actually +rather too early, so we went on talking.</p> + +<p>'How about the flowers we meant to get for her?' +I said suddenly.</p> + +<p>'<i>I</i> didn't forget about them,' he answered, 'but +we didn't promise them, and I thought it would be +better to ask her first. She might like chocolates +best, you know.'</p> + +<p>'All right,' I said, and I thought perhaps it was +better to ask her first. You see, if she didn't want +her nurse to know about our coming to see her it +would have been tiresome, as, of course, Margaret +could not have told a story.</p> + +<p>There she was, peeping out of the downstairs +window already when we got there. And when she +saw us she came farther out, a little bit on to the +balcony. It was a sunny day for winter, and +besides, she had a red shawl on, so she could not very +well have caught cold. It was a very pretty shawl, +with goldy marks or patterns on it. It was like one +grandmamma had been sent a present of from India,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +and afterwards Margaret told me hers had come +from India too. And it suited her, somehow, even +though she was only a thin, pale little girl.</p> + +<p>She smiled when she saw us, though she did not +speak till we were near enough to hear what she +said without her calling out. And when we stopped +in front of her house, she said—</p> + +<p>'I think you might come inside the garden. We +could talk better.'</p> + +<p>So we did, first glancing up at the next-door +balcony, to see if the parrot was there.</p> + +<p>Yes, he was, but not as far out as usual, and +there was a cloth, or something, half-down round his +cage, to keep him warmer, I suppose.</p> + +<p>He was quite silent, but Margaret nodded her +head up towards him.</p> + +<p>'He told me you were coming,' she cried, 'though +it wasn't in a very polite way. He croaked out—"Naughty +boys! naughty boys!"'</p> + +<p>We all three laughed a little.</p> + +<p>'And now,' Margaret went on, 'I daresay he won't +talk at all, all the time you are here.'</p> + +<p>'But will he understand what we say?' asked +Peterkin, rather anxiously.</p> + +<p>Margaret shook her head.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 311px;"> +<img src="images/i115.png" width="311" height="500" alt="PETE HELD OUT HIS BROWN-PAPER PARCEL. 'THIS IS THE POETRY-BOOK,' HE SAID.—p. 97." title="PETE HELD OUT HIS BROWN-PAPER PARCEL. 'THIS IS THE POETRY-BOOK,' HE SAID.—p. 97." /> +<span class="caption">PETE HELD OUT HIS BROWN-PAPER PARCEL. 'THIS IS THE POETRY-BOOK,' HE SAID.—p. 97.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I really don't know,' she replied. 'We had +better talk in rather low voices. I don't <i>think</i>,' she +went on, almost in a whisper, 'that he is fairy enough +to hear if we speak very softly.'</p> + +<p>Peterkin gave a sort of spring of delight.</p> + +<p>'Oh!' he exclaimed, 'I am <i>so</i> glad you think he +is fairyish, too.'</p> + +<p>'Of course I do,' said she; 'that's partly what I +wanted to tell you.'</p> + +<p>We came closer to the window. Margaret looked +at us again in her examining way, without speaking, +for a minute, and before she said anything, Pete held +out his brown-paper parcel.</p> + +<p>'This is the poetry-book,' he said, 'and I've put a +mark in the place where it's about my name.'</p> + +<p>He pulled off his cap as he handed the packet to +her, and stood with his curly wig looking almost red +in the sunlight, though it was not very bright.</p> + +<p>'Put it on again,' said Margaret, in her little +queer way, meaning his cap. 'And thank you very +much, Perkin, for remembering to bring it. I think +I should like to call you "Perkin," if you don't mind. +I like to have names of my own for some people, and +I really thought yours was Perkin.'</p> + +<p>I wished to myself she would have a name of her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +own for <i>me</i>, but I suppose she thought I was too +big.</p> + +<p>'I think you are very nice boys,' she went on, +'not "naughty" ones at all; and if you will promise +not to tell any one what I am going to tell <i>you</i>, I will +explain all I can. I mean you mustn't tell any one +till I give you leave, and as it's only about my own +affairs, of course you can promise.'</p> + +<p>Of course we did promise.</p> + +<p>'Listen, then,' said Margaret, glancing up first of +all at the parrot, and drawing back a little into the +inside of the room. 'You can hear what I say, even +though I don't speak very loudly, can't you?'</p> + +<p>'Oh yes! quite well,' we replied.</p> + +<p>'Well, then, listen,' she repeated. 'I have no +brothers or sisters, and Dads and Mummy are in +India. I lived there till about three years ago, and +then they came here and left me with my grandfather. +That's how people always have to do who +live in India.'</p> + +<p>'Didn't you mind awfully?' I said. 'Your father +and mother leaving you, I mean?'</p> + +<p>'Of course I minded,' she replied. 'But I had +always known it would have to be. And they will +come home again for good some day; perhaps before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +very long. And I have always been quite happy till +lately. Gran is very good to me, and I'm used to +being a good deal alone, you see, except for big people. +I've always had lots of story books, and not <i>very</i> +many lessons. So, after a bit, it didn't seem so very +different from India. Only <i>now</i> it's quite different. +It's like being shut up in a tower, and it's very queer +altogether, and I <i>believe</i> she's a sort of a witch,' and +Margaret nodded her head mysteriously.</p> + +<p>'<i>Who?</i>' we asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>'The person I'm living with—Miss Bogle—isn't +her name witchy?' and she smiled a little. 'No, +no, not nurse,' for I had begun to say the word. +'<i>She</i> is only rather a goose. No, this house belongs +to Miss Bogle, and she's quite old—oh, as old as old! +And she's got rheumatism, so she very seldom goes +up and down stairs. And nurse does just exactly +what Miss Bogle tells her. It was this way. Gran +had to go away—a good way, though not so far as +India, and he is always dreadfully afraid of anything +happening to me, I suppose. So he sent me here +with nurse, and he told me I would be very happy. +He knew Miss Bogle long ago—I think she had a +school for little boys once; perhaps that was before +she got to be a witch. But I've been dreadfully unhappy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +and I don't know what's going to happen to +me if I go on like this much longer.'</p> + +<p>She stopped, out of breath almost.</p> + +<p>'Do you think she's going to enchanter you?' +asked Peterkin, in a whisper. 'Do you think she +wasn't asked to your christening, or anything like +that?'</p> + +<p>Margaret shook her head again.</p> + +<p>'<i>Something</i> like that, I suppose,' she replied. +'She looks at me through her spectacles so queerly, +you can't think. You see, I was ill at Gran's before +I came here: not very badly, though he fussed a +good deal about it. And he thought the sea-air +would do me good. But I've often had colds, and I +never was treated like this before—never. For ever +so long, <i>she</i>,' and Margaret nodded towards somewhere +unknown, 'wouldn't let me come downstairs +at all. And then I cried—sometimes I <i>roared</i>, and +luckily the parrot heard, and began to talk about it +in his way. And you see it's through him that <i>you</i> +got to know about me, so I'm sure he's on the other +side, and knows she's a witch, but——'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE GREAT PLAN</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">At</span> that moment the clock—a clock somewhere +near—struck. Margaret started, and listened,—'One, +two, three.' She looked pleased.</div> + +<p>'It's only a quarter to one,' she said. 'Half-an-hour +still to my dinner. What time do you need to +get home by?'</p> + +<p>'A quarter-past will do for us,' I said.</p> + +<p>'Oh, then it's all right,' she replied. 'But I must +be quick. I want to know all that the parrot told +you.'</p> + +<p>'It was more what he had said to Mrs. Wylie,' I +explained, 'copying you, you know. And, at first, +she called you "that poor child," and told us she was +so sorry for you.'</p> + +<p>'But now she won't say anything. She pinched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +up her lips about you the other day,' added +Peterkin.</p> + +<p>Margaret seemed very interested, but not very +surprised.</p> + +<p>'Oh, then, Miss Bogle is beginning to bewitch her +too,' she said. 'Nurse is a goose, as I told you. +She just does everything Miss Bogle wants. And if +it wasn't for the parrot and you,' she went on +solemnly, 'I daresay when Gran comes home he'd +find me turned into a pussy-cat.'</p> + +<p>'Or a mouse, or even a frog,' said Peterkin, his +eyes gleaming; 'only then he wouldn't know it was +you, unless your nurse told him.'</p> + +<p>'She wouldn't,' said Margaret, 'the witch would +take care to stop her, or to turn her into a big cat +herself, or something. There'd be only the parrot, +and Gran mightn't understand him. It's better not +to risk it. And that's what I'm planning about. +But it will take a great deal of planning, though I've +been thinking about it ever since you came, and I +felt sure the good fairies had sent you to rescue me. +When can you come again?'</p> + +<p>'Any day, almost,' said Pete.</p> + +<p>'Well, then, I'll tell you what. I'll be on the +look-out for you passing every fine day about this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +time, and the first day I'm sure of nurse going to +London again—and I know she has to go once more +at least—I'll manage to tell you, and <i>then</i> we'll fix +for a long talk here.'</p> + +<p>'All right,' I said, 'but we'd better go now.'</p> + +<p>There was a sound of footsteps approaching, so +with only a hurried 'good-bye' we ran off.</p> + +<p>We did not need to stroll up and down the +terrace to-day, as we knew Margaret's nurse was +away; luckily so, for we only just got home in time +by the skin of our teeth, running all the way, and +not talking.</p> + +<p>I wish I could quite explain about myself, here, +but it is rather difficult. I went on thinking about +Margaret a lot, all that day; all the more that Pete +and I didn't talk much about her. We both seemed +to be waiting till we saw her again and heard her +'plans.'</p> + +<p>And I cannot now feel sure if I really was in +earnest at all, as she and Peterkin certainly were, +about the enchantment and the witch. I remember +I laughed at it to myself sometimes, and called it +'bosh' in my own mind. And yet I did not quite +think it only that. After all, I was only a little boy +myself, and Margaret had such a common-sensical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +way, even in talking of fanciful things, that somehow +you couldn't laugh at her, and Pete, of course, was +quite and entirely in earnest.</p> + +<p>I think I really had a strong belief that <i>some</i> risk +or danger was hanging over her, and I think this +was natural, considering the queer way our getting +to know her had been brought about. And any boy +would have been 'taken' by the idea of 'coming to +the rescue,' as she called it.</p> + +<p>There was a good deal of rather hard work at +lessons just then for me. Papa and mamma wanted +me to get into a higher class after Christmas, and I +daresay I had been pretty idle, or at least taking +things easy, for I was not as well up as I should +have been, I know. So Peterkin and I had not as +much time for private talking as usual. I had often +lessons to look over first thing in the morning, and +as mamma would not allow us to have candles in +bed, and there was no gas or electric light in our +room, I had to get up a bit earlier, when I had work +to look over or finish. And nurse was very good +about that sort of thing: there was always a jolly +bright fire for me in the nursery, however early I +was.</p> + +<p>Our best time for talking was when Peterkin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +came to meet me. But we had two or three wet +days about then. And Margaret did not expect us +on rainy days, even if Pete had been allowed to come, +which he wasn't.</p> + +<p>It was, as far as I remember, not till the Monday +after that Wednesday that we were able to pass +along Rock Terrace. And almost before we came in +real sight of her, I felt certain that the little figure +was standing there on the look-out.</p> + +<p>And so she was—red shawl and white pinafore, +and small dark head, as usual.</p> + +<p>We made a sort of pretence of strolling past her +house at first, but we found we didn't need to. She +beckoned to us at once, and just at that moment the +parrot, who was out in <i>his</i> balcony, most luckily—or +cleverly, Peterkin always declares he did it on +purpose—screeched out in quite a good-humoured +tone—</p> + +<p>'Good morning! good morning! Pretty Poll! +Fine day, boys! Good morning!'</p> + +<p>'Good morning, Poll,' we called out as we ran +across the tiny plot of garden to Margaret.</p> + +<p>'I'm so glad you've come,' she said, 'but you +mustn't stop a minute. I've been out in a bath-chair +this morning—I've just come in; and now I'm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +to go every day. It's horrid, and it's all nonsense, +when I can walk and run quite well. It's all that +old witch. I'm going again to-morrow and Wednesday; +but I'm going to manage to make it later on +Wednesday, so that you can talk to me on the +Parade. Nurse is going to London all day on +Wednesday, but I'm to go out just the same, for the +bath-chair man is somebody that Miss Bogle knows +quite well. So if you watch for me on the Parade, +between the street close to here,' and she nodded +towards the nearest side of Lindsay Square, 'and +farther on <i>that</i> way,' and now she pointed in the +direction of our own house, 'I'll look out for you, +and we can have a good talk.'</p> + +<p>'All right,' we replied. 'On Wednesday—day +after to-morrow, if it's fine, of course.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' she said; 'though I'll <i>try</i> to go, even if it's +not <i>very</i> fine, and you must try to come. I know +now why nurse has to go to London. It's to see her +sister, who's in an hospital, and Wednesday's the +only day, and she's a dressmaker—that's why I +thought nurse had to go to a dressmaker's. I'm +going on making up my plans. It's getting worse +and worse. After I've been out in the bath-chair, +Miss Bogle says I'm to lie down most of the afternoon!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +Just fancy—it's so <i>dreadfully</i> dull, for she +won't let me read. She says it's bad for your eyes, +when you're lying down. Unless I do something +quick, I believe she'll turn me into a—oh! I don't +know what,' and she stopped, quite out of +breath.</p> + +<p>'A frog,' said Peterkin. He had enchanted frogs +on the brain just then, I believe.</p> + +<p>'No,' said Margaret, 'that wouldn't be so bad, for +I'd be able to jump about, and there's nothing I love +as much as jumping about, especially in water,' and +her eyes sparkled with a sort of mischief which I +had seen in them once or twice before. 'No, it +would be something much horrider—a dormouse, +perhaps. I should hate to be a dormouse.</p> + +<p>'You shan't be changed into a dormouse or—or +<i>anything</i>,' said Peterkin, with a burst of indignation.</p> + +<p>'Thank you, Perkins,' Margaret replied; 'but +please go now and remember—Wednesday.'