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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32971-h.zip b/32971-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e9adfc4 --- /dev/null +++ b/32971-h.zip diff --git a/32971-h/32971-h.htm b/32971-h/32971-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..87076a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/32971-h/32971-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7828 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Eagle's Nest, by S. E. Cartwright +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +H4.h4left { margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 1%; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: left ; + clear: left ; + text-align: center } + +H4.h4right { margin-left: 1%; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: right ; + clear: right ; + text-align: center } + +H4.h4center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eagle's Nest, by S. E. Cartwright + +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: The Eagle's Nest + +Author: S. E. Cartwright + +Illustrator: William Rainey + +Release Date: June 25, 2010 [EBook #32971] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EAGLE'S NEST *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-cover"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-cover.jpg" ALT=""LIE STILL," WHISPERED LEWIS, "SHE IS COMING THIS WAY!"" BORDER="" WIDTH="482" HEIGHT="551"> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT=""LIE STILL," WHISPERED LEWIS, "SHE IS COMING THIS WAY!"" BORDER="2" WIDTH="409" HEIGHT="642"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 409px"> +"LIE STILL," WHISPERED LEWIS, "SHE IS COMING THIS WAY!" +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +The Eagle's Nest +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H4> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +S. E. CARTWRIGHT +</H3> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +Author of "Tommy the Adventurous" +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Illustrated by William Rainey, R.I.</I> +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BLACKIE & SON LIMITED +<BR> +LONDON AND GLASGOW +<BR> +1899 +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent" STYLE="margin-left: 10%; font-size: 80%"> +BLACKIE & SON LIMITED<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">50 Old Bailey, London</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">17 Stanhope Street, Glasgow</SPAN><BR> +BLACKIE & SON (INDIA) LIMITED<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Warwick House, Fort Street, Bombay</SPAN><BR> +BLACKIE & SON (CANADA) LIMITED<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">1118 Bay Street, Toronto</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">Chap.</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">A WASP IN THE SCHOOLROOM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">UNDER THE LABURNUM-TREE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">THE EAGLE'S NEST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">A ROPE-LADDER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">THE BOY WHO MOUNTED IT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">A VICTIM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">JACK AND JILL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">AN EARLY CHASE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">AN ALARMING JUMP</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">THE TRESPASSER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">CERTAIN LITTLE GARDENS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">A NEW LADDER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">THE BROWN BAG</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">KEEPING SHOP</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">A CUSTOMER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">IMPRISONED IN A PARLOUR</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">IN AN EMPTY HOUSE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">THE RETURN AFTER SHOPPING</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">AN INTERESTING DITCH</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">DISPUTES</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">OLD GAMES</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">THE VISITORS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">AN END OF HIDING</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">EXPLANATIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +ILLUSTRATIONS +</H2> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +"LIE STILL," WHISPERED LEWIS, "SHE IS COMING THIS WAY!" . . . <I>Frontis.</I> +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-081"> +A TALL, THIN MAN WAS CAREFULLY EXAMINING JACK +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-199"> +LEWIS WAS STILL LYING IN A SORT OF CRUMPLED-UP HEAP +</A> +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +THE EAGLE'S NEST +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A WASP IN THE SCHOOLROOM +</H4> + +<P> +One bright May morning, Madge, Betty, and John were a little more +inattentive than usual over their lessons. Miss Thompson was very +patient. She knew that warm spring days were full of distracting +interests. The first wasp of the season managed to get into the +schoolroom and buzz ostentatiously on the window-pane in the middle of +a history lesson. There was a long pause of expectation on the part of +the three children. Surely even a grown-up person could not be so +utterly uninterested as to allow a queen-wasp to escape alive? +</P> + +<P> +"What was the chief event of the reign of Henry the Eighth?" continued +Miss Thompson, quite unmoved by the display of suppressed excitement +around her. There was no answer, so she repeated the question a little +louder. +</P> + +<P> +"May I kill it, or would you rather do it yourself?" said Madge +eagerly. The three children had now shut their books and given up all +pretence of interest in anything except the wasp, which was trying +harder than ever to buzz right through the pane of glass. +</P> + +<P> +"Really nobody would suppose that you were twelve years old!" said Miss +Thompson, in a vain effort to make her eldest pupil ashamed of herself. +"Now then, open your history and see what was the most important event, +if you can't remember." +</P> + +<P> +"But it'll get away if you don't squash it!" shrieked John and Betty. +They were twins, and perhaps for that reason always spoke together. +</P> + +<P> +"Do leave the poor creature alone!" said Miss Thompson imploringly. +"It cannot hurt you if you sit still and attend to your lessons." +</P> + +<P> +"That's not what we are afraid of!" cried Madge; "it's the fruit! +Don't you know a queen-wasp has millions of children before the summer +is over, and we shan't have any fruit at all if you don't kill it!" +</P> + +<P> +"No strawberries! No peaches! No nothing!" echoed the twins with +growing excitement. "And it will be all your fault! But of course you +don't care, as you never eat fruit. Papa won't like it though. He +always kills—" +</P> + +<P> +"My dears, please don't make such a silly fuss about nothing," +interrupted Miss Thompson, rising with considerable dignity from her +seat. The children watched her with the most intense interest; but +when, instead of crushing the intruding wasp, she merely tried to brush +it out of the open window with her handkerchief, they broke out into +shouts of disapproval. If the poor lady had let loose some peculiarly +savage wild beast on society she could not have been more severely +condemned by public opinion. And the worst of it was, that the wasp +would not go! She clung to the handkerchief, and when it was shaken at +the open window suddenly transferred herself to the sleeve of her +deliverer's dress. +</P> + +<P> +Even Miss Thompson's calmness gave way under this trial. She started +back with a slight scream. The children were at her side in a moment, +beating and slapping at her arm, until they had inflicted almost as +much injury as a sting. +</P> + +<P> +"It's fallen on the floor!" shrieked Madge. "No! it's up again! It's +back on the window! Where's the squasher?" +</P> + +<P> +There was one well-established way of killing wasps in the schoolroom +at Beechgrove. This was with the heavy brass top of an old-fashioned +ink-bottle. Its size and shape were all that could be desired, and it +was familiarly alluded to as "the squasher". Even Miss Thompson when +in a hurry sometimes forgot to describe it as the top of an ink-bottle, +though she usually corrected herself afterwards. +</P> + +<P> +At the present moment both Betty and John rushed to the table, and +began to fight vigorously for the possession of the much-coveted +instrument of destruction. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring it quickly!" screamed Madge, who did not dare leave the window +for fear of losing sight of her prey. "Bring it here, I say! You +aren't going to squash it, you little sillies! I'm the eldest, so it's +my place!" +</P> + +<P> +"You unfair thing! You squashed the last, so it's my turn!" shouted +John. And while he turned to hurl defiance at his elder sister, Betty +seized the opportunity to twitch the object of strife out of his hand +and run off with it. +</P> + +<P> +Something perilously like a free-fight was in progress, when Miss +Thompson recovered her self-possession and sternly ordered the children +to return to their seats. +</P> + +<P> +"And the wasp?" they cried. "It will get away, and make nests, and we +shall be stung, and have no fruit, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"I will kill it myself," interrupted Miss Thompson, who now saw that +this was the only way to restore quiet. +</P> + +<P> +"But why should you?" pleaded Madge. "You don't like squashing wasps, +and we do." +</P> + +<P> +"That's just the reason I am going to do it myself," said Miss Thompson +resolutely. "Now go back to the table and find out the place in your +books." +</P> + +<P> +"You are very unkind. Yes, very unkind," grumbled the twins; but they +did not dare to flatly disobey, any more than Madge, who left the +window scowling horribly, and expressing an audible hope that everybody +who liked wasps should be stung by wasps. +</P> + +<P> +It was particularly annoying that Miss Thompson took no notice of this +amiable speech, but after crushing the wasp with as little interest as +she would have buttoned a glove, returned quietly to her seat, and +inquired: +</P> + +<P> +"What was the most important event in the reign of Henry the Eighth?" +precisely as if nothing had happened. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I know the answer to that!" exclaimed John scornfully. "I've +known that since I was a baby!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well then, why do you require me to repeat the question so many +times?" very naturally observed Miss Thompson. "Do give me a sensible +answer, and then I can pass on to something that you do not know so +well." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, of course, it was about all his wives having their heads cut off—" +</P> + +<P> +"Not all!" interrupted Betty. "Just let me say them! Catherine of +Arragon was divorced, Anne Boleyn had—" +</P> + +<P> +"Stop!" cried Miss Thompson. "You are both wrong." +</P> + +<P> +"No! Really I am sure it's right!" exclaimed Betty. "Isn't it, Madge? +You know you saw the place where her head was chopped off that time you +went to London with Aunt Mabel. Nobody was allowed to walk on it, and +there were railings all round; and the policeman said one night in the +year her ghost—" +</P> + +<P> +"Really this has nothing at all to do with your lesson," said Miss +Thompson, resolutely cutting short what threatened to be a very long +story. "I never doubted that Anne Boleyn was beheaded," she continued. +"Only, as it happens, my question has nothing to do with Henry the +Eighth's wives. Other events of much greater importance happened +during his reign, though you seem to have forgotten them. The +Reformation, for instance." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you meant that sort of thing, did you?" said John, every spark of +interest dying out of his voice. It might be possible to remember a +few facts about axes and blocks, but church councils and acts of +parliament he felt to be altogether beneath his notice. So he simply +gave up even the pretence of attending, and began to stare out of the +window at the gardener mowing the lawn. "Once, twice, three times," he +counted, in a loud whisper, as the man passed the window with the +mowing-machine. +</P> + +<P> +"Draw down the blind, John," said Miss Thompson. +</P> + +<P> +There was a chorus of reproaches from all the children. They +particularly disliked this punishment, which was only inflicted on rare +occasions when they had been unusually inattentive. +</P> + +<P> +"Draw down the blind at once," repeated Miss Thompson. +</P> + +<P> +"I always feel so gloomy when the blind is down," lamented Madge in a +very mournful tone. "I know I can't do my lessons if the sun is all +shut out." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear, they couldn't have been done worse this morning if you had +been shut up in the dark," replied Miss Thompson, trying to close the +discussion by again taking up the history-book. +</P> + +<P> +But by this time John had wandered to the window, and was carefully +inspecting the dead wasp. Not content with looking, he must needs take +it up to count how many legs it had. "One, two, three, four." John +was very fond of counting, especially at lesson-times. But there was +one important item that he left out of his calculations—the sting! +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! oh! It hurts! it hurts!" shouted the little boy, as he hopped +about the room nursing his thumb. +</P> + +<P> +"You silly child! If you had only been obedient and done what I told +you, instead of playing with the wasp," began Miss Thompson. Then she +remembered that it really was a waste of breath pointing out a moral to +a boy who was shouting and sobbing, so that he could not hear a word +she said. "You had better go to the nursery," she added, "and have +something put on your hand. No, you need not do any more lessons +before dinner. You can go out into the garden, and your sisters will +join you when they have finished." +</P> + +<P> +John was out of the schoolroom door almost before she had done +speaking. When once in the passage his cries stopped suddenly. He +knew better than to wake the baby out of its mid-day sleep. So on +tiptoe, with carefully suppressed sobs, he entered the nursery, and +replied in whispers to Nurse's anxious inquiries after his injuries. +John had been her favourite charge until the recent arrival of a baby +brother. Now she was fickle enough to prefer the baby, or at least to +behave as if she did. Still, she lavished much compassion in dumb-show +on John's swollen thumb, and wrapped it in a blue bag, until he became +so interested in the process that he quite forgot it was hurting. But +presently Baby stirred in his sleep, and Nurse being anxious to attend +to him, advised John to run out and play in the garden. +</P> + +<P> +It was not strictly speaking kind, but at the same time it was very +natural conduct, that John should stand close outside the schoolroom +window making derisive faces at his two sisters, who were being +reluctantly introduced to the leading facts of English history. Betty +first noticed him, and broke into a loud giggle. Miss Thompson looked +up. +</P> + +<P> +"If you are well enough to stand there grimacing in the sun, you are +well enough to come in and finish your lessons," was all she said. +John promptly fled out of sight round the corner. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +UNDER THE LABURNUM-TREE. +</H4> + +<P> +Within a few yards of the schoolroom window, but just out of sight, +stood a large laburnum-tree. Behind it was a very substantial +bay-bush. The two were planted at a corner of the house, with the +intention probably of cutting off a view of the kitchen windows from +the front. But the children had elevated them into a far higher +position than that of a mere screen. The laburnum-tree represented +their parliament-house. In it, or under it, as the case might be, they +played most of their games, told most of their stories, originated most +of their schemes. +</P> + +<P> +It was to this refuge that John fled when threatened with lessons. It +was so conveniently near the schoolroom, that he could easily hear +through the open window when lessons were over; for since he had gone +out Miss Thompson had not punished the girls by making them sit behind +a closed window and drawn blind. Besides, Madge and Betty were sure to +join him under the laburnum-tree directly they were released. In the +meantime John enjoyed the unwonted luxury of a choice of seats. +</P> + +<P> +There was only one drawback to the laburnum. It was really such a nice +tree that one hardly likes to mention this one fault, but if the +children could have suggested any sort of improvement, it would have +been a little more sitting accommodation in the boughs. Try as they +would they could never, all three, get up in it at once. And John was +usually the one left out. This was the way it happened. Madge, being +two years older than the twins, and much larger, naturally always +seized the highest and most commodious place. Then Betty, lightly +observing, "Ladies before gentlemen," would creep into a narrow little +fork between two branches at her sister's feet. And all that remained +for John was a yard of slippery polished stem, on which nothing but a +fly could have sat. +</P> + +<P> +John grumbled—it was one of the things he did best, according to his +sisters. "Practice makes perfect," Betty used to say, alluding to this +habit of his. She was fond of proverbs, and introduced them into her +conversation with more aptness than consideration for the feelings of +others. But really about this matter of seats it did seem a little +hard on John to have always to crouch in the bay-bush, while his +sisters looked down on him from their lofty thrones,—even Betty's +boots on a level with his head. Of course, they daily pointed out to +him that the crushed bay leaves gave out a delicious smell. This was +quite true, but it in no way removed the original grievance. One may +have too much even of bay leaves. +</P> + +<P> +However, this morning for about half an hour John had undisturbed +possession of the laburnum-tree. He began by trying Madge's seat, but +his legs being several inches shorter than hers dangled most +uncomfortably, instead of reaching the bough below. In order to steady +himself he had to hold on with one hand, which was terribly +humiliating. Madge, who could sit there in the most unconcerned +manner, plaiting rushes or carving a stick, would be sure to laugh at +him if she came out and noticed his difficulty. He hastily slipped +down into Betty's seat. +</P> + +<P> +Now it so happened that the twins were not at all alike in appearance. +John was a fine handsome boy, Betty rather a thin, under-sized girl; +consequently the fork between the laburnum branches into which she +fitted exactly would not admit her brother at all. Except for the +glory of the thing, it was far safer and more comfortable down among +the bay leaves. John was so seldom out in the garden without his +sisters that he had never before had a quiet opportunity for making +this discovery. He was still thinking it over with puzzled +astonishment, when there was a loud sound of slamming doors, and Betty +ran out of the house, dangling her straw hat from her hand by a +worn-out bit of elastic. +</P> + +<P> +"Madge kept in?" inquired John anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no! It's her turn to put away the books and desks, that's all." +</P> + +<P> +This was a relief, for though the twins were supposed to be +romantically devoted to each other, they were both in reality rather +dependent upon Madge, whose superior size, age, and experience made her +the undisputed leader in all their games. John and Betty waited +impatiently, listening to the series of bangs which accompanied their +sister's rather abrupt restoration of order in the schoolroom. At last +there were three crashes louder than all the former sounds. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurrah! There go the desks!" shouted John. "That's the last thing +always. She'll be here in a minute!" +</P> + +<P> +In point of fact Madge joined them almost immediately. "I've thought +of something," she said, directly she came within shouting distance. +</P> + +<P> +There was some excitement at this announcement, for when Madge solemnly +observed that she had thought of something, it always meant that an +unusually interesting plan was about to be unfolded. They all climbed +into their customary seats to await further developments. As Betty was +nearest the laburnum-tree she scrambled up first, so that Madge had +presently to crawl right over her, even planting a pair of very +substantial and dusty boots in her younger sister's lap; but this was +by no means a sufficiently uncommon event to call for any remonstrance. +As for John, he squatted down among the bay leaves much more +contentedly than usual. He had just found out that those lofty seats +up among the golden-chains, as the children called the laburnum +blossom, were not half as comfortable as they looked. +</P> + +<P> +"This is what I have been thinking," began Madge, when she had settled +herself, not kicking Betty's head more than twice in the process. "We +want some hiding-place where no one can find us." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes! yes!" shouted the twins. +</P> + +<P> +"Some place in a tree," continued Madge. +</P> + +<P> +The applause became louder than ever. Climbing trees was the favourite +amusement of all the children, and no game found favour for long which +did not include something of the kind. +</P> + +<P> +"A tree like this, will it be?" inquired Betty. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not," replied Madge. She had her own idea, and could not +help feeling rather irritated with the younger ones for not entering +into it without any explanations. "This is hardly like a real tree," +she continued; "more like a garden-seat, you know. If we fell out of +it, I don't believe we should be hurt a bit." +</P> + +<P> +This statement was felt by the assembled company to be quite true, +though perhaps a little ungrateful, seeing how very much use they made +of the laburnum. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, I should like a tree which would be a real fortress," continued +Madge. "A regular place of refuge—" +</P> + +<P> +"What is a refuge?" interrupted John. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, a place of safety, of course! Where one can hide from the enemy +and—" +</P> + +<P> +"What enemy?" again interrupted John. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't be so tiresome!" broke in Betty, who always understood +things a little quicker than her brother—or if not, pretended she did. +"Can't you fancy an enemy? Men in armour, or lions, or Nurse when she +wants us to be put to bed." +</P> + +<P> +John did not answer, being a little sulky. Of course he could imagine +enemies just as well as his sisters; worse ones perhaps, with longer +spears and sharper teeth! And he did not like being considered silly. +</P> + +<P> +"What I think," continued Madge, who was accustomed to talk through +interruptions, so that she hardly noticed them; "what I think is that +we ought to make a kind of house up in a big tree, so high that no +grown-up people can possibly climb to it, and if we tumbled out we +should break our legs." +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid none of the garden trees will do," said Betty +thoughtfully, as she pondered over the required qualifications. +</P> + +<P> +"Did I say it was to be in the garden?" snapped out Madge. "It will be +in the fields—the farthest part of the fields. And," she added, +leaning forward and whispering mysteriously, "I know the tree." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, which is it? Where is it?" shouted the twins. John's sulks at +once gave place to his curiosity. +</P> + +<P> +"It's the beech-tree by the wall at the end of the Pig's Field," +announced Madge. "I have examined it, and it will do exactly." +</P> + +<P> +"You do have such good plans!" murmured Betty admiringly. Indeed, an +elder sister who can work out a project of this sort in her head +without saying a word to anyone, is a member of the family of whom one +may feel justly proud. +</P> + +<P> +"But I hope there's a place for me in this grand tree of yours," +observed John, in the accent of complaint that was rather habitual to +him. "Because, if I've got to sit on the ground as I do here, and the +enemy comes, it won't be very nice for me; though of course you two +will be all right, so you won't care!" and he crushed the bay leaves +viciously under his feet until the air became quite aromatic. +</P> + +<P> +"If you would only listen to me instead of grumbling you would hear my +whole plan," observed Madge, very reasonably. "We shall not sit on +branches as we have always done before, we will build a house by +putting sticks for a floor. A sort of huge nest, with lots of room for +us all. Of course, if we build it ourselves, we can make it just as +large or as small as we like." +</P> + +<P> +The audience was positively struck dumb by the magnificent ingenuity of +this new idea. The clanging sound of a large bell at last broke the +silence. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dear! There is dinner in five minutes!" sighed Betty, wriggling +out of her narrow seat. "And I upset the ink-bottle over my hands, so +that they will take longer to wash than usual, and there will be no +time to hear the rest of your plan now, because I promised to bring +Miss Thompson in a bunch of golden-chains." And she began pulling down +the lowest boughs of the laburnum by swinging upon them with all her +weight. +</P> + +<P> +"All right!" said Madge good-naturedly; "I'll help." Climbing down to +the ground, she began to tear large sprays of golden blossom off the +boughs lowered by Betty's weight. "There, I should think that's +enough!" she said, when her two hands were full to overflowing. "Now +we had better run in, or we shall be late and lose our punctuality +marks! But first I will tell you both one more thing. I have even +thought of a name for this house in the tree. The Eagle's Nest. What +do you say to that?" But the twins' admiration and enthusiasm for +their elder sister could not find a vent in mere words. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE EAGLE'S NEST. +</H4> + +<P> +A good name is half the battle. That the Eagle's Nest was going to be +a magnificent success all the children felt at once. Fortunately it +was Saturday, and there were no lessons to be done after dinner, so +they had a whole long afternoon in which to lay the foundations of +their new house. +</P> + +<P> +When Captain West married and left the navy, many years before our +story begins, he had bought Beechgrove and the little farm attached to +the house. So his children had no lack of fields and outhouses in +which to play, directly they were old enough for Nurse to trust them +out of her sight. The only rule that they were bound to observe was: +Never to go off their father's property. This was not often felt to be +an oppressive regulation, for the dozen fields of which the farm +consisted contained untold treasures, in the way of hedges rich in +birds' nests, and green slimy ponds alive with newts and tadpoles. The +fact was, that the children had never yet found any day long enough to +explore the fields to their entire satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +But there was one corner of the Beechgrove farm which seemed more +mysteriously interesting than all the rest. In the first place, it was +at an immense distance from the house; a grown-up person on a hot day +would very likely have taken nearly a quarter of an hour to walk there. +The children, of course, took much longer; they never went straight +anywhere, and even if they started to run they forgot half-way where +they were going, and wandered off in several directions, after passing +objects of interest, before they remembered. So, excepting on long +summer afternoons, they very seldom got as far as this particular +corner, where the beech-trees grew in such abundance as to give their +name to the whole place. +</P> + +<P> +There was another reason as well as its remoteness from civilization +which made the children regard this corner with a peculiarly awe-struck +interest. On the other side of the high wall which bounded the farm at +this end lived an old lady, about whom most extraordinary stories were +told. She was undoubtedly eccentric and fond of seclusion, as she had +spent a large sum of money on fencing her little property entirely +round with a stone wall about ten feet high. Also, she never went for +walks; and it was said that tradesmen's carts were not admitted into +the garden, but had to wait outside on the road while the old +housekeeper carried all they brought through a door in the wall, which +she carefully closed behind her. Nobody but the clergyman and the +doctor had been admitted to see Mrs. Howard for years; and they were +neither of them gossips, so the neighbourhood did not learn much after +their visits. Some people said that the old lady was mad; others that +she had committed some terrible crime for which she had been sentenced +to imprisonment for life, but that being very rich, she had been +allowed to escape this disgrace on condition of paying a huge fine and +promising never to go outside those gloomy high walls. +</P> + +<P> +The children firmly believed all the different stories they had been +told by successive nursery-maids, and even a legend started by the old +weeding-woman, to the effect that Mrs. Howard belonged to a very high +family living in London, and that having gone mad she took advantage of +her position to shoot at the Queen as she was driving through Hyde +Park. The story broke off at this point, which was so unsatisfactory +that the children teased Mrs. Bunn to try and remember more, until, +being in a hurry to get on with her weeding, she hazarded a suggestion +that perhaps the poor lady was so mad that she forgot to load the +pistol. As the Queen continued to live and reign, this really seemed +very probable. +</P> + +<P> +Of course the little Wests could have asked their parents about Mrs. +Howard, and found out from them something more nearly approaching the +truth. But on the whole they very much preferred being at liberty to +believe all sorts of wonderful and terrible reports. It is such hard +work to satisfy one's natural craving for romantic adventure when one +is carefully brought up in a well-guarded nursery and schoolroom, that +it would be mere stupid ingratitude not to get all the excitement one +could out of a mysterious neighbour. +</P> + +<P> +After this explanation, it can be better understood how very bold and +thrilling a proposal Madge made when she suggested that the Eagle's +Nest should be built in a beech-tree that actually overhung the +boundary wall. +</P> + +<P> +"How are we to begin? What shall we do first?" inquired the twins, as +with business-like rapidity the three children started off across the +fields immediately after their dinner. For once none of them lingered +to pick buttercups, or even hunt the pigs. +</P> + +<P> +"First we make the floor," said Madge, who was in a very good humour at +being so undoubtedly leader of the expedition. "Until that is made we +have nothing to stand on while we are putting up the roof." +</P> + +<P> +This was unquestionably true; besides, everybody felt that though a +very fairly satisfactory nest could be imagined open to the sky, some +sort of floor was an absolute necessity in a tree-house. +</P> + +<P> +"But where shall we get the boards and nails from?" asked John, +thinking of the neat planks he had so often counted in the nursery. +</P> + +<P> +"Boards and nails!" laughed Madge. "Do you think it's going to be +exactly like the stupid sort of houses we are used to? Perhaps you +expect to see a brown carpet with red spots, like the one in the +schoolroom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course not! Don't be so silly!" cried John angrily. But all the +same, it must be confessed he could not imagine a house very unlike +Beechgrove. +</P> + +<P> +"You see, this will be more of a nest," interposed Betty; "so it ought +to be made of sticks." +</P> + +<P> +"That's it! Follow me and I will show you where to get some." And +Madge set off running across the field, closely pursued by the two +others. +</P> + +<P> +It was not very difficult to guess where the sticks were to be found. +Every winter the wind had a delightful way of blowing down some large +boughs on the farm, and these used to be cut up and stacked together +until wanted for various purposes. The children regarded these +windfalls as expressly designed for their convenience and amusement. +They climbed on the heavier logs, which were piled into temptingly +irregular mountains several feet high; and of the smaller sticks they +made every kind of defensive weapon. +</P> + +<P> +Madge led the way straight to one of these wood-piles. After much +study she chose several small branches, and all three children, +producing knives out of their pockets, set to work hacking off +unnecessary twigs. The twigs being extremely tough and the knives not +at all sharp, this process took a long time, and the afternoon seemed +to be going by without their even coming in sight of Eagle's Nest. +</P> + +<P> +"It's really no good trying to tidy up these sticks here!" Madge cried +at last in despair. "Let us each carry as many branches as we can to +the Eagle's Nest, and we can trim them into shape there when we see +exactly what we want." +</P> + +<P> +This seemed a particularly good idea, as all their hands were aching +after sawing away for so long with their blunt knives at the hard wood. +So a procession set out, each child dragging a branch along the ground. +By doing it that way they could move good-sized branches which would +afterwards cut up into several sticks. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Madge, it's perfect! It's quite perfect!" cried the twins some +time later, when, hot and panting, they at last dropped their burdens +beneath the great beech-tree by the wall. +</P> + +<P> +"I really think it's pretty good," replied Madge modestly. She felt +that as she had invented this plan herself it would not be good manners +for her to admire it too freely. "You see those two boughs poking out +like great arms over the field? The sticks must be long enough to +stretch from one to the other, and the Eagle's Nest when it is built +will be between them." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, why did we never think of it before!" exclaimed Betty, rolling on +the ground in an ecstasy of admiration. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you know we don't often come into this corner of the field to +look about," Madge reminded her; "it's so far from the house. And +besides," she added frankly, "I used to be rather afraid of coming here +without Nurse when I was smaller, because of Mrs. Howard." +</P> + +<P> +A shade of anxiety passed over the younger children's faces. They had +forgotten all about that mysterious old lady behind the wall, with her +terrible character for madness and crime. Yet she was possibly lurking +within a few yards of them, even listening to what they were saying. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think," began John seriously, "are you sure, that it's quite +safe here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Quite safe," asserted Madge decidedly. "If Mrs. Howard tried to come +an inch this side of the wall she would be a trespasser, and we could +send a policeman after her." +</P> + +<P> +An elder sister who has mastered the law of trespass to this extent is +really an invaluable possession. John's mind was quite set at rest, +and with a sigh of relief he again pulled out his knife and began +hacking away at a branch. +</P> + +<P> +"I dare say you are both wondering how we are going to get up to the +Eagle's Nest," said Madge. "Now I will show you." +</P> + +<P> +She went to the wall against which the beech-tree was growing, and +deliberately put her toe into a deep crack between the stones where the +mortar had fallen out. The others watched with the greatest +excitement, while, partly supported by inequalities on the trunk of the +tree, and partly taking advantage of projecting stones in the wall, she +slowly climbed up until she was on a level with the destined +foundations of the Eagle's Nest. +</P> + +<P> +"Now hand me up a branch," she cried, "and I will lay the first stone +of our house!" +</P> + +<P> +"But I thought you said it was to be all sticks?" objected John. +</P> + +<P> +"Do try and not be stupid!" exclaimed Betty rather sharply, as she +wrestled with a branch far beyond her strength to lift single-handed. +"One always talks of laying the first stone, you know, whatever the +place is built of. At least I never heard of laying the first brick! +And please help me to lift up the end of this branch, I can't push it +high enough, and it will get entangled in my hair and knock off my hat." +</P> + +<P> +The twins struggled unsuccessfully to lift the heavy branch high enough +for Madge to reach. She stooped forward as far as she dared, almost +losing her balance indeed, in her effort to get hold of this refractory +foundation-stone. "If you two were only a little taller!" she +exclaimed reproachfully. +</P> + +<P> +Betty looked down abashed. She was short for her age, and knew it. +Quite an inch more in the wrong than John. But she had ideas. +</P> + +<P> +"If we knotted all our handkerchiefs together and tied them to one end +of the branch, you could pull it up easily," she suggested. +</P> + +<P> +In ten minutes more the first stick, or stone, of the Eagle's Nest was +laid amidst shouts of congratulation and rejoicing. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A ROPE-LADDER. +</H4> + +<P> +Building even the most simple sort of house is a very great work. A +nest ought to be begun and finished in less than a week—at least year +after year birds accomplish something of the sort without our ever +thinking them particularly clever or industrious. But the Eagle's Nest +at Beechgrove was terribly incomplete, even after a fortnight's labour +had been expended on it. +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't look as if it would ever be finished," said John +mournfully, "and yet we have worked so hard." +</P> + +<P> +His spirits were apt to give way when anything went wrong either at +lessons or play, and the first sign of depression was that he sat still +and did nothing. +</P> + +<P> +"You see, making the steps up the wall took a very long time," said +Betty, who was vigorously sawing away at some twigs with a knife that +had lately lost the little edge it ever boasted. "But they are very +good steps," she added proudly. +</P> + +<P> +By scratching patiently with sharp stones and long-suffering knives, +the children had managed to remove a good deal of mortar from cracks +about a foot apart all up the wall, so now there was no difficulty in +finding a sufficient resting-place for their feet. This was much +lighter work than dragging heavy branches across the field from the +wood-pile, and had consequently been more popular with everybody. But +at last Madge had been obliged to remind her little band of labourers +that even the best sort of staircase, if it led nowhere, was not very +serviceable. So then they began to drag branches again, and very weary +work they found it. And now at the end of a fortnight there were only +five rough misshapen logs pulled up into the right place, with a great +many torn pocket-handkerchiefs to show what a hard struggle it had been +to lift them from the ground. No wonder John was becoming +faint-hearted. +</P> + +<P> +"You talked about a house big enough to hold several people, with a +nice roof in case it rained," he said reproachfully. +</P> + +<P> +Madge represented that it so seldom rained in June they could easily +wait for their roof a little longer. "One can put that on at any +time," she urged. "There is a good bough above, and we could spread an +old shawl over it like a tent, or we might make a sort of wren's nest +with sticks all up the sides and top, and crawl in through a hole. +That would be very cozy, only I am afraid it would take a good many +sticks, and you none of you like getting sticks." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't," said John stoutly. "I've dragged enough of those old +things across the field, and I won't be bothered with them any more. +And it's no good talking about making it like a wren's nest—silly +little birds that never fight or anything! What do eagles want with +those sort of stuffy little houses?" +</P> + +<P> +When John embarked on a thoroughly unreasonable grumble, it was no good +arguing with him or interrupting him until he stopped from sheer loss +of breath. So while he went on fault-finding, Madge was making up her +mind to a great resolve. When at last he came to an end, she spoke out +so decidedly that the twins were compelled to listen to her. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you want to make the Eagle's Nest a great success—much the nicest +thing we have ever done, or do you want to give it up altogether?" she +inquired sternly. +</P> + +<P> +"Not give it up! Of course, not give it up!" cried the two younger +ones. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well. I'm glad you said that. It would be a very cowardly and +stupid thing to give it up when we have gone so far, but you can do +just as you like." +</P> + +<P> +"I never wanted to give it up," began John, in an injured tone; "only I +don't want—" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if we are going on with it, I have quite settled what we will +do," interrupted Madge briskly. "We will work away as hard as we can +at it all the afternoon, and then whatever state it is in when the +tea-bell rings we will declare it finished for the present, and begin +to use it to play in. Of course, we can improve it as much as we like +after, but we won't go on working any more just at present." +</P> + +<P> +This suggestion met with general approval, for though the children had +not at first minded the hard work of dragging branches from the +wood-stack, now that much the same thing had been going on for a +fortnight, they were getting rather tired of it and beginning to want a +change. But after Madge's sensible proposal they worked away with all +their first energy for the next two hours, and by the time the distant +sounds of the tea-bell were heard across the fields, a very nice little +platform had been built in the tree. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know what anybody could want better!" cried Madge, clapping +her hands in high glee. "We will open it on Monday afternoon." +</P> + +<P> +"It looks pretty open now without any walls or ceiling," observed John, +who was always a little contradictory. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I mean open it as the Prince of Wales opens a hospital," +Madge said with dignity. +</P> + +<P> +"I know that well enough! You needn't always think I'm so stupid!" +growled John. +</P> + +<P> +This kind of conversation took place several times a day, but seldom +ended in a real quarrel unless the children were rather tired or cross. +To-day they were fortunately all in capital spirits at having finished +their great work. +</P> + +<P> +It seemed long to wait until Monday afternoon. But at last the time +passed, and they were all standing together under the great beech-tree, +with Madge explaining how the opening ceremony was to be performed. +</P> + +<P> +"We will ascend the grand staircase," she said, "and standing in the +assembly-room, the president (that's me, you know) will declare the +buildings to be solemnly opened for public use." +</P> + +<P> +This certainly sounded very well, though nobody knew exactly what it +meant. The fact was that Madge repeated certain sentences she had read +in newspapers, without troubling very much about the meaning. +</P> + +<P> +"And when you've done that what shall we do?" inquired John. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if you can't think of anything to play when you have got into +the Eagle's Nest you had better stay in the nursery and play with +Baby," said Madge scornfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Let us begin to ascend directly, and then we shall have more time for +playing," interposed Betty, intent on keeping the peace. +</P> + +<P> +"The president leads the way, of course!" exclaimed Madge, planting her +toe in one of the niches of the wall. "I suppose both of you are +obliged to use all the steps," she added carelessly. "I am so tall +that I can stretch two at a time." +</P> + +<P> +"So can I!" chimed in John; "it's only Betty who can't reach. Just get +out of the way and I'll show you what I can do." +</P> + +<P> +He immediately lifted his foot to the level of his chin, grabbed wildly +at a projecting stone far above his head, missed it, and fell heavily +on his back in a tuft of sting-nettles. +</P> + +<P> +There was a good deal of confusion. Both the girls very kindly tried +to help their brother up, and were naturally rather indignant when he +hit out wildly at them, under the mistaken impression that they had +pushed him down. Then they all stung their hands, and there was a long +argument about who ought to have cleared the sting-nettles away from +under the tree. But the simple idea of making up for past neglect by +doing it now did not occur to any of them. +</P> + +<P> +At last Madge recalled them all to their senses by declaring that she +saw old Barton, the farm-man, in the distance, carrying the milk-pails. +Though he was two fields off there could be no mistake, because he kept +the pails so brightly polished that they glittered like diamonds in the +sun. And he never started to milk the cows until the stable clock had +struck four, so his appearance was a positive proof that the afternoon +was passing rapidly by. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, it's nearly tea-time! And I thought we had only just finished +dinner! I do believe holiday afternoons are much shorter than others!" +exclaimed John. +</P> + +<P> +He was so overcome by this discovery that he allowed Madge to mount the +grand staircase without interruption. But she did not avail herself of +the rare chance of making a dignified welcoming speech to the younger +ones as they climbed up behind her, for at that moment she was seized +by a new idea of such importance that she was almost choked with +anxiety to impart it at once to the others. +</P> + +<P> +"This building is open!" she shouted impatiently. "And come on +quickly, you two! I want to tell—" +</P> + +<P> +"That's not the way people open things!" interrupted John. "It takes a +much longer time than that. You ought to say its name, and make a +speech about what it will be used for. Oughtn't she, Betty?" +</P> + +<P> +Betty said nothing. She made a general rule of backing up her elder +sister in family disputes, and yet she could not help feeling that in +this case John had a just cause of complaint. The ceremony had been +very disappointing. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well then," said Madge, seeing that it was no use to fight +against public opinion, "I suppose I must do it all over again. +Although I have something to say that you can't even imagine." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe there is such a thing," said John stolidly. "I can +imagine anything a girl can, I know that." +</P> + +<P> +Old as she was, Madge nearly cried with impatience. "If you are going +to contradict and argue," she began, "it's no good—" +</P> + +<P> +"We will be quiet! We will really!" interrupted Betty, who, on the +whole, had a peace-loving disposition. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well then," said Madge, recovering herself a little, but still +speaking with rather terrific dignity. "I declare this Eagle's Nest +open. It has been erected regardless of trouble and expense by—by—" +</P> + +<P> +"The young eagles," suggested Betty. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, by the young eagles," continued Madge, "for the use and amusement +of—of—" +</P> + +<P> +"The young eagles," again suggested Betty. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course! Amusement of the young eagles," repeated Madge rather +inattentively, for she was thinking of something else. "And we hope +they will enjoy it! And I think that's all. Now I'll tell you my last +plan!" +</P> + +<P> +"All right!" muttered John, settling himself with a contented grunt +upon the sticks. Now that the new building had been properly opened, +his mind was at rest. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, this is what I think," began Madge. "It's rather absurd for us +to have a grand staircase up to our place of refuge. What we want is a +ladder that we can pull up after us so that the enemy can't follow!" +</P> + +<P> +"What a splendid idea!" said Betty admiringly. "But I am afraid Barton +would never allow us to take his ladders out of the barn. He is always +dreadfully cross if we only take them out to look at a bird's nest, and +he finds they have gone. And he would be sure to see us carrying them +across the fields." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but you see I have thought of all that!" replied Madge with a +smile of superior wisdom. "I told you I had a good idea, and I have, +though John did not believe it! What do you say to a rope-ladder?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE BOY WHO MOUNTED IT. +</H4> + +<P> +It is just possible that there comes a time of life when the heart does +not beat responsively at the bare suggestion of a rope-ladder. Then a +desert island will have lost its charm, and wild beasts be no longer a +source of terror or interest. Betty and John had, fortunately for +them, not yet reached this miserable epoch. At their sister's last +words they shouted and danced about on the uneven sticks until they +were in imminent danger of falling out of the Eagle's Nest much faster +than they climbed in. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought you would consider it a good idea," said Madge modestly. +</P> + +<P> +"Rather! I should think so! It's the awfullest, jolliest notion! It +is! it is!" cried the twins alternately. At that moment they felt that +nobody ever had ideas quite as good as Madge's. +</P> + +<P> +But presently John, as usual, saw an objection to the scheme. