Peterkin

near-struck. Margaret started, and listen

d. 'Half-an-hour still to my dinner.

st will do fo

ied. 'But I must be quick. I want t

d, 'copying you, you know. And, at first, she called you

She pinched up her lips about y

ry interested, but

ld you. She just does everything Miss Bogle wants. And if it wasn't for the parrot and you,'

his eyes gleaming; 'only then he wouldn't k

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 plann

almost,'

ut this time, and the first day I'm sure of nurse going to London again-and I know she has

said, 'but we'd

s approaching, so with only a

Margaret's nurse was away; luckily so, for we only just got home in

thinking about Margaret a lot, all that day; all the more that Pete and I didn't talk m

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 ha

nk this was natural, considering the queer way our getting to know her had been brought about

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 g

ad two or three wet days about then. And Margaret did not expect us o

were able to pass along Rock Terrace. And almost before we came in real sight o

and white pinafore, and s

beckoned to us at once, and just at that moment the parrot, who was out in his balcony, most luckily-

ing! Pretty Poll! Fine d

ed out as we ran across the t

in 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 we

Wednesday-day after to-morr

maker-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! Just fancy-

had enchanted frogs on the

as jumping about, especially in water,' and her eyes sparkled with a sort of mischief which I had seen in them on

mouse or-or anything,' said Peter

ret replied; 'but please go

nly been a minute or two at Rock Terrace,

nesday,' I said. 'I'm afra

TY IN FINDING HER

al on Wednesdays,' said Pete, 'with

right enough

settlings, as we have often told her since. I daresay it was with her having lived so much alone, and read

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 doub

full sunshine it really felt quite hot. There were bath-chairs standing sti

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 o

inutes, though we had already got through a

mind to run away! Fancy t

dulness and loneliness of Rock Terrace no longer, she declared, not to speak of what might happen to he

ill you go t

east to my nursey's, an

at this that we c

rse's!' we

, quite surprised that we didn't understand. And t

, but as soon as I was better she had to go, because her mother was so old and ill, and hasn't nobody 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

time. But I knew I must be very sen

knows you've run away?' I asked, while Peter

ite to him, and I will myself. It'll be a good deal better than if I stayed to be turned into s

tell, p'raps

'except people who understand about fairies and witch

le girl's determination. She sometimes spoke as if she was twenty. Putting it all together, I had a sort of instinct that it was best not to laugh at her ideas at all, as the next thi

ogle want to turn

that,' said Peterkin, an

blesome-nurse told me so; nurse can't hold her tongue-and I daresay I am,' she added truly. 'And so, if I see

nd now,' said Peterkin,

ing too,' said Margaret, with the s

her startled at

to go away to a safe place whi

w what station to go to, and all that sort of t

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 now told me so. When she goes to London she stays in the same railway; but if you're not 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

's the whole thing. Supposing you

ur word of honour as gentlemen!-gentlemen!' she repeated, 'not to tell any one without my leave. If you do,

ak our promise,' I said.

ather red. 'I always keep my word, and I

d a 'baby,' I felt sure she would 'keep hers.' It certainly wouldn't mend matters to r

d, even though it was a little interrupted by the bath-chair man every now a

in getting us to understand them thoroughly, and I don't think I need go on about w

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,

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 th

was se

nd Margaret was either to speak to us from the dining-room window, or, if she couldn't, she would hang

, at half-past two on Wednesday. How she meant to do about her bath-chair dri

d manage it, and Peterki

thing she

le luggage; not more than you two