</p> + +<p>We ran off, and though we thought we had only +been a minute or two at Rock Terrace, after all we +were not home much too early.</p> + +<p>'We must be careful on Wednesday,' I said. +'I'm afraid my watch is rather slow.'</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 278px;"> +<img src="images/i128.png" width="278" height="500" alt="WE HAD NO DIFFICULTY IN FINDING HER BATH-CHAIR.—p. 108." title="WE HAD NO DIFFICULTY IN FINDING HER BATH-CHAIR.—p. 108." /> +<span class="caption">WE HAD NO DIFFICULTY IN FINDING HER BATH-CHAIR.—p. 108.</span> +</div> + +<p>'Dinner isn't always quite so pumptual on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +Wednesdays,' said Pete, 'with its being a half-holiday, +you know.'</p> + +<p>It turned out right enough on Wednesday.</p> + +<p>Considering what a little girl she was then—only +eight and a bit—Margaret was very clever with her +plans and settlings, as we have often told her since. +I daresay it was with her having lived so much +alone, and read so many story-books, and made up +stories for herself too, as she often did, though we +didn't know that then.</p> + +<p>We had no difficulty in finding her bath-chair, +and the man took it quite naturally that she should +have some friends, and, of course, made no objection +to our walking beside her and talking to her. He +was a very nice kind sort of a man, though he +scarcely ever spoke. Perhaps he had children of +his own, and was glad for Margaret to be amused. +He took great care of the chair, over the crossing the +road and the turnings, and no doubt he had been +told to be extra careful, but as Miss Bogle had no +idea that Margaret knew a creature in the place I +don't suppose 'the witch' had ever thought of telling +him that he was not to let any one speak to her.</p> + +<p>It was a very fine day—a sort of November +summer, and when you were in the full sunshine it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +really felt quite hot. There were bath-chairs standing +still, for the people in them to enjoy the warmth +and to stare out at the sea.</p> + +<p>Margaret did not want to stare at it, and no more +did we. But it was more comfortable to talk with +the chair standing still; for though to look at one +going it seems to crawl along like a snail, I can tell +you to keep up with it you have to step out pretty +fast, faster than Peterkin could manage without a +bit of running every minute or so, which is certainly +<i>not</i> comfortable, and faster than I myself could +manage as well as talking, without getting short of +breath.</p> + +<p>So we were very glad to pull up for a few minutes, +though we had already got through a good deal of +business, as I will tell you.</p> + +<p>Margaret had made up her mind to run away! +Fancy that—a little girl of eight!</p> + +<p>Pete and I were awfully startled when she burst +out with it. She could stand Miss Bogle and the +dreadful dulness and loneliness of Rock Terrace no +longer, she declared, not to speak of what might +happen to her in the way of being turned into a +kitten or a mouse or <i>something</i>, if the witch got +really too spiteful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>'And where will you go to?' we asked.</p> + +<p>'Home,' she said, 'at least to my nursey's, and +that is close to home.'</p> + +<p>We were so puzzled at this that we could scarcely +speak.</p> + +<p>'To your <i>nurse's!</i>' we said at last.</p> + +<p>'Yes, to my own nurse—my old nurse!' said +Margaret, quite surprised that we didn't understand. +And then she explained what she thought she had +told us.</p> + +<p>'That stupid thing who is my nurse now,' she said, +'isn't my <i>real</i> nurse. I mean she has only been with +me since I came here. She belongs to Miss Bogle—I +mean Miss Bogle got her. My own darling nursey +had to leave me. She stayed and stayed because of +that bad cold I got, you know, but as soon as I was +better she <i>had</i> to go, because her mother was so old +and ill, and hasn't <i>nobody</i> but nursey to take care of +her. And then when Gran had to go away he +settled it all with that witchy Miss Bogle, and she +got this goosey nurse, and my own nursey brought +me here. And she cried and cried when she went +away, and she said she'd come some day to see if I +was happy, but the witch said no, she mustn't, it +would upset me; and so she's never dared to; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +now you can fancy what my life has been,' Margaret +finished up, in quite a triumphant tone.</p> + +<p>Peterkin was nearly crying by this time. But I +knew I must be very sensible. It all seemed so very +serious.</p> + +<p>'But what will your grandfather say when he +knows you've run away?' I asked, while Peterkin +stood listening, with his mouth wide open.</p> + +<p>'He'd be very glad to know where I was, <i>I</i> should +say,' Margaret replied. 'My own nursey will write +to him, and I will myself. It'll be a good deal better +than if I stayed to be turned into something he'd +never know was me. Then, what would Dads and +Mummy say to <i>him</i> for having lost me?'</p> + +<p>'The parrot'd tell, p'raps,' said Pete.</p> + +<p>'As if anybody would believe him!' exclaimed +Margaret, 'except people who understand about +fairies and witches and things like that, that you +two and I know about.'</p> + +<p>She was giving <i>me</i> credit for more believing in +'things like that' than I was feeling just then, to +tell the truth. But what I did feel rather disagreeably +sure of, was this queer little girl's determination. +She sometimes spoke as if she was twenty. Putting +it all together, I had a sort of instinct that it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +best not to laugh at her ideas at all, as the next thing +would be that she and her devoted 'Perkins' would +be making plans without me, and really getting lost, +or into dreadful troubles of some kind. So I contented +myself with just saying—</p> + +<p>'Why should Miss Bogle want to turn you into +anything?'</p> + +<p>'Because witches are like that,' said Peterkin, +answering for his princess.</p> + +<p>'And because she hates the bother of having me,' +added Margaret. 'She has written to Gran that I am +very troublesome—nurse told me so; nurse can't hold +her tongue—and I daresay I am,' she added truly. +'And so, if I seemed to be lost, she'd say it wasn't +her fault. And as I suppose I'd never be found, +there'd be an end of it.'</p> + +<p>'You couldn't but be found <i>now</i>,' said Peterkin, +'as, you see, <i>we'd</i> know.'</p> + +<p>'If she didn't turn <i>you</i> into something too,' said +Margaret, with the sparkle of mischief in her eyes +again.</p> + +<p>Pete looked rather startled at this new idea.</p> + +<p>'The best thing to do is for me to go away to a +safe place while I'm still myself,' she added.</p> + +<p>'But have you got the exact address? Do you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +know what station to go to, and all that sort of +thing?' I asked. 'And have you got money +enough?'</p> + +<p>'Plenty,' she said, nodding her head; 'plenty for +all I've planned. Of course I know the station—it's +the same as for my own home, and nursey lives +in the village where the railway comes. Much +nearer than <i>our</i> house, which is two miles off. And +I know nursey will have me, even if she had to +sleep on the floor herself. The only bother is that +I'll have to change out of the train from <i>here</i>, and +get into another at a place that's called a Junction. +Nursey and I had to do that when we came here, +and I heard Gran explain it all to her, and I know +it's the same going back, for the nurse I have <i>now</i> +told me so. When she goes to London she stays in +the same railway; but if you're <i>not</i> going to London, +you have to get into another one. And nursey +and I had to wait nearly half-an-hour, I should +think, and that's the part I mind,' and, for the first +time, her eager little face looked anxious. 'The +railway people would ask me who I was, and where +I was going, as, you see, I look so much littler than +I am; so I've planned for you two kind boys to come +with me to that changing station, and wait till I've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +got into the train that goes to Hill Horton; that's +<i>our</i> station. I've plenty of money,' she went on +hurriedly, for, I suppose, she saw that I was looking +very grave, and Peterkin's face was pink with +excitement.</p> + +<p>'It isn't that,' I said; 'it's—it's the whole thing. +Supposing you got lost after all, it would be——'</p> + +<p>'No, no! I won't get lost,' she said, speaking again +in her very grown-up voice. 'And remember, you're +on your word of honour as <i>gentlemen!</i>—<i>gentlemen!</i>' +she repeated, 'not to tell any one without my leave. +If you do, I'll just run away by myself, and very +likely get lost or stolen, or something. And how +would you feel then?'</p> + +<p>'We are not going to break our promise,' I said. +'You needn't be afraid.'</p> + +<p>'I'm not,' she said, and her face grew rather red. +'I always keep <i>my</i> word, and I expect any one I +trust to keep theirs.'</p> + +<p>And though she was such a little girl, not much +older than Elvira, whom we often called a 'baby,' I +felt sure she <i>would</i> 'keep hers.' It certainly wouldn't +mend matters to risk her starting off by herself, +as I believe she would have done if we had failed +her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>It has taken longer to write down all our talking +than the talking itself did, even though it was a little +interrupted by the bath-chair man every now and +then taking a turn up and down, 'just to keep Missy +moving a bit,' he said.</p> + +<p>Margaret's plans were already so very clear in her +head that she had no difficulty in getting us to +understand them thoroughly, and I don't think I +need go on about what she said, and what we +said. I will tell what we fixed to do, and what +we did do.</p> + +<p>Next Wednesday—a full week on—was the day +she had settled for her escape from Rock Terrace. +It was a long time to wait, but it was the day her +nurse was pretty sure—really quite sure, Margaret +thought—to go to London again, for she had said so. +She went by a morning train, and did not come back +till after dark in the evening, so there was no fear of +our running up against her at the railway station. +There was a train that would do for Hill Horton, +after waiting a little at the Junction, at about three +o'clock in the afternoon; and as it was my half-holiday, +Peterkin and I could easily get leave to go +out together if it was fine, and if it wasn't, we would +have to come without! We trusted it would be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +fine; and I settled in my own mind that if we <i>had</i> +to come without asking, I'd leave a message with +James the footman, that they weren't to be frightened +about us at home, for I didn't want mamma and all +the others to be in a fuss again, like the evening +Peterkin was lost.</p> + +<p>Margaret said we needn't be away more than +about an hour and a half. I don't quite remember +how she'd got all she knew about the times of the +trains. I think it was from the cook or housemaid +at Miss Bogle's, for I know she said one of them came +from near Hill Horton, and that she was very good-natured, +and liked talking about Margaret's home and +her own.</p> + +<p>So it was settled.</p> + +<p>Just to make it even more fixed, we promised to +go round by Rock Terrace on Monday at the usual +time, and Margaret was either to speak to us from +the dining-room window, or, if she couldn't, she would +hang out a white handkerchief somewhere that we +should be sure to see, which would mean that it was +all right.</p> + +<p>We were to meet her at the corner of her row of +houses nearest Lindsay Square, at half-past two on +Wednesday. How she meant to do about her bath-chair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +drive, and all the rest of it, she didn't tell us, +and, really, there wasn't time.</p> + +<p>But I felt sure she would manage it, and Peterkin +was even surer than I.</p> + +<p>The last thing she said was—</p> + +<p>'Of course, I shall have very little luggage; not +more than you two boys can easily carry between +you.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>A TERRIBLE IDEA</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">That</span> was on a Wednesday, and the same day the +next week was to be <i>the</i> day. On the Monday, as we +had planned, we strolled along Rock Terrace. Luckily, +it was a fine day, and we could look well about us +without appearing to have any particular reason for +doing so. It would have seemed rather funny if we +had been holding up umbrellas, or, I should say, if <i>I</i> +had been, for when it rained Peterkin wasn't allowed +to come to meet me.</div> + +<p>We stood still in front of the parrot's house. He +was out on the balcony. I wondered if he would +notice us, or if he did, if he would condescend to +speak to us.</p> + +<p>Yes, I felt that his ugly round eyes—don't you +think all parrots' eyes are ugly, however pretty their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +feathers are?—were fixed on us, and in a moment or +two came his squeaky, croaky voice—</p> + +<p>'Good morning, boys! Good morning! Pretty +Poll!'</p> + +<p>'He didn't say "naughty boys,"' I remarked.</p> + +<p>'No, of course not,' replied Peterkin; 'because +he knows all about it now, you see.'</p> + +<p>'We mustn't stand here long, however,' I said. 'I +wond——'</p> + +<p>'I wonder why Margaret hasn't hung out a handkerchief +if she couldn't get to speak to us,' I was +going to have said, but just at that moment we heard +a voice on the upstairs balcony—</p> + +<p>'Good Polly,' it said, 'good, good Polly.'</p> + +<p>And the parrot repeated with great pride—</p> + +<p>'Good, good Polly.'</p> + +<p>But when we looked up there was no one to be +seen, only I thought one of the glass doors of Margaret's +dining-room clicked a little. And I was right. +In another moment there she was herself, on the +dining-room balcony—half on it, that's to say, and +half just inside.</p> + +<p>'Isn't he good?' she said, when we came as near +as we dared to hear her. 'I told him to let me know +as soon as he saw you, for I couldn't manage the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +handkerchief, and I was afraid you might have gone +before I could catch you. Nurse has been after me +so this morning, for the witch was angry with me +yesterday for standing at the window without my +shawl. But you mustn't stay,' and she nodded in her +queenly little way. 'It's keeping all right—Wednesday +at half-past two, at the corner next the Square—wet +or fine. Good-bye.'</p> + +<p>'Good-bye, all right,' we whispered, but she heard +us.</p> + +<p>So did the parrot.</p> + +<p>'Good-bye, boys; good Polly! good, good Polly!' +and something else which Peterkin declared meant, +'Wednesday at half-past two.'</p> + +<p>I felt pretty nervous, I can tell you, that day and +the next. At least I suppose it's what people call +feeling very nervous. I seemed half in a dream, and, +as if I couldn't settle to anything, all queer and +fidgety. A little, just a very little perhaps, like what +you feel when you know you are going to the +dentist's, especially if you <i>haven't</i> got toothache; for +when you have it badly, you don't mind the thought +of having a tooth out, even a thumping double one.