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid string won't be strong enough," he began gloomily. "It +might bear Betty's weight, but it certainly won't ours." He was at +least two inches taller, and several pounds heavier than his twin +sister, and was never tired of drawing attention to the fact. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think we are heavier than those great bundles of hay that +Barton carries on his back when he is going to feed the cows in the +winter?" inquired Madge. +</P> + +<P> +John looked rather puzzled by this mysterious question, but Betty +interposed hastily: "Oh, no! They must be much heavier than us! Why, +Barton can sometimes hardly load them on his back and stoops almost +double as he walks. And I know he can carry two of us, because one day +when John and I were sitting on the pig-sty wall he came and just +lifted us off one under each arm, and carried us all the way back to +the garden as easily as possible." +</P> + +<P> +"It wasn't because we were sitting on the pigsty wall that he lifted us +off," observed John. "We are allowed to sit there as much as we +like—at least you aren't, because it dirties your frocks, but I am. +It was because you were throwing stones at the little pigs and he +thought you would hurt them." +</P> + +<P> +"It wasn't stones!" cried Betty indignantly. "It was little bits of +moss I picked off the walls, because they had nothing green to +eat—only—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, children! Don't be so silly! Wrangling on about things that +don't matter in the least!" interrupted Madge in her most sensible +manner. "We all agree about the only thing of any consequence," she +continued. "The ropes that go round the bundles of hay would be strong +enough to bear us. And I know where to get them! They are coiled up +behind the manger in the cow-house, and Barton has not used them lately +as the cows are not having hay in the fields now." +</P> + +<P> +After this speech the children naturally lost very little time in +running to the cow-house. There, lying in a dark corner, were several +coils of rope of unequal length, but all most reassuringly thick. They +chose out two pieces that seemed as if they had been made on purpose to +form the sides of a rope-ladder, and carried them off in triumph to the +Eagle's Nest, feeling like a successful party of marauding barons in +the middle ages. Just as they had hidden the rope in a fork of the +beech-tree the bell for tea rang, and work was over for that afternoon. +In warm weather, when the children strayed far from the house, Mrs. +West had a large bell rung outside the door at meal-times, so there was +really no excuse for not coming in. However, even with this +precaution, Miss Thompson had so frequently to wait that she had lately +made a rule to the effect that a quarter of an hour after the right +time for tea to begin the cake and jam should be sent out of the room, +and only bread and butter left. The children had been conspicuously +more inclined to punctuality since this rule was made. +</P> + +<P> +Everything connected with the Eagle's Nest took much more time and +labour than was ever expected. It sounds an easy thing enough to make +a rope-ladder when once the materials have been collected. But even +with Barton's ropes, and Nurse's best ball of string, which John had +quietly brought away in his pocket, it was no simple matter. After +many days spent in faithfully following out all the directions given +for the manufacture of rope-ladders in various books of adventures, the +children produced something up which an intrepid traveller might +possibly have crawled in preference to being eaten by a very hungry +lion. With great pride they tied the upper ends of the two ropes +firmly to a bough just above the Eagle's Nest. That part of the job +was very effectually done. The children could be trusted to tie secure +knots, they had such constant practice. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurrah! Finished at last!" cried Madge, giving the ropes a severe +jerk to test their firmness. "And now, who shall be the first to mount +up our new ladder?" +</P> + +<P> +"Let me!" cried a strange voice. +</P> + +<P> +The children started so violently that they almost fell out of the +Eagle's Nest. They looked all round in bewilderment, and at last, +directly under the beech-tree, on the other side of the wall, they saw +a boy watching them intently. +</P> + +<P> +"If you will drop the end of the ladder down this way I know I can +climb up," he said. "I've been looking at you for a long time, only +you were so busy you didn't notice me. And I want to get up and have a +look at that place you have built in the tree." +</P> + +<P> +Betty and John turned to Madge and remained silent. The occasion was +so strange that they gladly yielded to their elder sister the privilege +of deciding what was to be done. But for once even the masterful Madge +had some difficulty in making up her mind. There were so many things +to be considered before taking any decisive action. +</P> + +<P> +Of course it would be delightful to exhibit all their inventions and +contrivances to a stranger, a boy who was apparently of an exact age to +take an intelligent interest in such matters. But then, on the other +hand, they had never been given permission to speak to this boy, and +perhaps it was not the right thing to do. +</P> + +<P> +"Still, I don't remember that we have ever been forbidden to talk to +strangers, have we?" said Madge aloud. She was very anxious to be +provided with an excuse for inviting this new boy to join the party. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't think we have ever actually been told not to speak to +people we don't know," said Betty thoughtfully. "But then, you know, +Mama and Miss Thompson would never think of our meeting a stranger in +the fields, and of course we don't go on the roads by ourselves." +</P> + +<P> +This was perfectly true, but it did not suit Madge at all. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know what people think," she said impatiently; "only what they +say. And if we have never been forbidden to speak to a stranger, I +expect there is no harm in it. We are forbidden things fast enough if +they are wrong. Sometimes it seems as if there would be hardly +anything left that we are allowed to do!" She spoke rather recklessly, +having half made up her mind to do something that she knew perfectly +well was not right, and hoping by talking very loud and fast to stifle +the voice of her conscience. +</P> + +<P> +"You are keeping me a precious long time waiting!" called out the boy +from below. "You don't mean to say you are such a set of babies that +you are afraid to let down the ladder for me without first running back +to the nursery to ask permission?" +</P> + +<P> +At this taunt Madge became very red. "I've got nothing to do with the +nursery, and I'm not afraid of anybody!" she exclaimed. These bold +statements were not only silly but untrue; however, she did not stop to +think of that in her overwhelming hurry to convince this stranger that +she was not a little child, as he seemed to think, but a big girl with +a will of her own. "And just to show you that I needn't trouble about +anybody's permission, I invite you to join us up here," she added. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right! You are a good sort, I can see!" returned the boy. +"Drop down that old ladder of yours, and I will be with you in a couple +of seconds! Now, look sharp, you two little ones. Lend a hand with +the rope, can't you! What's the good of staring at me like two stuffed +owls?" +</P> + +<P> +To say the truth, Betty and John were both rather frightened by Madge's +daring behaviour. They were by no means better children than she was, +but they seldom ventured to be naughty on such a large scale as this. +When Madge's pride was once roused she never stopped to think of +consequences; but it is only fair to add, that being the eldest she +generally same in for the largest share of punishment if they all did +wrong together. +</P> + +<P> +"Is he really coming up the ladder to play with us?" muttered Betty +rather breathlessly in her sister's ear. "Do you think we shall be +allowed—" +</P> + +<P> +"Here, you parcel of babies, get out of the way!" interrupted the boy. +"You've got nothing to do with it. Just chuck me down the rope," he +added to Madge, "and if the babies don't like it they can run home and +play in the nursery. We don't want them interfering with us! Rather +not!" +</P> + +<P> +Madge could not resist this flattering appeal. She did so enjoy being +treated as a person of some importance, and not classed with the little +ones. "Here goes!" she cried defiantly, and taking hold of the +rope-ladder she dropped the end of it over the wall. +</P> + +<P> +There was an anxious struggle. The strange boy appeared very active, +for though one or two of the short sticks that formed the rungs of the +ladder slipped (for it was almost impossible to tie them securely to +the rope sides), yet he clung on with hands and feet like a monkey. +When he came within reach Madge stooped down and stretched out her hand +to him. +</P> + +<P> +"Welcome to Eagle's Nest!" she said proudly, as she pulled him up to +her side in the tree. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A VICTIM. +</H4> + +<P> +"So this is what you call Eagle's Nest?" cried the new-comer. "What a +rum place!" +</P> + +<P> +"It's a fortress," observed Madge with considerable dignity, for she +did not quite like the want of respect with which he was criticising +their great achievement. "It is only accessible by a rope-ladder and +one other—" She stopped suddenly, thinking that after all it might +not be wise to confide all their secrets to a stranger until he proved +himself worthy of confidence. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you needn't trouble to tell me," replied the boy; "I shall find it +out quickly enough. I find out everything. I found you out playing up +in this tree, though you couldn't see me." +</P> + +<P> +"We did not know there were any children on the other side of the wall, +so we didn't look particularly," explained Madge. "We thought an old +lady lived—" +</P> + +<P> +"Old Mother Howard you mean?" interrupted the boy. "Yes, she lives +there right enough. And a rum old woman she is too!" +</P> + +<P> +"Is she your mother, then?" asked John, rather puzzled by this speech. +</P> + +<P> +"Rather not! I should jolly well like to see her dare to be my +mother!" said the boy indignantly. "I'm an orphan, and she says she is +some relation and has a right to bring me up. But I'll tell you +something,"—he lowered his voice mysteriously, and the others crept a +little nearer to him,—"it's my belief she is only trying to get all my +money!" +</P> + +<P> +"How dreadful!" exclaimed Madge. "I didn't know that people really did +that sort of thing nowadays." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't they just!" said the boy, seemingly delighted by the +impression his words had produced. "I'll just tell you how she has +treated me. My father was a very rich man and I am his only child, so +of course I ought to be rich, oughtn't I? Well, I hardly ever have any +pocket-money at all!" +</P> + +<P> +"We have threepence a week," said Betty with justifiable pride. But a +moment later she was sorry that she had appeared to boast of their +superior good fortune. +</P> + +<P> +"Threepence a week! Do you indeed? But I dare say you have everything +you want directly you ask for it?" observed the boy very dolefully. +"What should you say if you had been left an orphan at the mercy of a +cruel guardian, who sent you first to a school where they starved you, +then to a school where they beat you, and then here where they do both?" +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean that Mrs. Howard starves and beats you?" inquired Madge, +horrified by these disclosures. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, rather! Dry bread for dinner, and if you won't eat it you are +locked up in the cellar until you do. It's quite dark, and the black +beetles crawl over you. Ugh! Have you ever had a black beetle walk +across your face?" +</P> + +<P> +"No!" exclaimed Madge; "I've never touched one. Cook says she +sometimes sees them on the kitchen floor at night, but of course we are +in bed then." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, think of being shut up in a perfectly dark cellar—" +</P> + +<P> +"Is it underground?" interrupted John. +</P> + +<P> +"Jolly well underground I should say!" continued the boy. "Fifty steps +down, and an iron door at the top and the bottom of the stairs, so that +however much you shouted nobody could possibly hear you. And nothing +but slimy black earth to lie upon." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you know it's black if you are in the dark?" asked Betty, so +deeply interested in this terrible tale that she wished to understand +every detail. +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you I know it is black!" said the boy sharply. "Black, and +covered with pools of dirty water. And there are toads all about. If +you don't believe me, though, I won't tell you any more about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I do believe you! It wasn't that at all," said Betty. "But what +a dreadful woman Mrs. Howard must be! Jane says the village people +think she is quite mad." +</P> + +<P> +"And who is Jane?" +</P> + +<P> +"She is our nurse-maid. But everybody thinks the same. Very likely +Father and Mother do, only they never talk about Mrs. Howard to us." +</P> + +<P> +"I dare say she is mad," said the boy. "I can tell you enough things +about her to make your hair stand on end, although I have only been +here a week." +</P> + +<P> +"But how did you come here, and what is your name? And how old are +you?" asked Madge. +</P> + +<P> +"My name is Lewis Brand, and I was fourteen last Christmas." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you are two years older than me!" cried Madge, this announcement +putting everything else out of her head. "I had no idea you were so +old as that. And you have been at school?" +</P> + +<P> +"Two schools, and now I have been sent to prison here." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall go to school soon," interposed John, who was rather ashamed of +his want of experience before this big boy. John had been kept at home +a little longer than would otherwise have been the case, because his +mother had a romantic idea that the twins were inseparable. It had +lately become apparent, however, that John and Betty were most +affectionate when they did not see too much of each other; and since a +baby-boy had lately appeared in the nursery, Captain West had felt that +his eldest son could be very well spared to go to school. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, school is bad enough!" said Lewis gloomily. "You wait till you +get there! You'll just jolly well wish you were home again! But," he +broke off suddenly, "do let us begin to play. Talking all the +afternoon is dull work." +</P> + +<P> +It was wonderful how soon the victim of Mrs. Howard's cruelties +recovered his spirits when they once started a game. He established +himself as chief of a tribe of wild Indians, with the modest title +"Bravest of the Brave". And he led his warriors to victory with such +shrill battle-cries that the veriest coward would have felt compelled +to follow him. The absence of enemies was the chief want that +afternoon. They had to pretend that some iron railings on the other +side of the field were an army advancing towards them in the distance. +</P> + +<P> +"But it is much more fun when the enemy is alive, so that he runs away +and we can hurt him," explained Madge. "Next time we will try to drive +the pigs up to this end of the field when we are coming here. They +make capital enemies, they scream so beautifully while they are running +away." +</P> + +<P> +It seemed to be taken for granted by everybody that in future Lewis +would often join the three Wests in their games. +</P> + +<P> +"And I'm sure Mama won't mind your coming to play with us when she +hears how cruelly you are treated at home," observed Betty. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't mean to say you were going to tell anybody that you met me +here!" cried Lewis excitedly. "Now, that's just like a girl! They +never can keep the least bit of a secret. If you say a single word +about me to anybody at all I shall never be able to come here any more. +And very likely something dreadful will happen to me." +</P> + +<P> +"But Mama would not tell Mrs. Howard if I asked her not. Besides, she +doesn't even know her," argued Betty, who was rather frightened at the +prospect of keeping such a very large secret for an indefinite period. +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you I shall be put in that dark cellar, and fed—" Lewis +suddenly broke off, and whispered in a tone of real terror, "Lie down +flat! Keep still! There she is!" +</P> + +<P> +All four children happened to be on the Eagle's Nest at the moment, +having just returned from a most violent raid against the Iron-Railing +tribe, which, however, did not seem in any hurry to avenge its wrongs +by pursuing the enemy back to his stronghold. At Lewis's words they +all crouched down on the sticks, making themselves as small as +possible. And they looked in the direction to which he silently +pointed. +</P> + +<P> +From the height of the Eagle's Nest it was possible to see over the +boundary wall into Mrs. Howard's domain. It is a fact, however, that +until to-day the children had found this view exceedingly uneventful. +At the bottom of the wall there was a small orchard, beyond that a +glimpse could be caught of an old-fashioned garden and the end of a +brick house. It was all very ordinary and homely-looking, not at all +like the surroundings one naturally expects to find associated with +deeds of wrong and cruelty. But since the children had heard of the +fearful cellar beneath that innocent brick house, they shuddered as +they glanced towards it. And to-day for the first time they saw +someone moving about the garden. +</P> + +<P> +"Lie still," whispered Lewis, "as still as death! She is coming this +way!" +</P> + +<P> +Full of mingled terror and curiosity, Madge, Betty, and John lay +motionless, hardly moving an eyelid. It was Lewis who fidgeted +decidedly the most, in spite of his having been the one to give the +order for silence. And presently through a gate from the garden came +an old lady. She was dressed all in gray—gown, shawl, and bonnet, and +most delicately clean and neat she looked. In her hand she carried a +nosegay of white flowers, and a few paces behind her solemnly stalked a +large black cat. +</P> + +<P> +There were only two remarkable things about this old lady's +appearance—always excepting her extreme air of daintiness. One was +the smallness of her size, the other her funny trick of nodding her +head continually. The latter seemed as much a habit with her as +breathing; she nodded at the buttercups and daisies beneath her feet, +and she nodded at the two sleek cows, who stopped chewing the cud for a +moment to gaze back with blinking, white-lashed eyes. She even nodded +more than once towards the beech-tree, until Madge made sure that they +were discovered, and began to prepare a fine speech, defying Mrs. +Howard to trespass one inch on Captain West's land. But after all +there was no opportunity for delivering this timely warning, as the old +lady glided slowly on through the orchard, and having gently inspected +(and nodded to) every individual apple-tree, she returned to the garden +and disappeared round a corner of the house, closely followed by the +black cat. +</P> + +<P> +"So that's Mrs. Howard!" exclaimed Madge, stretching her cramped limbs +after the effort of remaining still so long. "She doesn't look as if +she could hurt you very much. Why, I don't believe she is as tall as I +am!" +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps not," replied Lewis. "But I never said she shut me up +herself, did I? She keeps a sort of jailer to do that. And she stands +and grins on the top step while he is hurling me into the cellar below. +You should see her grin!" +</P> + +<P> +"But she looks so gentle," objected Betty. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll tell you the reason of that. It's to deceive people and get them +into her clutches," said Lewis. "Now I must be off, or they will +half-murder me if they find out where I have been. I'll try and come +another day if I can give old Mother Howard the slip." And seizing the +rope-ladder, which had been hidden among the branches, he again dropped +it over the wall. Climbing down the ladder was a much quicker matter +than climbing up, and in a couple of minutes he was safely running +across the orchard towards the brick house. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +JACK AND JILL. +</H4> + +<P> +When Lewis Brand had disappeared from sight, the three children left in +the Eagle's Nest could scarcely believe that since dinner-time so many +curious things had happened. A strange boy, of whose existence they +were not aware two hours before, had been playing with them just as if +they had known each other all their lives. He had, moreover, told them +his history, which was quite as wonderful as many fairy stories. And +they had seen the mysterious Mrs. Howard. +</P> + +<P> +These extraordinary new experiences had the effect of quite throwing +the rope-ladder into the background, and they actually forgot all about +its existence, and descended by the wall in the old way at the warning +sound of the tea-bell. John was the first to notice this omission. +</P> + +<P> +"Oughtn't we to climb up again and come down by the ladder?" he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no, bother the ladder!" replied Madge, so curtly that the others +stared at her in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"But the ladder was your idea, your very own idea. And I thought you +were so proud of it!" observed Betty in a bewildered voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes, so I was!" cried Madge impatiently. "But don't you see, so +many new things have happened that they have nearly put the old things +out of my head. The ladder is quite safe up there twisted round the +bough. Barton will never think of looking in the tree even if he does +miss it, but it's my belief he doesn't count the ropes all through the +summer. Now let us hurry back or there will be a fuss about our +keeping tea waiting, and we sha'n't be allowed to go so far away in the +fields. You know Miss Thompson once threatened not to let us out of +sight of the schoolroom window if we so often came in late." +</P> + +<P> +On the way home Madge impressed upon the other two the necessity of not +boasting of their adventure. +</P> + +<P> +"Mayn't we even say that we have seen Mrs. Howard? Not even tell +Jane?" they asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly not," said Madge sternly. "It is not our own secret, +remember. It is Lewis's. And we have promised him to say nothing +about it, so of course we mustn't." +</P> + +<P> +When the case was put that way it certainly sounded right to hold one's +tongue. And yet a little time before it had seemed equally right to go +home and confess that they had taken the unusual step of talking to a +stranger. The younger ones couldn't help feeling that this was very +confusing. Besides, it was disappointing to be forbidden to tell Jane +that they now knew more about Mrs. Howard even than she did. +</P> + +<P> +They would have discussed the subject all the way home if the sight of +Captain West coming to meet them across the fields had not given an +entirely new turn to their thoughts. As soon as they came near enough +to hear what he said he shouted out: +</P> + +<P> +"Come along quickly! I have been looking for you ever since I came +back from Churchbury. There is a surprise for you!" +</P> + +<P> +There was nothing the children liked better than being with their +father. He was away a great part of every day attending Magistrates' +meetings, Boards of Guardians, and other useful county work. When he +came home late in the afternoon, Madge, Betty, and John made such a +rush for him that Mrs. West often complained that she could not get any +attention until the children had gone to bed. It was no use her trying +to talk, she said, every word was drowned by the three loud voices that +insisted upon being heard and answered. +</P> + +<P> +At the bare mention of a surprise the children set off running. They +knew of old that their father's surprises usually meant a new toy or +something good to eat. As they rushed up to him he quietly stepped on +one side, and they all three rolled over in a heap. +</P> + +<P> +"That was a fine escape for me," laughed Captain West. "If I hadn't +been on the look-out you would have knocked me over too, I suppose. +No, I will not be pawed by six dirty hands! There's nothing in my +pocket, I tell you!" +</P> + +<P> +"But you said there was a surprise!" panted John, who had not been able +to run quite as fast as his sisters, and consequently had fallen on the +top of the heap and was the first to rise. +</P> + +<P> +"Quite true! But all surprises aren't made of chocolate, and don't +live in my pocket as you seem to think," replied Captain West. "This +one came from America. Now guess what it is?" +</P> + +<P> +"But we can't!" shouted three despairing voices. "Oh, please tell us! +Do tell us!" +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense! A little thinking strengthens the mind," said Captain West +calmly. "You all learn geography. Now what comes from America?" +</P> + +<P> +"Christopher Columbus!" screamed Betty, who was in such a hurry to +answer first that she had not listened very attentively to the question. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well. I promise that if he comes you shall have him all to +yourself," observed her father. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I didn't mean that! Let me try again!" cried the little girl, who +had just discovered from the laughter of the others that she had said +something rather foolish. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no! You have had your turn, and if you didn't listen I can't help +it. What do you say, Madge?" +</P> + +<P> +"Corn, cotton, india-rubber—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, stop! That will do. I don't want the whole geography-book from +end to end. What do you say, John?" +</P> + +<P> +"I say the same as the others," replied John, who did not take the +trouble to think on his own account, and fancied this statement must be +safe. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" cried Captain West, pretending to be much alarmed at the news; +"you really think Christopher Columbus and all the products of North +and South America have come as a little surprise to us? This is very +overpowering. Before proceeding any further in my investigations I +shall certainly require some tea to strengthen me;" and he started off +walking rapidly towards the house. +</P> + +<P> +"Papa! That's too bad! We can't eat any tea until we know what it +is!" they all shouted. +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry for that," said Captain West coolly; "because I happen to +be very hungry, as I only had a biscuit for lunch at Churchbury. It +will be rather dull work watching me, I am afraid." +</P> + +<P> +At this moment Mrs. West appeared at the drawing-room window, holding +up a cup as a signal to her husband that his tea was ready. He hurried +towards her immediately, telling the children that he should be ready +in a quarter of an hour. So there was nothing for it but to wash their +hands and run to the schoolroom, where they arrived just in time to +save the jam, which was in the very act of being carried out of the +room. And after all, in spite of their excitement, they contrived to +make a very good tea, for it was a long time since dinner, and they had +hardly been still for a moment. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. West was not very strong, so that she had to spend a great deal of +the day on the sofa, and could seldom join in the children's out-door +amusements. But this surprise from America was so exceptionally +interesting that she declared she must come out and see it; so, with a +shawl carefully tied round her, she accompanied her husband and +children to the stables after tea. +</P> + +<P> +"Take care!" cried Captain West, with his hand on the latch of one of +the stable doors; "take care it doesn't jump out!" +</P> + +<P> +"Is it alive? Can it run? Will it bite?" asked the children in +astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +But before they had time to say more the door was opened, and they +caught sight of two most graceful little goats shrinking timidly into a +corner. +</P> + +<P> +"Are they for us?" inquired Madge, in a wondering tone of voice; for, +so far, they had never owned anything larger than a pet rabbit, and the +idea of having these beautiful goats for their own seemed almost too +good to be true. +</P> + +<P> +"They are absolutely your property," said Captain West. "I have +nothing to do with them at all, except that I suppose I shall have the +honour of paying for what they eat and break." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Papa! They look much too dainty to break anything with their tiny +little hoofs," said Madge reproachfully. "And I can see they will eat +very little. But how do you think we had better divide two between +three of us?" +</P> + +<P> +"There are several ways," replied her father. "You might have the +heads, Betty the bodies, and John the tails." +</P> + +<P> +But this suggestion did not give entire satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +"If Madge wanted to feed her heads in the stable just when I had my +bodies out walking on the road, how should we manage?" asked Betty. +</P> + +<P> +"That is indeed a difficult question to decide," said Captain West +thoughtfully. "I see that it is a much more difficult matter to keep +goats than I had ever imagined. Perhaps after all it would be safer to +send them back to America?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no! But I see you don't mean it!" cried Madge. "You are only +joking." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know about that," said her father. "It isn't a very joking +matter. One of my old friends who has been lately travelling about +America just writes to say that he has brought back a charming pair of +little goats, and as he can't keep them in his London house he is +sending them as a present to my children. He might have consulted me +first, I think, especially as the goats arrived a few hours after the +letter." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but you wouldn't have stopped them? They are such darlings!" +cried Madge. "They won't give any trouble, and they will draw a little +cart." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, they look rather wild for that kind of work at present," +observed Captain West; "but I dare say they will grow tamer. And as +they are here I suppose I must make the best of them, as I do of wasps +and rats." +</P> + +<P> +"How can you compare them to such nasty things?" demanded Madge +indignantly. "Although I know you only do it to tease us! And now we +must think of names. That is always so hard, because we can never +quite agree about names. The white mice all died before we could make +up our minds what to call them." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I am thankful to say the poor goats will be saved from that +fate," said her father. "My friend expressly says that they have +names. They are called Jack and Jill!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AN EARLY CHASE. +</H4> + +<P> +The excitement of the goats' arrival quite put all thoughts of Lewis +Brand and his wonderful story out of the children's heads. Fortunately +the evenings were light and long, for there was a great deal to be done +before the two pets could be considered safely housed for the night. +Captain West objected to their remaining any longer in the stables as +he could not spare the room, so there was a great discussion about +where they could be shut up for the night. At last it was decided that +a railed-off corner of the cow-house, where calves generally lived, +would be very suitable, and in the daytime, of course, they could be +loose in the fields with the other animals. As they seemed rather +wild, it was safer to shut them up at night for fear of their wandering +away. So the children were at last persuaded to leave them for the +night, with a plentiful supply of fresh grass, in case they should wake +and feel hungry. +</P> + +<P> +"What a lot of things have happened to-day!" exclaimed Betty when she +and Madge were both in bed, and Jane had left the room with her usual +piece of good advice to them to go to sleep at once. Two children +occupying beds in the same room were not very likely to take such a +sensible piece of advice, and in point of fact Madge and Betty often +talked away merrily for a long time. "Sometimes it seems as if nothing +happened for weeks, and to-day there are so many things I can hardly +remember them all," continued Betty. "Doesn't it seem a long time +since we let down the rope-ladder and that boy climbed into the Eagle's +Nest?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. But do be quiet, I want to go to sleep," said Madge rather +crossly. She had been feeling so much happier since she had quite +forgotten Lewis Brand and the difficulties connected with him, that she +was not at all grateful for having the whole affair brought back to her +mind again. +</P> + +<P> +But Betty could not leave the subject alone. "Do you think Lewis is a +nice boy?" she inquired. "I didn't like him at first, because he has +such a white face and hardly any eyebrows!" +</P> + +<P> +"What a silly reason for not liking a person," said Madge. "As if they +could help their eyebrows!" +</P> + +<P> +"I know it's silly," returned Betty humbly. "But don't you find it +very difficult to like people when they have nasty faces?" +</P> + +<P> +"I never think about their faces," said Madge in a superior way. "If +they are jolly I like them soon enough, however ugly they are!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, so do I!" exclaimed Betty, now rather ashamed of her criticisms as +she found that Madge considered them silly. "At first I thought he was +going to be rather proud and stuck-up because he was so much older than +we are, but afterwards he seemed very nice when we began to play. I +wonder if we shall ever see him again?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure I don't know! Let us go to sleep now, I'm tired of talking;" +and Madge burrowed so deeply under the bed-clothes that it was quite +impossible to carry on any sort of conversation with her. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps it was because Madge went to sleep rather early that evening +that she was enabled to wake proportionately early the following +morning. It was fairly light and fine, though not sunny. She got out +of bed and went to the window. Madge invariably looked out of the +window the first thing in the morning, but to-day she was rewarded by +seeing something that had never met her eyes before. +</P> + +<P> +On the lawn, directly in front of the house, was a large flower-bed, +containing many roses of different colours. They were Mrs. West's +favourite flowers, and even when she could not go out, she enjoyed +seeing them from the drawing-room window. In the middle of this +flower-bed now stood Jack and Jill, cropping off and devouring dozens +of rose-buds with evident relish. +</P> + +<P> +Madge rubbed her eyes and looked again. It was no dream, and there was +no possibility of a mistake. She had seen the goats safely shut into +the calves' house the night before, and here they were loose and +walking about the garden. She could not understand in the least how it +had happened; but nevertheless it was a fact. And, moreover, they were +eating her mother's favourite roses as fast as they could. She tapped +gently on the window-pane, but the goats took absolutely no notice. At +this rate there would not be a rose left by the time the gardener came +to work. +</P> + +<P> +A great idea occurred to Madge. We know that she was rather +independent, as befitted the eldest of a family, and decidedly fond of +managing things her own way. So it presently came about that she +decided not to let the roses be eaten, and not to disturb anybody else, +but to drive Jack and Jill out of the garden all by herself. Perhaps +it seemed rather unkind not to wake Betty, who was sleeping quietly in +her little bed in the other corner of the room. However, she looked so +comfortable that it was almost a pity to disturb her, and after all she +was two years younger than Madge, and could not reasonably expect to do +exactly the same things as her elder sister. She would be very full of +reproaches when she woke up, but Madge resolved to risk a little +sisterly abuse sooner than permit anyone to share the glory of her +exploit. +</P> + +<P> +It really does not take very long to dress if one omits all ornamental +additions, and dispenses with everything in the shape of a bath! Jack +and Jill had not time to do more than taste the succulent young shoots +of half a dozen rose-trees before Madge had crept downstairs and +quietly opened the front-door. Then with a half-suppressed shout of +battle she rushed towards them, waving a walking-stick which she had +the presence of mind to snatch up in passing through the hall. The +goats both gave a guilty start at the first sound, and then crossed the +lawn in a series of most amazing bounds. Madge afterwards compared +them to gigantic grasshoppers; and, indeed, as she panted hopelessly +behind them, she would scarcely have felt surprised if one of her +nimble pets had, with a higher leap than usual, suddenly perched on the +bough of a tree or the roof of a house! +</P> + +<P> +Madge had often laughed at her father's little terrier, Snap, for +chasing the sparrows up and down the lawn in the vain hope of some day +catching them, but she soon began to realize that she had started on +quite as hopeless an enterprise