</p> + +<p>Yet I should have felt disappointed if the whole +thing had been given up, and, worse than that,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +horribly frightened if it had ended in Margaret's +saying she'd run away by herself without us helping +her, as I know—I have said so two or three times +already, I'm afraid: it's difficult to keep from repeating +if you're not accustomed to writing and feel +very anxious to explain things clearly—as I know +she really would have done.</p> + +<p>And then there was the smaller worry of wondering +what sort of weather there was going to be on +Wednesday, which did matter a good deal.</p> + +<p>I shall never forget how thankful I felt in <ins title="Transcriber's Note: this word is italicized in the original">the</ins> +morning when it came, and I awoke, and opened my +eyes, without any snorting for once, to hear Peterkin's +first words—</p> + +<p>'It's a very fine day, Gilley—couldn't be better.'</p> + +<p>'Thank goodness,' I said.</p> + +<p>He was sitting up, as usual; but I don't think he +had stared me awake this morning, for he was gazing +out in the direction of the window, where up above +the short blind a nice show of pale-blue sky was to +be seen; a wintry sort of blue, with the early mist +over it a little, but still quite cheering and 'lasting' +looking.</p> + +<p>'All the same,' I went on, speaking more to myself, +perhaps, than to him, 'I wish we were well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +through it, and your princess safe with her old +nurse.'</p> + +<p>For I could not have felt comfortable about her, as +I have several times said, even if <i>we</i> had not promised +to help her. More than that—I do believe she was +so determined, that supposing mamma or Mrs. Wylie +or any grown-up person had somehow come to know +about it, Margaret would have kept to her plan, and +perhaps even hurried it on and got into worse +trouble.</p> + +<p>She needed a lesson; though I still do think, and +always shall think, that old Miss Bogle and her new +nurse and everybody were not a bit right in the way +they tried to manage her.</p> + +<p>I hurried home from school double-quick that +morning, you may be sure. And Peterkin and I +were ready for dinner—hands washed, hair brushed, +and all the rest of it—long before the gong sounded.</p> + +<p>Mamma looked at us approvingly, I remember, +when she came into the dining-room, where we were +waiting before the girls and Clement had made their +appearance.</p> + +<p>'Good boys,' she said, smiling, 'that's how I like +to see you. How neat you both look, and down first, +too!'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<p>I felt rather a humbug, but I don't believe Peterkin +did; he was so completely taken up with the +thought of Margaret's escape, and so down-to-the-ground +sure that he was doing a most necessary piece +of business if she was to be saved from the witch's +'enchantering,' as he would call it.</p> + +<p>But as I was older, of course, the mixture of feelings +in my mind <i>was</i> a mixture, and I couldn't stand +being altogether a humbug.</p> + +<p>So I said to mamma—</p> + +<p>'It's mostly that we want to go out as soon as +ever we've had our dinner; you know you gave us +leave to go?'</p> + +<p>'Oh yes,' said she. 'Well, it's a very nice day, and +you will take good care of Peterkin, won't you, Giles? +Don't tire him. Are any of your schoolfel——'</p> + +<p>But at that moment a note was brought to her, +which she had to send an answer to, and when she +sat down at the table again, she was evidently still +thinking of it, and forgot she had not finished her +question, which I was very glad of.</p> + +<p>So we got off all right, though I had a feeling that +Clement looked at us <i>rather</i> curiously, as we left the +dining-room.</p> + +<p>At the <i>very</i> last moment, I did give the message<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +I had thought about in my own mind, with James. +Just for him to say that mamma and nobody was +to be frightened if we <i>were</i> rather late of coming +back—<i>even</i> if it should be after dark; that we should +be all right.</p> + +<p>And then we ran off without giving James time +to say anything, though he did open his mouth and +begin to stutter out some objection. He was rather +a donkey, but I knew that he was to be trusted, so +I just laughed in his face.</p> + +<p>We were a little before the time at the corner of +the square, but that was a good thing. It would +never have done to keep <i>her</i> waiting, Peterkin said. +He always spoke of her as if she was a kind of queen. +And he was right enough. All the same, my heart +did beat in rather a funny way, thinking to myself +what could or should we do if she didn't come?</p> + +<p>But we were not kept waiting long. In another +minute or so, a little figure appeared round the +corner, hastening towards us as fast as it could, but +evidently a good deal bothered by a large parcel, +which at the first glance looked nearly as big as +itself.</p> + +<p>Of course it was Margaret.</p> + +<p>'Oh,' she exclaimed, 'I am so glad you are here<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +already. It's this package. I had no idea it would +seem so heavy.'</p> + +<p>'It's nothing,' said Peterkin, valiantly, taking it +from her as he spoke.</p> + +<p>And it really wasn't very much—what had made +it seem so conspicuous was that the contents were +all wrapped up in her red shawl, and naturally it +looked a queer bundle for a little girl like her to be +carrying. She was not at all strong either, even for +a little girl, and afterwards I was not surprised at +this, for the illness she had spoken of as a bad cold +had really been much worse than that.</p> + +<p>'Let's hurry on,' she said, 'I shan't feel safe till +we've got to the station,' for which I certainly thought +she had good reason.</p> + +<p>I had meant to go by the front way, which was +actually the shortest, but the scarlet bundle staggered +me. Luckily I knew my way about the streets +pretty well, so I chose rather less public ones. And +before long, even though the package was not very +heavy, Peterkin began to flag, so I had to help him +a bit with it.</p> + +<p>But for that, there would have been nothing about +us at all noticeable. Margaret was quite nicely and +quietly dressed in dark-blue serge, something like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +Blanche and Elvira, and we just looked as if we were +a little sister and two schoolboy brothers.</p> + +<p>'Couldn't you have got something less stary to +tie up your things in?' I asked her when we had +got to some little distance from Rock Terrace, and +were in a quiet street.</p> + +<p>She shook her head.</p> + +<p>'No,' she said, 'it was the only thing. I have a +nice black bag, as well as my trunks, of course, but +the witch or nurse has hidden it away. I <i>couldn't</i> +find it. It's just as if they had thought I might be +planning to run away. I <i>nearly</i> took nurse's waterproof +cape; she didn't take it to London to-day, +because it is so fine and bright. But I didn't like to, +after all. It won't matter once we are in the train, +and at Hill Horton it will be a good thing, as my +own nursey will see it some way off.'</p> + +<p>We were almost at the station by now, and I told +Margaret so.</p> + +<p>'All right,' she said. 'I have the money all ready. +One for me to Hill Horton, and two for you to the +Junction station,' and she began to pull out her +purse.</p> + +<p>'You needn't get it out just yet,' I said. 'We +shall have quite a quarter of an hour to wait. If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +you give me your purse once we're inside, I will tell +you exactly what I take out. How much is there +in it?'</p> + +<p>'A gold half-sovereign,' she replied, 'and a half-crown, +and five sixpences, and seven pennies.'</p> + +<p>'There won't be very much over,' I said, 'though +we are all three under twelve; so halves will do, and +returns for Pete and me. Second-class, I suppose?'</p> + +<p>'Second-class!' repeated Margaret, with great +scorn; 'of course not. I've never travelled anything +but first in my life. I don't know what Gran would +say, or nursey even, if she saw me getting out of a +<i>second</i>-class carriage.'</p> + +<p>She made me feel a little cross, though she didn't +mean it. <i>We</i> often travelled second, and even third, +if there were a lot of us and we could get a carriage +to ourselves. But, after all, it was Margaret's own +affair, and as she was to be alone from the Junction +to Hill Horton, perhaps it was best.</p> + +<p>'<i>I</i> don't want you to travel second, I'm sure,' I +said, 'if only there's enough. I'd have brought some +of my own, but unluckily I'm very short just now.'</p> + +<p>'I've—'began Peterkin, but Margaret interrupted +him.</p> + +<p>'As if I'd let you pay anything!' she said indignantly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +'I'd rather travel third than <i>that</i>. You are +only coming out of kindness to me.'</p> + +<p>After all, there was enough, even for first-class, +leaving a shilling or so over. Hill Horton was not +very far away.</p> + +<p>A train was standing ready to start, for the station +was a terminus. I asked a guard standing about if +it was the one for Hill Horton, and he answered yes, +but we must change at the Junction, which I knew +already.</p> + +<p>So we all got into a first-class carriage, and settled +ourselves comfortably, feeling safe at last.</p> + +<p>'I wish we were going all the way with you,' said +Peterkin, with a sigh made up of satisfaction, as he +wriggled his substantial little person into the arm-chair +first-class seat, and of regret.</p> + +<p>'I'll be all right,' said Margaret, 'once I am in +the Hill Horton railway.'</p> + +<p>For some things I wished too that we were going +all the way with her, but for others I couldn't help +feeling that I should be very glad to be safe home +again and the adventure well over.</p> + +<p>'By the day after to-morrow,' I thought, 'there +will be no more reason for worrying, if Margaret +keeps her promise of writing to us.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>I had made her promise this, and given her an +envelope with our address on. For otherwise, you +see, we should not have heard how she had got on, +as no one but the parrot knew that she had ever +seen us or spoken to us.</p> + +<p>Then the train moved slowly out of the station, +and Margaret's eyes sparkled with triumph. And +we felt the infection of her high spirits. After all, +we were only children, and we laughed and joked +about the witch, and the fright her new nurse would +be in, and how the parrot would enjoy it all, of +which we felt quite sure.</p> + +<p>We were very merry all the way to the Junction. +It was only about a quarter-of-an-hour off, and just +before we got there the guard looked at our tickets.</p> + +<p>'Change at the Junction,' he said, when he caught +sight of the 'Hill Horton,' on Margaret's.</p> + +<p>'Of course, we know that, thank you,' she said, +rather pertly perhaps, but it sounded so funny that +Pete and I burst out laughing again. I suppose we +were all really very excited, but the guard laughed too.</p> + +<p>'How long will there be to wait for the Hill +Horton train?' I had the sense to ask.</p> + +<p>'Ten minutes, at least,' he replied, glancing at his +watch, the way guards nearly always do.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>I was glad he did not say longer, for the sooner +Peterkin and I caught a train home again, after seeing +Margaret off, the better. And I knew there were +sure to be several in the course of the afternoon.</p> + +<p>As soon as we stopped we got out—red bundle +and all. I did not see our guard again, he was +somewhere at the other end; but I got hold of +another, not so good-natured, however, and rather in +a hurry.</p> + +<p>'Which is the train for Hill Horton? Is it in +yet?' I asked.</p> + +<p>He must have thought, so I explained it to myself +afterwards, that we had just come in to the +station, and were at the beginning of our journey.</p> + +<p>'Hill Horton,' I <i>thought</i> he said, but, as you will +see, my ears must have deceived me, 'all right. Any +carriage to the front—further back are for——.' I +did not clearly hear—I think it must have been +'Charing Cross,' but I did not care. All that +concerned <i>us</i> was 'Hill Horton.'</p> + +<p>'Come along,' I called to the two others, who had +got a little behind me, lugging the bundle between +them, and I led the way, as the man had pointed +out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>It seemed a very long train, and as he had said +'to the front,' I thought it best to go pretty close up +to the engine. There were two or three first-class +carriages next to the guard's van, but they were all +empty, and I had meant to look out for one with +nice-looking people in it for Margaret to travel +with. Farther back there were some ladies and +children in some first-class, but I was afraid of +putting her into a wrong carriage.</p> + +<p>'I expect you will be alone all the way,' I said to +her. 'I suppose there are not very many people +going to Hill Horton.'</p> + +<p>'Not first-class,' said Margaret. 'There are often +lots of farmers and village people, I daresay. Nursey +said it was very crowded on market days, but I don't +know when it is market days. But it is rather +funny, Giles, to be getting into the same train +again!'</p> + +<p>'No,' I replied, 'these carriages will be going to +split off from the others that go on to London. The +man said it would be all right for Hill Horton at the +front. They often separate trains like that. I daresay +we shall go a little way out of the station and +come back again. You'll see. And he said—the +<i>first</i> man, I mean—that we should have at least ten<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +minutes to wait, and we've scarcely been two, so +we may as well get in with you for a few +minutes.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, do,' said Margaret, 'but don't put my +package up in the netted place, for fear I couldn't +get it down again myself. The trains never stop +long at our station.'</p> + +<p>So we contented ourselves with leaving the red +bundle on the seat beside her. It was lucky, I told +her, that the carriage <i>wasn't</i> full, otherwise it would +have had to go up in the rack, where it wouldn't +have been very firm.</p> + +<p>'It is so fat,' said Peterkin, solemnly.</p> + +<p>'Something like you,' I said, at which we all +laughed again, as if it was something very witty. +We were still feeling rather excited, I think, and +rather proud—at least I was—of having, so far, got +on so well.</p> + +<p>But before we had finished laughing, there came +a startling surprise. The train suddenly began to +move! We stared at each other. Then I remembered +my own words a minute or two ago.</p> + +<p>'It's all right,' I said, 'we'll back into the station +again in a moment.'</p> + +<p>Margaret and Peterkin laughed again, but rather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +nervously. At least, Margaret's laugh was not quite +hearty; though, as for Peterkin, I think he was +secretly delighted.</p> + +<p>On we went—faster and faster, instead of slower. +There was certainly no sign of 'backing.' I put my +head out of the window. We were quite clear of +the Junction by now, getting every instant more +and more into the open country. At last I had to +give in.</p> + +<p>'We're off, I do believe,' I said. 'There's been +some mistake about our waiting ten minutes. We're +clear on the way to Hill Horton.'</p> + +<p>'<i>I'm</i> very glad,' said Pete. 'I always wanted to +come all the way.'</p> + +<p>'But perhaps it needn't be all the way,' I said. +'Do you remember, Margaret, how many stations +there are between the Junction and yours?'</p> + +<p>'Three or four, I think,' she replied.</p> + +<p>'Oh well, then,' I said, 'it won't matter. We can +get out the first time we stop, and I daresay we shall +soon get a train back again, and not be late home +after all.'</p> + +<p>Margaret's face cleared. She was thoughtful +enough not to want us to get into trouble through +helping her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>'We shall be stopping soon, I think,' she said, +'for this seems a fast train.'</p> + +<p>But to me her words brought no satisfaction. +For it did indeed seem a fast train, and a much more +horrible idea than the one of our going all the way +to Hill Horton suddenly sprang into my mind—</p> + +<p>Were we in the Hill Horton train at all?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>IN A FOG</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">I waited</span> a minute or two before I said anything to +the others. They went on laughing and joking, and +I kept looking out of the window. At last I turned +round, and then Margaret started a little.</div> + +<p>'What's the matter, Giles?' she said. 'You're +quite white and funny looking.'</p> + +<p>And Peterkin stared at me too.</p> + +<p>'It's—'I began, and then I felt as if I really +couldn't go on; but I had to. 'It's that I am dreadfully +afraid,' I said, 'almost quite sure now, that we +are in the wrong train. I've seen the names of two +stations that we've passed without stopping already. +Do you remember the names of any between the +Junction and Hill Horton, Margaret?'</p> + +<p>She shook her head.</p> + +<p>'No,' she said, 'but I know we never pass any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +without stopping; at least I think so. They are +quite little stations, and I've never known the train +go as fast as this till after the Junction, when we +were in the London train. I've been to London +several times with Gran, you see.'</p> + +<p>Then it suddenly struck her what I meant.</p> + +<p>'Oh!' she exclaimed, with a little scream, 'is it +<i>that</i> you are afraid of, Giles? Do you think we are +in the <i>London</i> train? I did think it was funny that +we were getting back into the same one, but you said +that the man said that the carriages at the front were +for Hill Horton?'</p> + +<p>'Well, I <i>thought</i> he did,' I replied, 'but—' one's +mind works quickly when you are frightened sometimes—'he +<i>might</i> have said "Victoria," for the +"tor" in "Victoria" and "Horton" sound rather +alike.'</p> + +<p>'But wouldn't he have said "London"?' asked +Peterkin.</p> + +<p>'No, I think they generally say the name of the +station in London,' I explained. 'There are so many, +you see.'</p> + +<p>Then we all, for a minute or two, gazed at each +other without speaking. Margaret had got still +paler than usual, and I fancied, or feared, I heard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +her choke down something in her throat. Peterkin, +on the contrary, was as red as a turkey-cock, and his +eyes were gleaming. I think it was all a part of +the fairy-tale to him.</p> + +<p>'What shall we do?' said Margaret, at last, and +I was forced to answer, 'I don't know.'</p> + +<p>Bit by bit things began to take shape in my +mind, and it was no good keeping them to myself.</p> + +<p>'There'll be the extra money to pay for our +tickets to London,' I said at last.</p> + +<p>'How much will it be? Isn't there enough over?' +asked Margaret quietly, and I could not help admiring +her for it, as she took out her purse and gave it to +me to count over what was left.</p> + +<p>There were only four or five shillings. I shook +my head.</p> + +<p>'I don't know how much it will be, but I'm quite +sure there's not enough. You see, though we're only +halves, it's first-class.'</p> + +<p>'And what will they do to us if we can't pay,' she +went on, growing still whiter. 'Could we—could we +possibly be sent to prison?'</p> + +<p>'Oh no, no. I don't think so,' I answered, though +I was really not at all sure about it; I had so often<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +seen notices stuck up on boards at railway stations +about the punishments of passengers not paying +properly, or trying to travel without tickets. 'But—I'm +afraid they would be very horrid to us somehow—perhaps +telegraph to papa or mamma.'</p> + +<p>'Oh!' cried Margaret, growing now as red as she +had been white, 'and that would mean my being shut +up again at Rock Terrace—worse than before. I +don't know <i>what</i> the witch wouldn't do to me,' and +she clasped her poor little hands in a sort of despair.</p> + +<p>Then Peterkin burst out—</p> + +<p>'I've got my gold half-pound with me,' he said, in +rather a queer voice, as if he was proud of being able +to help and yet half inclined to cry.</p> + +<p>'Goodness!' I exclaimed, 'why on earth didn't +you say so before?'</p> + +<p>'I—I—wanted it for something else,' said he. 'I +don't quite know why I brought it.'</p> + +<p>He dived into his pocket, and dug out a very grimy +little purse, out of which, sure enough, he produced a +half-sovereign.</p> + +<p>The relief of knowing that we should not get into +trouble as far as our journey <i>to</i> London was concerned, +was such a blessing, that just for the moment +I forgot all the rest of it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Anyway we can't be put in prison now,' said +Margaret, and a little colour came into her face. +'Oh, Perkins, you <i>are</i> a nice boy!'</p> + +<p>I did think her praising him was rather rough +on <i>me</i>, for I had had bother enough, goodness knows, +about the whole affair, even though I had made a +stupid mistake.</p> + +<p>We whizzed on, for it was an express train, and for +a little while we didn't speak. Peterkin was still +looking rather upset about his money. He told me +afterwards that he had been keeping it for his +Christmas presents, especially one for Margaret, as +we had never had a chance of getting her any flowers. +But all that was put right in the end.</p> + +<p>After a bit Margaret said to me, in a half-frightened +voice—</p> + +<p>'What shall we do when we get to London, Giles? +Do you think perhaps the guard would help us to go +back again to the Junction, when he sees it was a +mistake? As we've got money to pay to London, he'd +see we hadn't meant to cheat.'</p> + +<p>'No,' I said, 'he wouldn't have time, and besides I +don't think it'll be the same one. And if we said +anything, he'd most likely make us give our names, +or take us to some station-master or somebody, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +then there'd be no chance of our keeping out of a lot +of bother.'</p> + +<p>'You mean,' said she, in a shaky voice, 'we +should have to go all the way back, and I'd be +sent to the witch again?'</p> + +<p>'Something like it, I'm afraid,' I said. 'If I just +explain that we got into the wrong train and pay up, +they'll have no business to meddle with us.'</p> + +<p>'But what are we to do, then?' she asked +again.</p> + +<p>'I don't know,' I replied. I'm afraid I was rather +cross. I was so sick of it all, you see, and so fearfully +bothered.</p> + +<p>Margaret at last began to cry. She tried to choke +it down, but it was no use.</p> + +<p>I felt awfully sorry for her, but somehow the very +feeling so bad made me crosser, and I did not try to +comfort her up.</p> + +<p>Pete, on the contrary, tugged out his pocket-handkerchief, +which was quite a decently clean one, and +began wiping her eyes. This made her try again to +stop crying. She pulled out her own handkerchief +and said—</p> + +<p>'Dear little Perkins, you are so kind.'</p> + +<p>I glanced at them, not very amiably, I daresay.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +And I was on the point of saying that, instead of crying +and petting each other, they'd better try to think +what we should do, for I knew we must be getting +near London by this time, when I saw something +white on the floor of the carriage.</p> + +<p>I stooped to pick it up. It had dropped out of +Margaret's pocket when she pulled out her handkerchief. +It was an envelope, or what had been one, +and for a moment I thought it was the one I had +given her with our address on, to use when she wrote +to us from Hill Horton, but <i>that</i> one couldn't have +got so dirty and torn-looking in the time. And when +I looked at it more closely, I saw that it was jagged +and nibbled in a queer way, and <i>then</i> I saw that it +had the name 'Wylie' on it, and an address in +London. And when I looked still more closely, I +saw that it had never been through the post or had a +stamp on, and that it had a large blot in one corner. +Evidently the person who had written on it had not +liked to use it because of the blot, and the name on it +was <i>Miss</i>, not <i>Mrs</i>. Wylie, </p> + +<div class='sig'><span style="margin-right: 2em;">'19 Enderby Street</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>, S.W.'<br /> +</div> + +<p>I turned it round and round without speaking for +a moment or two. I couldn't make it out. Then I +said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>'What's this, Margaret? It must have dropped +out of your pocket.'</p> + +<p>She stopped crying—well, really, I think she had +stopped already, for whatever her faults were she +wasn't a babyish child—to look at it. She seemed +puzzled, and felt in her pocket again.</p> + +<p>'No, of course it's not the envelope you gave me,' +she said. 'I've got it safe, and—oh, I believe I know +how this old one got into my pocket. I remember a +day or two ago when I was trying if it would do to +tie my handkerchief on to Polly's cage, he was +nibbling some paper. He's very fond of nibbling +paper, and it doesn't hurt him, for he doesn't eat it. +But he would keep pecking at me when I was tying +the handkerchief, and I was vexed with him, and so +when he dropped this I picked it up and shook it at +him, and told him he shouldn't have it again, and then +I put it into my pocket. He was very tiresome that +day, not a bit a fairy; he is like that sometimes.'</p> + +<p>'But how did he come to have an envelope with +"Miss Wylie" on?' I said. 'He doesn't live in Mrs. +Wylie's house, but in the one between yours and hers, +and this must have come from <i>her</i>.'</p> + +<p>'I daresay she gave it him to play with, or her +servant may have given it him,' said Margaret, 'You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +see he's sometimes at the end of the balcony nearest +her, and sometimes at our end. I think his servants +have put him more at our end since she's been away; +perhaps they've heard me talking to him. Anyway, +I'm sure this old envelope must have come out of his +cage.'</p> + +<p>I did not speak for a moment. I was gazing at +the address.</p> + +<p>'Margaret,' I exclaimed, 'look at it.'</p> + +<p>She did so, and then stared up at me, with a +puzzled expression in her eyes, still red with crying.</p> + +<p>'I believe,' I went on, 'I believe this is going to +help us.'</p> + +<p>Peterkin, who had been listening with all his ears, +could contain himself no longer.</p> + +<p>'And the parrot <i>must</i> be a fairy after all,' he said, +'and he must have done it on purpose.'</p> + +<p>But Margaret did not seem to hear what he said, +she was still gazing at me and wondering what I +was going to say.</p> + +<p>'Don't you see,' I went on, touching the envelope, +'this must be the house of some of Mrs. Wylie's +relations? Very likely she's staying with them there, +and anyway they'd tell us where she is, as we know +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>she's still in London. She told us she was going to +be there for a fortnight. And she's very kind. We +would ask her to lend us money enough to go back +to the Junction, and then we'd be all right. You +have got your ticket for Hill Horton, and we have +our returns for home.'</p> + +<p>'Oh,' cried Margaret, 'how clever you are to have +thought of it, Giles! But,' and the bright look went +out of her face, 'you don't think she'd make me go +back to the witch, do you? Are you sure she +wouldn't?'</p> + +<p>'I really don't think she would,' I said. 'I know +she has often been sorry for you, for she knew you +weren't at all happy. And we'd tell her more about +it. She is awfully kind.'</p> + +<p>I meant what I said. Perhaps I saw it rather too +favourably; the idea of finding a friend in London +was such a comfort just then, that I felt as if everything +else might be left for the time. I never +thought about catching trains at the Junction or +about its getting late and dark for Margaret to be +travelling alone from there to Hill Horton, or anything, +except just the hope—the tremendous hope—that +we might find our kind old lady.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 321px;"> +<img src="images/i167.png" width="321" height="500" alt="HE LOOKED AT THE TICKETS . . . 'HOW'S THIS?' HE SAID.—p. 145." title="HE LOOKED AT THE TICKETS . . . 'HOW'S THIS?' HE SAID.—p. 145." /> +<span class="caption">HE LOOKED AT THE TICKETS . . . 'HOW'S THIS?' HE SAID.—p. 145.</span> +</div> + +<p>The train slackened, and very soon we pulled up. +It wasn't the station yet, however, but the place where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +they stop to take tickets, just outside. I know it so +well now, for we pass it ever so often on our way +from and to school several times a year. But whenever +we pass it, or stop at it, I think of that miserable +day and all my fears.</p> + +<p>The man put his head in at the window. He was +a stranger.</p> + +<p>'Tickets, please,' he said.</p> + +<p>I was ready for him—tickets, Peterkin's half-sovereign, +and all. I held out the tickets.</p> + +<p>'There's been a mistake,' I began. 'I shall have +to pay up,' and when he heard that, he opened the +door and came in.</p> + +<p>He looked at the tickets.</p> + +<p>'Returns—half-returns to the Junction,' he said, +'and a half to Hill Horton. How's this?'</p> + +<p>'We got into the wrong train at the Junction,' I +replied. 'In fact, we got back into the same one we +had just got out of. I expect the guard thought I +said "Victoria" when I said "Hill Horton," for he +told us to go to the front.'</p> + +<p>'And didn't he tell you, you were wrong when he +looked at the tickets before you started?' the man +asked, still holding our tickets in his hand and +examining us rather queerly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>I began to feel angry, but I didn't want to have +any fuss, so instead of telling him to mind his own +business, as I was ready to pay the difference, I +answered again quite coolly—</p> + +<p>'No one looked at the tickets at the Junction. +There were two or three empty carriages at +the front: perhaps no one noticed us getting +in.'</p> + +<p>I thought I heard the man murmur to himself +something about 'rum go. Three kids by themselves, +and first-class.'</p> + +<p>So, though I was getting angrier every moment, I +just said—</p> + +<p>'I don't see that it matters. Here we are, anyway, +and I'll pay if you'll tell me how much.'</p> + +<p>He counted up.</p> + +<p>'Eight-and-six—no, eight-and-tenpence.'</p> + +<p>I held out the half-sovereign. He felt in his +pocket and gave me back the change—a shilling and +twopence, and walked off with the halves of Pete's +and my return tickets and the half-sovereign.</p> + +<p>We all began to breathe more freely; but, as the +train slowly moved again at last—we had been +standing quite a quarter-of-an-hour—a new trouble +started.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + +<p>'It's very dark,' said Margaret, 'and it can't be +late yet.'</p> + +<p>I looked out of the window. Yes, it was very +dark. I put my head out. It felt awfully chilly too—a +horrid sort of chilly feeling. But that wasn't +the worst of it.</p> + +<p>'It's a fog,' I said. 'The horridest kind—I can't +see the lights almost close to us. It's getting worse +every minute. I believe it'll be as dark as midnight +when we get into the station. What luck, to be +sure!'</p> + +<p>The other two seemed more excited than frightened.</p> + +<p>'I've never seen a really bad fog,' said Margaret, +as if she was rather pleased to have the chance.</p> + +<p>Pete said nothing. I expect he'd have had a +fairy-tale all ready about a prince lost in a mist, if +I'd given him an opening. But I was again rather +taken aback. How were we to find our way to +Enderby Street?</p> + +<p>I had meant to walk, you see, in spite of the red +bundle! For I was afraid of being cheated by the +cabman; and I was afraid too of running quite short +of money, in case we <i>didn't</i> find Mrs. Wylie, or that +she had left, and that, if the worst came to the worst,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +I might have to go to a hotel with the two children, +and telegraph to mamma to say where we were. +Papa, unluckily, was not in London just then. He +had gone away on business somewhere—I forget +where—for a day or two, and besides, I was not at all +sure of the exact address of his chambers, otherwise +I might have telegraphed <i>there</i>. I only knew it was +a long way from Victoria.</p> + +<p>Indeed, I don't think I thought about that at all +at the time, though afterwards mamma said to me I +might have done so, <i>had</i> the worst come to the worst.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>BERYL</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">Yes</span>, the fog <i>was</i> a fog, and no mistake. I don't +think I have ever seen so bad a one since we came to +live in London, or else it seemed to me terribly bad +that day because I was not used to it, and because I +was so anxious.</div> + +<p>I felt half provoked and yet in a way glad that +Margaret and Peterkin were not at all frightened, but +rather pleased. They followed me along the platform +after we got out of the carriage, lugging the +bundle between them. It was not really heavy, and +I had to go first, as the station was pretty full in +that part, in spite of the fog. The lamps were all +lighted, but till you got within a few yards of one +you scarcely saw it.</p> + +<p>I went on, staring about me for some one to ask +advice from. At last, close to a book-stall, where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +several lights together made it a little clearer, I saw +a railway man of some kind, standing, as if he was +not in a hurry.</p> + +<p>'Can you tell me where Enderby Street is, if you +please?' I asked as civilly as I knew how.</p> + +<p>'Enderby Street,' he repeated, in surprise. 'Of +course; it's no distance off.'</p> + +<p>Wasn't I thankful?</p> + +<p>'How far?' I said.</p> + +<p>'Well—it depends upon which part of it you +want. It's a long street. But if you're a stranger +you'll never find your way in this fog. Better take +a hansom.'</p> + +<p>'Thank you,' I said. 'It's only a shilling, I suppose?'</p> + +<p>He glanced at me again; he had been turning away. +By this time the two children were close beside me. +He saw that we belonged to each other.</p> + +<p>'A shilling for two—one-and-six for three,' he +replied. 'Hansom or four-wheeler,' and then he +moved off.</p> + +<p>Just then Margaret began to cough, and a new +fear struck me. She looked very delicate, and she +had had a bad cold. Supposing the fog made her +very ill? I was glad the man had spoken of a four-wheeler.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Stuff your handkerchief or something into your +mouth,' I said, 'so as not to get the fog down your +throat. I'm going to call a four-wheeler.'</p> + +<p>In some ways that dreadful day was not as bad +as it might have been. There were scarcely any cabs +about, but just then one stopped close to the end of +the platform.</p> + +<p>'Jump in,' I said, and before the driver had time +to make any objection, for I know they do sometimes +make a great favour of taking you anywhere in a fog, +we were all inside.</p> + +<p>I heard him growling a little, but when I put my +head out of the window again, and said '19 Enderby +Street,' he smoothed down.</p> + +<p>We drove off, slowly enough, but that was to be +expected. I pulled up both windows, for Margaret +kept on coughing, in spite of having her handkerchief, +and Peterkin's too, for all I knew, stuffed over +her mouth and throat. They were both very quiet, +but I <i>think</i> they were rather enjoying themselves. +I suppose my taking the lead, as I had had to, since +our troubles began, and managing things, made them +feel 'safe,' as children like to do, at the bottom of their +hearts, however they start by talking big.</p> + +<p>It <i>was</i> a horrid fog, but the lights made it not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +quite so bad outside, for the shops had got all their +lamps on, and we could see them now and then. +There was a lot of shouting going on, and yet every +sound was muffled. There were not many carts or +omnibuses or anything on wheels passing, and what +there were, were moving slowly like ourselves.</p> + +<p>After a few minutes it got darker again; it must +have been when we got into Enderby Street, I suppose, +for there are no shops, or scarcely any, there. +I've often and often passed along it since, but I never +do without thinking of that evening, or afternoon, for +it was really not yet four o'clock.</p> + +<p>And then we stopped.</p> + +<p>'Nineteen, didn't you say?' asked the driver as I +jumped out.</p> + +<p>'Yes, nineteen,' I said. 'Stop here for a moment +or two, till I see if we go in.'</p> + +<p>For it suddenly struck me that <i>if</i> we had the awful +bad luck not to find Mrs. Wylie, we had better keep +the cab, to take us to some hotel, otherwise it might +be almost impossible to get another. And then we +should be out in the street, with Margaret and her +bundle, and worse still, her cough.</p> + +<p>I made my way, more by feeling than seeing, up +the steps, and fumbled till I found the bell. I had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +not actually told the others to stay in the cab, though +I had taken care to keep the window shut when I got +out, and I never dreamt but what they'd stay where +they were till I had found out if Mrs. Wylie was +there.</p> + +<p>But just as the door opened—the servant came in +double-quick time luckily, the reason for which was +explained—I heard a rustling behind me, and lo and +behold, there they both were, and the terrible red +bundle too, looking huger and queerer than ever, as +the light from inside fell on it.</p> + +<p>We must have looked a funny lot, as the servant +opened the door. She—it was a parlour-maid—did +start a little, but I didn't give her time to speak, +though I daresay she thought we were beggars, +thanks to those silly children.</p> + +<p>'Mrs. Wylie is staying here,' I said. I thought it +best to speak decidedly. 'Is she at home?'</p> + +<p>I suppose my way of speaking made her see we +were not beggars, and perhaps she caught sight of the +four-wheeler, looming faintly through the fog, for she +answered quite civilly.</p> + +<p>'She is not exactly staying here. She is in rooms +a little way from here, but she comes round most +afternoons. I thought it was her when you rang,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +but I don't think she'll be coming now—not in this +fog.'</p> + +<p>My heart had gone down like lead at the first +words—'she is not,' but as the servant went on I got +more hopeful again.</p> + +<p>'Can you—' I began—I was going to have asked +for Mrs. Wylie's address, but just then Margaret +coughed; the worst cough I had heard yet from her. +'Why couldn't you have stayed in the cab?' I said +sharply, and perhaps it was a good thing, to show +that we <i>had</i> a cab waiting for us. 'Please,' I went +on, 'let this little girl come inside for a minute. The +fog makes her cough so.'</p> + +<p>The parlour-maid stepped back, opening the door +a little wider, but there was something doubtful in +her manner, as if she was not quite sure if she was +not running a risk in letting us in. I pushed Margaret +forward, and not Margaret only! She was +holding fast to her precious bundle, and Peterkin was +holding fast to <i>his</i> side of it, so they tumbled in together +in a way that was enough to make the servant +stare, and I stayed half on the steps, half inside, but +from where I was I could see into the hall quite well. +It looked so nice and comfortable, compared with the +horribleness outside. It was a square sort of hall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +The house was not a big one, not nearly as big as +ours at home, but lots bigger than the Rock Terrace +ones, of course.</p> + +<p>'Can you give me Mrs. Wylie's address?' I said. +'I think the best thing we can do is to—' but I was +interrupted again.</p> + +<p>A girl—a grown-up girl, a lady, I mean—came +forward from the inner part of the hall.</p> + +<p>'Browner,' she said, 'do shut the door. You are +letting the fog get all over the house, and it is +bitterly cold.'</p> + +<p>She was blinking her eyes a little as she spoke: +either the light or the fog, or both, hurt them. Perhaps +she had been sitting over the fire in a darkish +room. 'Blinking her eyes' doesn't sound very pretty, +but it was, I found afterwards, a sort of trick of hers, +and somehow it suited her. <i>She</i> was very pretty. I +didn't often notice girls' looks, but I couldn't help +noticing hers. Everything about her was pretty; her +voice too, though she spoke a little crossly. She was +rather tall, and her hair was wavy, almost as wavy +as Elf's, and the colour of her dress, which was pinky-red, +and everything about her, seemed to suit, and I +just stood—we all did—staring at her.</p> + +<p>And as soon as she caught sight of us—I daresay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +we seemed quite a little crowd at the door—she +stared too!</p> + +<p>Then she came forward quickly, her voice growing +anxious, and almost frightened.</p> + +<p>'What is the matter?' she exclaimed. 'Has +there been an accident? Who are these—children?'</p> + +<p>Browner moved towards her.</p> + +<p>'Indeed, Miss,' she began, but the girl stopped +her.</p> + +<p>'Shut the door first,' she said decidedly. 'No, +no, come in, please,' this was to me; I suppose I +seemed to hesitate, 'and tell me what you want, and +who you are?'</p> + +<p>Her voice grew more hesitating as she went on, +and it must have been very difficult to make out +what sort of beings we were. Margaret's colourless +face and dark eyes and hair, and the bright red of the +bundle, at the first hasty glance, might almost have +made you think of a little Italian wandering +musician; but the moment I spoke I think the girl +saw we were not that class.</p> + +<p>'We are friends of Mrs. Wylie's—Mrs. Wylie who +lives at Rock Terrace,' I said, 'and—and we've come +to her because—oh! because we've got into a lot of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +trouble, and the fog's made it worse, and we don't +know anybody else in London.'</p> + +<p>Then, all of a sudden—I'm almost ashamed to tell +it, even though it's a good while ago now, and I +really was scarcely more than a little boy myself—something +seemed to get into my throat, and I felt as +if in another moment it would turn into a sob.</p> + +<p>Margaret is awfully quick in some ways. She +heard the choke in my voice and darted to me, leaving +the bundle to Pete's tender mercies; so half of it +dropped on to the floor and half stuck to him, as he +stood there staring with his round blue eyes.</p> + +<p>Margaret stretched up and flung her arms round +my neck.</p> + +<p>'Giles, Giles,' she cried, 'don't, oh don't!' Then +she burst out—</p> + +<p>'It's all my fault; at least it's all for me, and +Giles and Perkins have been so good to me. Oh +dear, oh dear, what shall I do?' and she began +coughing again in a miserable way. I think it was +partly that she was trying not to cry.</p> + +<p>Seeing her so unhappy, made me pull myself together. +I was just going to explain things a little +to the girl, when she spoke first. She looked very +kind and sorry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I'll tell you what's the first thing to do,' she said, +'and that's to get this child out of the cold,' and she +opened a door a little farther back in the hall, and +got us all in, the maid following.</p> + +<p>It was a very nice, rather small dining-room; a +bright fire was burning, and the girl turned on an +electric lamp over the table. There were pretty +ferns and things on it, ready for dinner, just like +mamma has them at home.</p> + +<p>'Now,' she began again, but there seemed nothing +but interruptions, for just at that moment another +door was heard to open, and as the one of the room +where we were was not shut, we could hear some one +calling—</p> + +<p>'Beryl, Beryl, is there anything the matter? Has +your aunt come?'</p> + +<p>It was a man's voice—quite a kind one, but rather +fussy.</p> + +<p>'Wait a moment or two, I'll be back directly,' +said the girl, and as she ran out of the room we heard +her calling, 'I'm coming, daddy.'</p> + +<p>The parlour-maid drew back nearer the door, not +seeming sure if she should leave us alone or not, and +<i>we</i> drew a little nearer the fire. So that we could +talk without her hearing us.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p><div class="figright" style="width: 347px;"> +<img src="images/i183.png" width="347" height="500" alt="'NOW,' SHE BEGAN . . . DRAWING MARGARET TO HER, 'TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT.'—p. 159." title="'NOW,' SHE BEGAN . . . DRAWING MARGARET TO HER, 'TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT.'—p. 159." /> +<span class="caption">'NOW,' SHE BEGAN . . . DRAWING MARGARET TO HER, 'TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT.'—p. 159.</span> +</div> + +<p>'Isn't she a kind lady?' said Margaret, glancing +up at me. 'I think she looks very kind. You don't +think she'll send me back to the witch, do you, +Giles?'</p> + +<p>'Bother the witch,' I was on the point of saying, +for I would have given anything by this time to be +back in our homes again, witch or no witch. But I +thought better of it. It wouldn't have been kind, +with Margaret looking up at me, with tears in her big +dark eyes, so white and anxious.</p> + +<p>'I shouldn't think so,' I replied. 'She must be +Mrs. Wylie's niece, and we'll go on to Mrs. Wylie, and +she will tell us what to do.'</p> + +<p>The girl—perhaps I'd better call her 'Beryl' +now. We always do, though she is no longer Beryl +Wylie. Beryl was back almost at once.</p> + +<p>'Now,' she began again, sitting down in an arm-chair +by the fire, and drawing Margaret to her, 'tell +me all about it. In the first place, who are you? +What are your names?'</p> + +<p>'Lesley,' I said. 'At least <i>ours</i> is,' and I touched +Peterkin. 'I'm Giles and he's Peterkin. We know +Mrs. Wylie, and we live on the Marine Parade.'</p> + +<p>Beryl nodded.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' she said, 'I've heard of you. And,' she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +touched Margaret gently, 'this small maiden? What +is her name—she is not your sister?'</p> + +<p>'No,' I replied. 'She is Margaret——' I stopped +short. For the first time it struck me that I had +never heard her last name!</p> + +<p>'Margaret Fothergill,' she said quickly. 'I live +next door but one to Mrs. Wylie, and next door to +the parrot. Do you know the parrot in Rock +Terrace?'</p> + +<p>Beryl nodded again.</p> + +<p>'I have heard of him too,' she said.</p> + +<p>But suddenly a new idea—I should rather say +the old one—struck Margaret again. Her voice +changed, and she clasped her hands piteously.</p> + +<p>'You won't, oh, you won't send me back to the +witch? Say you won't.'</p> + +<p>'What does she mean?' asked Beryl, turning to +me, as if she thought Margaret was half out of her +mind, though, all the same, she drew her still +closer.</p> + +<p>'She—we—' I began, and Peterkin opened his +mouth too. But I suppose I must have glanced at +the servant, for Beryl turned towards her, as if to +tell her not to wait. Then she changed and said +instead<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>'Bring tea in here, Browner, as quickly as you +can. You can put it on the side table.'</p> + +<p>Browner went off at once; she seemed a very +good-natured girl. And then, as quickly as I could, +helped here and there by Margaret and by Peterkin +(though to any one less 'understanding' than Beryl, +his funny way of muddling up real and fancy would +certainly not have 'helped'), I told our story. It +was really wonderful how Beryl took it all in. +When I stopped at last, almost out of breath, she +nodded her head quietly.</p> + +<p>'We won't talk it over just yet,' she said. 'The +first thing to do is to see my auntie. You three +stay here while I run round to her, and try to +enjoy your tea. I shall not be long. It is very +near.'</p> + +<p>The idea of tea did seem awfully tempting, but +a new thought struck me.</p> + +<p>'The cab!' I exclaimed, 'the four-wheeler! It's +waiting all this time, and if we send it away, most +likely we shan't be able to get another in the fog. +There'll be such a lot to pay, too. Don't you think +we'd better go with you in it to Mrs. Wylie, and perhaps +she'd lend us money to go to the Junction by +the first train? I don't think we should stay to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +tea, thank you,' though, as I said it, a glance at Margaret's +poor little white face made me wish I needn't +say it. She was clinging to Beryl so by this time as +if she felt safe.</p> + +<p>And Peterkin looked almost as piteous as she did.</p> + +<p>Beryl gently loosened Margaret's hold of her, and +got up from the big leather arm-chair where she had +been sitting.</p> + +<p>'Never mind about the cab,' she said. 'I will go +round in it to my aunt, and perhaps bring her back +in it. I will settle with the man. I may be a +quarter-of-an-hour or twenty minutes away. So all +you three have got to do in the meantime is to have +a good tea, and trust me. And don't think about +witches, or bad fairies, or anything disagreeable till +you see me again,' she added, nodding to the two +children. 'Browner, you will see that they have +everything they want.'</p> + +<p>Browner smiled, and Beryl ran off, and in a +minute or two we heard her come downstairs again, +with her cloak and hat on, no doubt, and the front +door shut, and I heard the cab drive away.</p> + +<p>Talking of fairies, I can't imagine anything more +like the best of good ones than Beryl Wylie seemed +to us that afternoon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>Browner was very kind and sensible. For after +she had poured out our tea, and handed us a plateful +of bread-and-butter and another of little cakes, she +left the room, showing us the bell, in case we wanted +more milk or anything.</p> + +<p>And then—perhaps it may seem very thoughtless +of us, but, as I have said before, even I, the eldest, +wasn't very old—we really enjoyed ourselves! It +was so jolly to feel warm and to have a good tea, +and, above all, to know that we had found kind +friends, who would tell us what to do.</p> + +<p>Margaret seemed perfectly happy, and to have got +rid of all her fears of being sent back to the witch. +And Peterkin, in those days, was never very surprised +at anything, for nothing that could happen +was as wonderful as the wonders of the fairy-land he +lived in. So he was quite able to enjoy himself +without any trying to do so.</p> + +<p>I do feel, however, rather ashamed of one bit of +it all. You'd scarcely believe that it never came +into my head to think that mamma might be +frightened about us, even though the afternoon was +getting on into evening, and the darkness outside +made it seem later than it really was!</p> + +<p>I can't understand it of myself, considering that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +had seen with my own eyes how frightened she +had been the evening Peterkin got lost. I suppose +my head had got tired and confused with all the +fears and things it had been full of, but it is rather +horrid to remember, all the same.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>DEAR MAMMA</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">Beryl</span> must have been away longer than she had +expected, for when we heard the front bell ring and a +minute later she hurried in, her first words were—</div> + +<p>'Did you think I was never coming back? I +will explain to you what I have been doing.'</p> + +<p>When her eyes fell on us, however, her expression +changed. She looked pleased, but a little surprised, +as she took in that we had not been, by any means, +sitting worrying ourselves, but quite the contrary. +Margaret was actually in the middle of a laugh, +which did not seem as if she was feeling very bad, +even though it turned into a cough. Peterkin was +placidly content, and I was—well, feeling considerably +the better for the jolly good tea we had had.</p> + +<p>'We've been awfully comfortable, thank you,' I +said, getting up, 'and—will you please tell us what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +you think we'd better do? And—please—how much +was the cab?'</p> + +<p>'Never mind about that,' she said. 'Here is my +aunt,' and then I heard a little rustle at the door, and +in came Mrs. Wylie, who had been taking off her +wraps in the hall, looking as neat and white-lacy +and like herself as if she had never come within a +hundred miles of a fog in her life.</p> + +<p>'She <i>would</i> come,' Beryl went on, smiling at the +old lady as if she loved her very much. 'Auntie is +always so kind.'</p> + +<p>I began to feel very ashamed of all the trouble we +were giving, and I'm sure my face got very red.</p> + +<p>'I'm so sorry,' I said, as Mrs. Wylie shook hands +with us, 'I never thought of you coming out in the +fog.'</p> + +<p>'It will not hurt me,' she replied; 'but I feel +rather anxious about this little person,' and she laid +her hand on Margaret's shoulder, for just then Margaret +coughed again.</p> + +<p>'Oh,' I exclaimed, 'you don't think it will make +her cough worse, do you?' and I felt horribly frightened. +'We'll wrap her up much more, and once we +are clear of London, there won't be any fog. I daresay +it's quite light still, in the country. It can't be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +late. But hadn't we better go at once? Will you +be so very good as to lend us money to go back to +the Junction? I know mamma will send it you at +once.'</p> + +<p>All my fears seemed to awaken again as I +hurried on, and the children's faces grew grave and +anxious.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wylie sat down quietly.</p> + +<p>'My dear boy,' she said, 'there can be no question +of any of you, Margaret especially, going back to-night. +The fog is very bad, and it is very cold +besides. My niece has told me the whole story, +and——'</p> + +<p>'I suppose you think we've all been dreadfully +naughty,' I interrupted. 'I did not mean to be, and +<i>they</i> didn't,' glancing at the others. 'But of course +I'm older, only——'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wylie laid her hand on my arm.</p> + +<p>'There will be a good deal to talk over,' she said, +speaking still very quietly, but rather gravely. +'And I feel that your dear mamma is the right +person to—to explain things—your mistakes, and +all about it. I believe certainly you did not <i>mean</i> +to do wrong.'</p> + +<p>Her mention of mamma startled me into remembering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +at last how frightened she and all of +them would be at home.</p> + +<p>'Oh!' I exclaimed, 'if we stay away all night, +what <i>will</i> mamma do?'</p> + +<p>'I was just going to tell you what we have done,' +said Mrs. Wylie. 'That was what kept us—Beryl +and me. We have telegraphed to your mamma. +She will not be frightened now. Indeed, I hope she +may have got the telegram in time to prevent her +beginning to be anxious. And we also—' but here +she stopped, for a glance at Margaret, as she told me +afterwards, reminded her of Margaret's fears lest she +should be sent back to Rock Terrace and Miss Bogle. +And what she had been on the point of saying was, +that they had also telegraphed to 'the witch.'</p> + +<p>'It was awfully good of you,' I said, feeling more +and more ashamed of the trouble we were causing.</p> + +<p>I would have given anything to go home that +night, even if it had been to find papa and mamma +more displeased with me than they had ever been in +their life, and, as I was beginning to see, as they had +a right to be. But in the face of all Mrs. Wylie and +Beryl were doing, I could not possibly have gone +against what they thought best.</p> + +<p>'I shall also write to your mamma to-night,' Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +Wylie went on. 'There is plenty of time. It is +not really as late as the fog makes it seem. And +the first thing we now have to do,' for just then +Margaret had another bad fit of coughing, 'is to put +this child to bed. If you are not better in the +morning, or rather if you are any worse, we must +send for the doctor.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, <i>please</i> don't!' said Margaret, as soon as she +could speak. 'It's only the fog got into my throat. +It doesn't hurt me at all, as it did when I had that +very bad cold at home. I don't like strange doctors, +<i>please</i>, Mrs. Wylie. And to-morrow nursey can send +for our own doctor at home at Hill Horton, if I'm +not quite well. I may go home to my nursey quite +early, mayn't I? And you will tell their mamma +not to be vexed with them, won't you? They only +wanted to help me.'</p> + +<p>She looked such a shrimp of a creature, with her +tiny face, so pale too, that nobody could have found +it in their heart to scold her. Mrs. Wylie just patted +her hand and said something about putting it all +right, but that she must go to bed now and have a +good long sleep.</p> + +<p>And just then Beryl, who had left us with Mrs. +Wylie, came back to say that everything was ready<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +for Margaret upstairs, and then she walked her and +the red bundle off—to put her to bed.</p> + +<p>I really think that by this time Margaret was so +tired that she scarcely knew where she was: she +did not make the least objection, but was as meek as +a mouse. You would never have thought her the +same child as the determined little 'ordering-about' +sort of child I knew she could be, and I, rather +suspected, generally <i>had</i> been till she came under +stricter management.</p> + +<p>When she was alone with us—with Peterkin and +me—Mrs. Wylie spoke a little more about the whole +affair. But not very much. She had evidently made +up her mind to leave things in mamma's hands. +And she did not at all explain any of the sort of +mystery there seemed about Margaret.</p> + +<p>She rang the bell and told Browner to take +us upstairs to the little room that had been got +ready for us, and where we were to sleep, saying, +that she herself was now going to write to +mamma.</p> + +<p>'<i>And</i> to Miss Bogle,' she added, 'though I thought +it better not to say so to Margaret.'</p> + +<p>She looked at us rather curiously as she spoke; I +think she most likely wanted to find out what we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +really believed about 'the witch.' Peterkin started, +and grew very red.</p> + +<p>'You won't let her go back there?' he exclaimed. +'I'm sure she'll run away again if you do.'</p> + +<p>It sounded rather rude, but Mrs. Wylie knew +that he did not mean it for rudeness. She only +looked at him gravely.</p> + +<p>'I am very anxious to see how your little friend +is to-morrow morning,' she replied. 'I earnestly +hope she has not caught any serious cold.'</p> + +<p>The way she said it frightened me a little somehow, +though we children often caught cold and +didn't think much about it. But then we were all +strong. None of us ever coughed the way Margaret +used to about that time, except when we had +hooping-cough, and it wasn't that that she had got, +I knew.</p> + +<p>'You don't think she is going to be badly ill?' I +said, feeling as if it would be all my fault if she +was.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wylie only repeated that she hoped not.</p> + +<p>We couldn't do much in the way of dressing or +tidying ourselves up, as we had nothing with us, not +even a red bundle. We could only wash our faces +and hands, which were <i>black</i> with the fog, so having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +them clean was an improvement. And there was a +very pretty brush and comb put out for us—Beryl's +own. I think it was awfully good of her to lend us +her nice things like that. I don't believe Blanchie +would have done it, though I daresay mamma would. +So we made ourselves as decent-looking as we could, +and our collars didn't look as bad that evening as in +the daylight the next morning.</p> + +<p>And then Beryl put her head in at the door and +told us to come down to the drawing-room, where +her father was.</p> + +<p>'He is not able to go up and down stairs just now,' +she said. 'His rheumatism is very bad. So he +stays in the drawing-room, and we dine earlier than +usual for his sake—at seven.'</p> + +<p>She went on talking, partly to make us more +comfortable, for I knew we were both looking very +shy. And just outside the drawing-room door she +smiled and said, 'Don't be frightened of him, he is +the kindest person in the world.'</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 285px;"> +<img src="images/i199.png" width="285" height="500" alt="THE FRILLS HAD WORKED UP ALL ROUND HIS FACE.—p. 173." title="THE FRILLS HAD WORKED UP ALL ROUND HIS FACE.—p. 173." /> +<span class="caption">THE FRILLS HAD WORKED UP ALL ROUND HIS FACE.—p. 173.</span> +</div> + +<p>So he was, I am sure. He had white hair and a +thin white face, and he was sitting in a big arm-chair, +and he shook hands kindly, and didn't seem +to mind our being there a bit. Of course, Beryl had +explained it all to him, and it was easy to see that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +he was most awfully fond of her, and pleased with +everything she did. All the same, I was very glad, +though it sounds horrid, that he couldn't come downstairs. +It didn't seem half so frightening with only +Mrs. Wylie and Beryl.</p> + +<p>Peterkin got very sleepy before dinner was really +over. I think he nodded once or twice at dessert, +though he was very offended when I said so afterwards. +I began to feel jolly tired too, and we were +both very glad to go to bed. There was a fire in our +room. 'Miss Wylie had ordered it because of the +fog,' the servant said. Wasn't it kind of her?</p> + +<p>We couldn't help laughing at the things they had +tried to find for us instead of proper night things—jackety +sort of affairs, with lots of frills and fuss. I +don't know if they belonged to mother Wylie or to +Beryl. But we were too sleepy to mind, though +next morning Pete was awfully offended when I said +he looked like Red-Riding Hood's grandmother, as +the frills had worked up all round his face, and he +looked still queerer when he got out of bed, as +his robe trailed on the floor, with his being so +short.</p> + +<p>He did not wake as early as usual, but I did. +And for a minute or two I <i>couldn't</i> think where I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +was. And I didn't feel very happy when I did +remember.</p> + +<p>The fog had gone, but it still looked gloomy, compared +with home. Still I was glad it was clear, both +because I wanted so to go home, and also because +of Margaret's cold. I think that was what I first +thought of. If only she didn't get ill, I thought I +wouldn't mind how angry they were with me. As +to Peterkin, I would stand up for him, if he needed +it, though I didn't think he would. They'd be sure +to remind me how much older I was, and pleasant +things like that. And yet when I went over and +over it in my own mind, I couldn't get it clear +what else I could have done. There <i>are</i> puzzles like +that sometimes, and anyway it was better than if +Margaret had run away alone, and perhaps got really +lost.</p> + +<p>And, after all, as you will hear, I hadn't much +blame to bear. The name of this chapter will show +thanks to whom <i>that</i> was.</p> + +<p>When we were dressed—and oh, how we longed +for clean collars!—we made our way down to the +dining-room. Beryl was there already, and I saw +that she looked even prettier by daylight, such as it +was than the evening before. She smiled kindly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +and said she hoped we had managed to sleep +well.</p> + +<p>'Oh yes, thank you,' we said, 'but—' and we +both looked round the room. 'How is Margaret?'</p> + +<p>'None the worse, I am glad to say,' Beryl +answered, and then I thought to myself I might +have guessed it, by Beryl's bright face. 'I really +think it was only the fog that made her cough so +last night. She looks a very delicate little girl, however, +and she speaks of having had a very bad cold +not long ago, which may have been something worse +than a cold. So I made her stay in bed for breakfast, +till——'</p> + +<p>At that moment the parlour-maid brought in a +telegram. Beryl opened it, and then handed it to +me. It was from mamma.</p> + +<p>'A thousand thanks for telegram and letter. +Coming myself by earliest train possible.'</p> + +<p>'It's very good of mamma,' I said, and in my +heart I was glad she was coming before we—or I—saw +papa. For though he is very kind too, he is not +quite so 'understanding,' and a good deal sharper, +especially with us boys. I suppose fathers need +to be, and I suppose boys need it more than +girls.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Yes,' said Beryl, and though she had been so +awfully jolly about the whole affair, I could tell by +her tone that she was glad that some one belonging +to us was coming to look after us all. 'It is very +satisfactory. My aunt said she would come round +early too. I think it will be quite safe for Margaret +to get up now, so I will go and tell her she may. +You will find some magazines and picture-papers in +my little sitting-room, behind this room, if you can +amuse yourselves there till auntie comes.'</p> + +<p>I stopped her a moment as she was leaving the +room, to ask what I knew Peterkin was longing to +hear.</p> + +<p>'Mamma will take us home, of course,' I said, +'but what do you think will be done about +Margaret?'</p> + +<p>'They—' whom he meant by 'they' I don't know, +and I don't think he knew himself—'they won't +send her back to the witch, you don't think, do +you?' he burst out, growing very red.</p> + +<p>Beryl hesitated. Then she said quietly—</p> + +<p>'No, I <i>don't</i> think so,' and Peterkin gave a great +sigh of relief. If she had answered that she <i>did</i> +think so, I believe he would have broken into a +howl. I really do.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + +<p>It seemed rather a long time that we had to wait +in Beryl's room before anything else happened. +Peterkin said it felt a good deal like waiting at the +dentist's, and I agreed with him. It was the looking +at the picture-papers that put it into his head, I +think.</p> + +<p>We heard the front-door bell ring several times, +and once I was sure I caught Beryl's voice calling, +'Auntie, is it you?' but it must have been nearly +twelve o'clock—breakfast had been a good deal later +than at home—before the door of the room where we +were, opened, and some one came in. I was standing +staring out of the window, which looked into a very +small sort of fernery or conservatory, and wishing +Beryl had told me to water the plants, when I heard +a voice behind me.</p> + +<p>'Boys!' it said; 'Giles?' and turning round, I +saw that it was mamma. I forgot all about being +found fault with and everything else, and just flew +to her, and so did poor old Pete, and then—I am +almost ashamed to tell it, though perhaps I should +not be—I broke out crying!</p> + +<p>Mamma put her arms round me. I don't know +what she had been meaning to say to us, or to me, +perhaps, in the way of blame, but it ended in her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +hugging me, and saying 'poor old Gilley.' She +hugged Peterkin too, though he wasn't crying, and +had no intention of it, <i>unless</i> his beloved Margaret +was to be sent back to Miss Bogle, and then, I have +no doubt, he would have howled loudly enough. +His whole mind was fixed on this point, and he had +hardly patience even to be hugged, before he burst +out with it.</p> + +<p>'Mummy, mummy,' he said,'they're not going to +send her back to the witch, are they?'</p> + +<p>Mamma understood. She knew Peterkin's little +ways so well,—how he got his head full of a thing, +and could take in nothing else,—and she saw that +it was best to satisfy him at once if we were to have +any peace.</p> + +<p>'No,' she said. 'The little girl is not to go back +to Miss Bogle.'</p> + +<p>Peterkin gave a great sigh of comfort. After all, +he <i>had</i> rescued his princess, I suppose he said to +himself. <i>I</i> thought it very extraordinary that +mamma should be able to speak so decidedly about +it, and I daresay she saw this, for she went on almost +at once—</p> + +<p>'I have a good deal to explain. Some unexpected +things happened yesterday and this morning. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +for this, I should have come by an earlier +train.'</p> + +<p>Here, I think, before I go on to say what these +unexpected things were, is a good place for telling +what mamma said to me afterwards, when we were +by ourselves, about the whole affair, and my part in +it. She quite allowed that I had not meant to do +wrong or to be deceitful, or anything like that, and +that I had been rather in a hole. But she made me +see that, to start with, I should not have promised +Margaret to keep it a secret, and she said she was +sure that Margaret would have given in to our +telling <i>her</i>—mamma, I mean—of her troubles, if I +had spoken to her sensibly and seriously about it. +And now that I know Margaret so well, I think so +too. For she is particularly sensible for her age, +especially since she has got her head clearer of fairy-tales +and witches and enchantments and ogres and +all the rest of it; and even then, there was a good +deal of sense and reasonableness below her self-will +and impatience.</p> + +<p>Now, I can go on with what mamma told us. +The first she heard of it all was the telegram from +Mrs. Wylie, for she had been out till rather late and +found it lying on the hall-table when she came in,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +before she had even heard that Pete and I had not +turned up at the nursery tea. That was what Beryl +had hoped—that the news of our being all right +would come before mamma had had a chance of +being anxious. At first she was completely puzzled, +but James, who was faithful to his promise, though +rather stupid, helped to throw a little light on it by +giving her my message.</p> + +<p>And then, as she was still standing in the hall, +talking to him and trying to think what in the +world had made us dream of going to London to +Mrs. Wylie's, all by ourselves, there came a great ring +at the bell, and when James opened, a startled-looking +maid-servant's voice was heard asking for +Mrs. Lesley.</p> + +<p>'I am Mrs. Wylie's parlour-maid,' she said, 'and I +offered to run round, for the old lady next door to us, +Miss Bogle, to ask if Mrs. Lesley would have the +charity—I was to say—to come to see her. The +little young lady, Miss Fothergill, who lives with +her, has been missing all the afternoon. Miss Bogle +did not know it till an hour or two ago, as she always +rests in her own room till four o'clock. But I was +to say she would explain it all to Mrs. Lesley, if she +could possibly come to see Miss Bogle at once.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mamma had gone forward and heard this all +herself, though the maid had begun by giving the +message to James. And she said immediately that +she would come. She still had her going-out things +on, you see, so no time was lost.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>NO MYSTERY AFTER ALL</h3> + + +<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">We</span> listened with all our ears, you may be sure, to +what mamma told us; she did so, very quickly. It +takes me much longer to write it.</div> + +<p>'And did you see Miss Bogle?' I asked. 'And +what <i>is</i> she like?'</p> + +<p>'The witch herself,' said Peterkin, his eyes nearly +starting out of his head.</p> + +<p>'No, Peterkin,' said mamma, 'you are not to call +her that any more. You must help me to explain +to little Margaret, that Miss Bogle is a good old +lady, who has meant nothing but kindness, though +she made a great mistake in undertaking the charge +of the child, for she is old and infirm and suffers +sadly. Yes, of course, I saw her. She was terribly +upset, the tears streaming down her poor face, though +she had scarcely had time to be actually terrified<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +about Margaret, thanks to Mrs. Wylie's telegram. +She was afraid of the child having got cold, and she +was altogether puzzled and miserable. And I was +not able to explain very much myself, till I got Mrs. +Wylie's <i>letter</i> this morning, fully telling all. Still, I +comforted her by saying I knew Mrs. Wylie was +goodness itself, and would take every care of all the +three of you for the night. Miss Bogle had not +missed Margaret, as she always rests in the afternoon, +till about four. And, strange to say, the +servants had not missed her either. The nurse was +away for the day, and I suppose that the others, not +being used to think about the child, had not given a +thought to her, though it seems strangely careless, +till it got near her tea-time, and then they ran to +Miss Bogle and startled her terribly. The first +thing she did was to send in to the next-door house'—('The +parrot's house?' interrupted Pete)—'and to +Mrs. Wylie's,' mamma went on, 'where the parlour-maid +knew that you boys and Margaret had made +friends, and she offered to speak to Miss Bogle, +thinking that perhaps you had all gone a walk +together, and would soon be coming in. And <i>while</i> +she was telling Miss Bogle this, came the telegram, +showing that indeed you had gone a walk, and more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +than a walk,'—here mamma turned away for a +moment, and I <i>think</i> it was to hide a smile that she +could not help. I suppose to grown-up people there +was a comical side to the story,—'together. And +then the poor old lady sent for me.'</p> + +<p>'And was that all that happened?' I asked.</p> + +<p>Mamma shook her head.</p> + +<p>'No,' she said. 'While I was still talking to +Miss Bogle, came another telegram, from the little +girl's nurse, her present nurse, to say that her sister +was so ill that she could not leave her, and that she +was writing to explain. Poor Miss Bogle! Her +cup of troubles did seem full; I felt very sorry for +her, and I promised to go back to see her, first +thing this morning, which I did, before starting +to fetch you boys. The nurse's letter had come, saying +she did not know <i>when</i> she could return. And +so—' mamma stopped for a moment—'it all ended—papa +came back last night, so he was with me, and +it was his idea first of all—in a way which I don't +think you will be very sorry for,'—and again mamma +smiled,—'in our settling that Margaret is to come +home with <i>us</i>, and stay with us till there is time +to hear from her grandfather, General Fothergill, +what he wishes. How do you like the idea?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I'm awfully glad of it,' I said. And so I was. +Not so much for the sake of having Margaret as a +companion, as because it quite took away all responsibility +and fears about her. For I felt sure she +would never have settled down happily or contentedly +in Miss Bogle's house.</p> + +<p>But as for Peterkin! You never saw anything +like his delight. He took all the credit of it to +himself, and was more certain than ever that the +parrot was a fairy, Miss Bogle a witch, and himself +a hero who had rescued a lovely princess. His +eyes sparkled like—I don't know what to compare +them to; and his cheeks got so red and fat that I +thought they'd burst.</p> + +<p>And when I said quietly—I thought it a good +thing to sober him down a bit, but I really meant it +too—that I hoped Blanchie and Elf would like Margaret, +he really looked as if he wanted to knock me +down—ungrateful little donkey, after all I'd done +and gone through for him and his princess! But +mamma glanced at me, and I understood that she +meant that it was better to say nothing much to him. +He would grow out of his fancies by degrees. And +she just said, quietly too, that she was sure the little +girls would get on all right together, and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +Blanche and Elvira would do all they could to make +Margaret happy.</p> + +<p>'And I am so thankful,' mamma went on, 'that +the poor child is none the worse for her adventures, +and able to travel back with us to-day. And I can +never, never be grateful enough to Mrs. Wylie and +her niece for their goodness to you. Miss Wylie is +perfectly sweet.'</p> + +<p>Just as she said this the door opened and Beryl +came in, leading Margaret with her. Mamma, of +course, had already seen them upstairs, before she +saw us.</p> + +<p>Margaret looked pale, naturally, paler than usual, +I thought, and she never was rosy in those days, +though she is now. But she seemed very happy and +smiling, and she was not coughing at all. And +another thing that pleased me, was that she came +round and stood by mamma's chair, as if she already +felt quite at home with her.</p> + +<p>Beryl drew a chair close to them and sat down.</p> + +<p>'I was just saying,' said mamma, 'that we shall +never be able to thank you enough, dear Miss Wylie, +for your goodness to these three.'</p> + +<p>'I am so glad, so <i>very</i> glad,' said Beryl, in her +nice hearty sort of way, 'to have been of use. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +was really quite a pleasant excitement last night—when +it all turned out well, and Margaret was clever +enough not to get ill. But please don't call me Miss +Wylie. You have known dear old auntie so long—and +she counts me almost like her own child. Do +call me "Beryl."'</p> + +<p>And from that time she has always been 'Beryl' +to us all.</p> + +<p>They, the Wylies, made us stay to luncheon. It +was just about time for it by this. We did not see +Mr. Wylie again, though he sent polite messages to +mamma, and was very kind about it all.</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Wylie came in to luncheon, and petted +us all round, and said that we must <i>all</i>—Blanche and +Elvira, and Clement too, if he wasn't too big, come to +have tea with her, as soon as she got back to Rock +Terrace.</p> + +<p>We thanked her, of course. At least Peterkin and +I did, but I noticed that Margaret got rather red and +did not say anything except 'thank you' very faintly. +She was still half afraid of finding herself again where +she had been so unhappy, and indeed it took a good +while, and a good deal of quiet talking too, to get it +<i>quite</i> out of her head about Miss Bogle being a witch +who was trying to 'enchanter' her, as her dear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +'Perkins' (she calls him 'Perkins' to this day) +would persist in saying.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wylie noticed her manner too, I fancy. For +she went on to say, with a funny sort of twinkle in +her eyes—</p> + +<p>'There will be a great deal to tell the parrot. +And I don't expect that he will feel quite happy in +his mind about you, little Margaret, till he has +seen you again. He will miss you sadly, I am +afraid.'</p> + +<p>And at this, Margaret brightened up.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' she said, 'I <i>must</i> come to see dear Poll. +But I may talk to him from your side of the balcony, +mayn't I, Mrs. Wylie?'</p> + +<p>'Certainly,' said the kind old lady, 'and you must +introduce your new friends to him. Mrs. Lesley's +little girls, I mean.'</p> + +<p>Margaret liked the idea of this, I could see. She +is not at all shy, and she still is very fond of planning, +or managing things, and people too, for that matter, +though of course she is much more sensible now, +and not so impatient and self-willed as she used to +be. Still, on the whole, she gets on better with +Peterkin than with any of us, though she is fond of +us, I know, and so are we of her. But Peterkin is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +just a sort of slave to her, and does everything she +asks, and I expect it will always be like that.</p> + +<p>What a different journey it was that day to the +miserable one the day before! To <i>me</i>, at least; for +though I wasn't feeling particularly happy, as I will +explain, in some ways, the horrible responsibility +about the others had gone. <i>They</i> were as jolly as +could be, but then I knew they hadn't felt half as +bad as I had done. They sat in a corner, whispering, +and I overheard that they were making plans for +all sorts of things they would do while Margaret +stayed with us. And Pete was telling her all about +Blanche and Elf, especially about Elf, and about +the lots of fairy story-books he had got, and how +they three would act some of them together, till +Margaret got quite pink with pleasure.</p> + +<p>I saw mamma looking at me now and then, as +if she was wondering what I was thinking about. +I <i>was</i> thinking a good deal. There were some things +I couldn't yet quite understand about it all—why +there should have been a sort of mystery, and why +Mrs. Wylie had pinched up her lips when we had +asked her about Margaret the day we went to tea +with her. And besides this, I was feeling, in a kind +of a way, rather ashamed of being taken home like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +a baby, even though mamma—and all of them, I +must say—had been so very good, not to make a +regular row and fuss, after the fright we had given +them, or had <i>nearly</i> given them.</p> + +<p>But I didn't say anything more to mamma just +then. For one thing, I saw that she was looking +very tired, and no wonder, poor dear little mamma, +when you think what a day of it she had had, and +all the bother with the witch the night before, too.</p> + +<p>I never saw Miss Bogle, and I've never wanted +to. I shall always consider that she was nearly as +bad as if she <i>had</i> been a witch, and it was no thanks +to her that poor little Margaret didn't get really lost, +or badly ill, or something of that kind.</p> + +<p>They were expecting us when we got home. +Blanche and Elf were in the hall, looking rather +excited and very shy. But there was not much fear +of shyness with Margaret and Peterkin, as neither +of them was ever troubled with such a thing.</p> + +<p>I left Pete to do the honours, so to say, helped by +mamma, of course. They all went off together upstairs +to show Margaret her room and the nursery, +and to introduce her to nurse and all the rest of it, +and I went into the schoolroom—a small sort of +study behind the dining-room, and sat down by myself,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +feeling rather 'out of it' and 'flat,' and almost +a little ashamed of myself and the whole affair +somehow.</p> + +<p>And the fire was low and the room looked dull +and chilly, and I began thinking how horrid it +would be to go to school the next morning without +having done my lessons properly, and not knowing +what to say about having missed a day, without the +excuse, or good reason, of having been ill.</p> + +<p>I had sat there some time, a quarter-of-an-hour or +so, I daresay, when I heard the front-door bell ring. +Then I heard James opening and the door shutting, +and, a moment after, the door of the room where I +was opened, and some one came in, and banged something +down on to the table. By that I knew who +it was. It was Clement, with his school-books.</p> + +<p>It was nearly dark by this time, and the room +was not lighted up at all. So he did not see me at +first, till I moved a little, which made him start.</p> + +<p>'Good gracious!' he exclaimed, 'is that you, +Gilley? What are you doing all alone in the dark? +James told me you had all come—the kid from Rock +Terrace too. By jove—' and he began to laugh a +little to himself.</p> + +<p>It seemed a sort of last straw. I was tired and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +ashamed, and all wrong somehow. I did not speak +till I was at the door, for I got up to leave the +room at once. Then I said—</p> + +<p>'You needn't go at me like that. You might let +me sit here if I want to. You don't suppose I've +been enjoying myself these two days, do you?'</p> + +<p>He seemed to understand all about it at once. +He caught hold of my arm and pulled me back again.</p> + +<p>'Poor old Gilley!' he said.</p> + +<p>Then he took up the poker and gave a good +banging to the coals. There was plenty on the fire, +but it had got black for want of stirring up. In a +moment or two there was a cheery blaze. Clement +pushed me into a seat and sat down near me on +the table, his legs dangling.</p> + +<p>I have not said very much about Clem in this +story—if it's worth calling a story—except just at +the beginning, for it has really been meant to be +about Peterkin and his princess. But I can't finish +it without a little more about him—Clem, I mean. +Some day, possibly, I may write about him especially, +about our real school-life and all he has been +to me, and how tremendously lucky I always think +it has been for me to have such a brother. He is +just as good as gold, without any pretence about it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +and jolly too. And I can never forget how kind he +was that afternoon.</p> + +<p>'Poor old Gilley!' he repeated. 'It must have +been rather horrid for you—much worse than for +those two young imps. Mamma told me all about +it, as soon as she got the letter—she told me a good +deal last night about what Miss Bogie, or whatever +the old thing's name is, had told her.'</p> + +<p>I looked up at this.</p> + +<p>'Yes?' I said. 'I don't understand it at all, yet. +But, Clem, what shall I do about school to-morrow? +I've no lessons ready or anything.'</p> + +<p>'Is it that that you are worrying about?' he +said.</p> + +<p>'Partly, and——'</p> + +<p>'Well, you can put <i>that</i> out of your head. It's +all right. Mamma told me what to say—that there'd +been a mistake about the trains, and you'd had to +stay the night in London. It wasn't necessary to +say more, and you'll find it all right, I promise you.'</p> + +<p>I was very glad of this, and I said so, and thanked +Clem.</p> + +<p>He sat still for a minute or two as if he was +expecting me to speak.</p> + +<p>'Well?' he said at last.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Mamma's been very good, <i>very</i> good about it +altogether,' I said at last, 'and so has papa, by what +she says. But still—' and then I hesitated.</p> + +<p>'Well?' said Clement again. 'What? I don't see +that there's much to be down in the mouth about.'</p> + +<p>'It's just that—I feel rather a fool,' I said. +'Anybody would laugh so at the whole affair if they +heard it. I daresay Blanche will think I've no more +sense than Pete. She has a horrid superior way +sometimes, you know.'</p> + +<p>'You needn't bother about that, either,' said he. +'She and Elf have got their heads perfectly full of +Margaret. I don't suppose Blanche will ever speak +of your part of it, or think of it even. As long as +papa and mamma are all right—and I'm sure they +are—you may count it a case of all's well that ends +well.'</p> + +<p>I did begin to feel rather cheered up.</p> + +<p>'You're sure I'm not going to get a talking to, +after all?' I said, still doubtfully. 'I saw mamma +looking at me rather funnily in the train.'</p> + +<p>'Did you, my boy?' said another voice, and +glancing round, I saw mamma, who had come into +the room so quietly that neither of us had heard +her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>She sat down beside us. And then it was that she +explained to me what I had done wrong, and been +foolish about. I have already told what she said, +and I felt that it was all true and sensible. And +she was so kind—not laughing at me a bit, even for +having a little believed about the witch and all that—that +I lost the horrid, mortified, ashamed feelings +I had been having.</p> + +<p>Just then the nursery tea-bell rang. I got up—slowly—I +still felt a little funny and uncomfortable +about Blanche, and even nurse. You see nurse +made such a pet of Peterkin that she never scarcely +could see that he should be found fault with, and +of course he was a very good little chap, though not +exactly an angel without wings—and certainly rather +a queer child, with all his fairy-tale fancies.</p> + +<p>But mamma put her hand on my arm.</p> + +<p>'No,' she said. 'Clem and you are going to have +tea in the drawing-room with me. The nursery +party will be better left to itself to-day, and little +Margaret is not accustomed to so many.'</p> + +<p>'I don't believe anything would make her feel +shy, though,' I said. 'She is just as funny in her +way as Peterkin in his. And, mamma, there are +some things I don't understand still. Is there any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +sort of mystery? Why did Mrs. Wylie leave off +talking about Margaret, and you too, I think, all of +a sudden? I'm sure it was Mrs. Wylie's way of +pinching up her lips about her, that made Pete surer +than ever about the enchantment and the parrot and +the witch and everything.'</p> + +<p>Mamma smiled.</p> + +<p>'No,' she said, 'there is no mystery at all. I will +explain about it while we are having tea. It must +be ready for us.'</p> + +<p>And she went into the drawing-room, Clement +and I following her. It looked so nice and comfortable—I +was jolly glad, I know, to be at home +again!</p> + +<p>Then mamma told us—or me; I think Clem had +heard it already—about Margaret.</p> + +<p>Her father and mother were in India, as I have +said, have I not? And her grandfather was taking +care of her. He was not a very old man, though he +was a General. He had vineyards or something—yes, +I am sure it was vineyards, in the south of +France, and he had had to go, suddenly, to look after +some business to do with them. And just when he +was starting, Margaret got ill. It was the illness +she had spoken of several times, which she called a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +very bad cold. But it was much worse than that, +though she didn't know.</p> + +<p>Her grandfather put off going till she was getting +better, and the doctors said she must have change of +air. He couldn't take her with him, and he had to +go, so the only thing he could think of was to ask +old Miss Bogle, who had been Margaret's father's +governess once—or General Fothergill's own governess +when he was a little boy; I am not sure which—to +take charge of her. He had forgotten how old, +Miss Bogle was, and I think she must have forgotten +it herself! She wasn't fit to look after a child, +especially as Margaret's nurse had to leave just +then.</p> + +<p>So you can pretty well understand how dull and +lonely Margaret was. And General Fothergill was +in such a fuss about her, and so terrified of her +getting any other illness, that he forbade her making +friends with any one out of Miss Bogle's house, unless +he was asked about it, and wrote to give leave.</p> + +<p>And when Mrs. Wylie found out about her, she—or +Miss Bogle—<i>did</i> write to ask leave for her to +know <i>us</i>, explaining how good and sensible mamma +was about children every way. But till the leave +came Mrs. Wylie and mamma settled that it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +better to say nothing about it to us. And in this, <i>I</i> +think, they made a mistake.</p> + +<p>That was all. The leave <i>did</i> come, while Margaret +was with us. Of course, all that had happened was +written to her grandfather, but she wasn't a bit +scolded!</p> + +<p>Neither was her 'Perkins'; the big people only +said that they must not be given so many fairy-stories +to read.</p> + +<p><i>I</i> wasn't scolded either, though, so I should not +complain. And several nice things came of it: the +knowing Beryl Wylie, and the going to stay at +General Fothergill's country house, and the having +Margaret with us sometimes.</p> + +<p>I don't know what the parrot thought of it all. +I believe he is still there, as clever and 'uncanny' +as ever; at least so Mrs. Wylie said, the last time +she came to see us.</p> + +<h3>THE END</h3> + +<div class='copyright'> +<i>Printed by</i> <span class="smcap">R. & R. Clark, Limited</span>, <i>Edinburgh</i><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS.</h2> + +<h3>By Mrs. MOLESWORTH.</h3> + + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE WOODPIGEONS AND MARY.</b> Illustrated by <span class="smcap">H. 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