herself. However rapidly she ran along +the paths, however stealthily she stalked behind the bushes, Jack and +Jill proved quicker and more artful. When, with untold trouble, she +had driven them into a corner, and was advancing with outstretched +hands to grasp their pert little horns, they would just toss their +heads, and without any apparent effort skip right over her shoulder and +be off half across the garden almost before she could turn round. +</P> + +<P> +"I do believe I shall have to go back and fetch Betty after all," +muttered Madge, when this sort of thing had gone on so long that she +was fairly tired out. "Not that she can run half as fast as I can, her +legs are so short! But she could help. I really can't be expected to +do all the work by myself!" +</P> + +<P> +Madge was getting tired, and consequently cross. So, rather funnily, +she was beginning to feel it quite a grievance that nobody had come out +to help her to drive the goats, forgetting that it was entirely her own +wish to undertake the job alone. As she somewhat sullenly walked +towards the house, she prepared several severe speeches to be addressed +to Betty on the selfishness of lying in bed and leaving her sister to +do all the work. But just as she was getting into a state of +considerable indignation, out of the open front-door walked her father. +</P> + +<P> +Captain West had evidently dressed in a hurry like his daughter. In +point of fact he had been suddenly wakened by one of Madge's +involuntary cries, for though she had every intention of being very +quiet, she could not altogether suppress an occasional shout when the +goats were unusually irritating. He had started up and looked into the +passage. All seemed quiet, but a gleam of light in the hall below +showed him that the front-door was open. Between three and four +o'clock in the morning this was a fairly peculiar circumstance. So, +returning to his room he hastily slipped on the first clothes he came +across and proceeded downstairs, to find out who was about at that +early hour. +</P> + +<P> +"Hullo, Madge! What on earth are you doing?" he exclaimed, as he +suddenly found himself face to face with his eldest daughter. +</P> + +<P> +Madge explained the whole story in rather a confused, disjointed sort +of way. It was not at all the triumphal return to the house that she +had planned. If things had gone as she intended she would easily have +caught Jack and Jill; they would have come to eat a little grass out of +her hand, and then she would gently but firmly have led them back to +the calves' house. Here she would have secured the door more skilfully +than her elders had done the previous evening, so that there would have +been no further possibility of escape for the prisoners. And then she +would have strolled quietly back to the house, and explained to an +admiring audience at breakfast-time what precautions she had taken for +the safety of the garden while the more negligent members of the family +slept. It was certainly very disappointing to be treated by her father +as a naughty child instead of a heroine, and scolded for her stupidity +in running out on the wet grass in thin shoes. +</P> + +<P> +"But I couldn't expect it to be wet in the summer," replied Madge, who +would seldom admit that she was in the wrong without an argument. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't talk nonsense!" said Captain West severely. He would play with +the children all day, and readily forgive them any damage they did +through carelessness, but he never could stand their trying to argue +that wrong was right. "You know as much about dew as I do," he +continued; "and I have put on thick boots while you have been running +about for an hour in dripping wet shoes." +</P> + +<P> +It was quite impossible to deny this, for Madge's feet presented a most +miserable appearance. She had been running through the shrubberies, +where the long wet grass reached up to her knees, and her kid shoes +were also scratched and muddy. +</P> + +<P> +"If I go in and put on thick boots may I come out again and help you to +drive the goats?" inquired Madge anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +Seeing how very wet she was, Captain West did not dare grant this +request, but ordered her straight back to bed. With many a grumble +Madge returned to her room and threw all her clothes in a heap on the +floor. Then she slowly climbed into bed, protesting to herself that +she should be sure to lie awake until it was time to get up, in spite +of which resolve she fell asleep in about two minutes. +</P> + +<P> +Whether Jack and Jill thought that Captain West did not look like a +person to be trifled with, or whether they were really getting a little +tired of their prolonged frolic, it is impossible to say. At all +events, soon after he appeared they allowed themselves to be quietly +driven to the end of the garden and out through the door into the +farmyard, where they remained until Barton came to milk the cows in the +morning. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AN ALARMING JUMP. +</H4> + +<P> +"I'll tell you what it is, children," said Captain West briskly as he +entered the dining-room rather late for breakfast, "if these pets of +yours are going to keep me trotting about the garden at night I shall +lose my excellent character for punctuality in the morning. Why, here +is Madge coming down late too, and looking very displeased with the +world. I don't know if Jack and Jill are responsible for her frowns as +well as my lateness; if so, they have a good deal upon their +consciences!" +</P> + +<P> +The fact of the matter was, that poor Madge was labouring under a +grievance. In the morning she and Betty usually tried who should get +down earliest to breakfast, and to-day, as might have been expected, +Madge's shoes had shrunk up so uncomfortably after their wetting that +she could not get them on without a great deal of rough handling. And +then, to make matters worse, Nurse had declared that they were still +damp, and made her take them off again to be put in front of the fire +and thoroughly dried. Of course Betty was downstairs and half through +a basin of bread-and-milk before Madge appeared, with a very gloomy +countenance. +</P> + +<P> +However, Captain West could not abide melancholy faces around the +table, and he began to make such outrageous suggestions about a fitting +punishment for the goats who had disturbed his night's rest, that at +last even Madge was compelled to relax into a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't pretend you will shave them, Papa! I don't believe anybody +could make them stand still enough to be shaved," she said. "And as +for harnessing them to the brougham, you know they are so small they +would slip through the horses' great collars. But it would be very +nice to have a tiny cart that they really could draw," she added +wistfully. +</P> + +<P> +"I think the first thing is to accustom your steeds to come when they +are called," replied Captain West. "It will be very awkward if, +whenever you want to go for a drive, you have to chase them up hill and +down dale for an hour before you can catch them." +</P> + +<P> +Acting on this suggestion, the children spent all their spare moments +during the next day or two in trying to make friends with the goats. +They were so successful, that at last Jack would consent to be led +about by a bit of string tied to one of his horns, almost as quietly as +a little dog. Jill remained shy to the last, and in spite of being +perpetually offered the most tempting bits of carrot, could never +summon up sufficient courage to eat anything out of the children's +hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Now that Jack is so tame he shall join in all our games," said Madge. +So the children led him about everywhere with them in the garden and +fields. But they never dared let go the string, or he would be off, +running and leaping into the most extraordinary places before they +could come up with him again. +</P> + +<P> +Poor Barton was much perplexed where to shut up the two goats at night. +The cow-house was a perfect failure; Jack and Jill stayed in it just as +long as they liked, and not a moment longer. Unless all the doors and +windows were shut, which was very stuffy in hot weather, there was no +keeping them in an instant after they had decided to take a walk. And +if they got out, they were not content to stay in the fields, but +always found their way into the garden, where they cropped off the most +cherished shrubs and flowers. +</P> + +<P> +At last Barton hit on the plan of putting them into an empty pig-sty +for the night and spreading a piece of old netting over the opening. +This was very successful for a time. +</P> + +<P> +When Jack was sufficiently tamed to be led about it occurred to the +children that they might now introduce him to the Eagle's Nest. They +had rather neglected their fortress of late, having had so much +occupation at home with the goats; in fact they had not visited the +beech-tree for nearly a week, not since the eventful day when they had +seen Mrs. Howard and made acquaintance with Lewis Brand. In the new +interest of training Jack and Jill everything else had been forgotten. +But as they came near the Eagle's Nest all their old excitement in it +revived. +</P> + +<P> +"Will Jack have to walk up the grand staircase or the rope-ladder?" +inquired John. "Or shall we have to lift him?" +</P> + +<P> +"We can't stretch high enough to do that," observed Betty. +</P> + +<P> +It was left to Madge as usual to decide this important question. She +gave it as her opinion that with a little help from behind Jack could +mount the grand staircase. "I will go up first," she said, "and pull +at his horns. Then I can let down the rope-ladder for you two." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought we left the rope-ladder coiled round that bough just above +the Eagle's Nest," remarked Betty, "but I can't see it there now." +</P> + +<P> +"Little Blind Eyes! Of course it must be there. I twisted it round +the branch rather tightly, on purpose that it shouldn't show from +below!" cried Madge rather impatiently, for she was leading Jack by a +piece of string, and as he continually hung back to nibble bits of +grass that looked especially tempting, it required a great deal of +waiting about and coaxing to get along at all. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't see it there now," repeated Betty obstinately. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't go on staring up at that old rope-ladder!" exclaimed Madge, +"You just hold Jack at the bottom of the tree while I climb the grand +staircase. And then, when I am ready to pull his horns, both push him +from behind as hard as you can." +</P> + +<P> +Whether Jack was more active even than they had credited him with +being, or whether the twins pushed harder than had been expected, will +never be known. At all events, long before Madge was firmly seated on +the Eagle's Nest there was a terrific scramble, and the goat bounded +past her almost knocking her out of the tree. In the struggle not to +fall she very naturally dropped the leading-string and clung with both +hands to a bough. Jack took advantage of his opportunity. Without +pausing more than a second on the Eagle's Nest he skipped lightly on to +the top of the boundary wall, and from there took a tremendous jump +right into Mrs. Howard's orchard. +</P> + +<P> +"He's gone!" shrieked Madge. "Oh, what shall we do!" +</P> + +<P> +Quite overcome by this unforeseen calamity, the children actually +forgot to quarrel among themselves about who was responsible for the +accident. They all crouched down on the sticks composing the Eagle's +Nest, and watched almost in silence the scene that was going on down in +the orchard. At first Jack appeared frantic with delight at having +regained his freedom and discovered a new playground. He scampered +round and round the orchard, kicking up his heels, and disturbing +horribly the placid old cows who were standing half asleep in the +shade, chewing the cud and slowly whisking their tails to drive the +flies off their sleek backs. But after a time it seemed as if Jack +began to feel rather strange amidst his new surroundings. He left off +frisking, and wandered restlessly about the orchard as if searching for +some way to get out. Once or twice he looked up at the wall and +bleated rather piteously. +</P> + +<P> +"He wants to get back," said Betty. "Do you think he can possibly jump +up the wall again?" She spoke almost in a whisper, having an +uncomfortable feeling that if Mrs. Howard heard strange voices she +might appear as suddenly as she had done on the last occasion. +</P> + +<P> +"It's too high and straight even for Jack," replied Madge sadly. "You +know the trunk of the tree helped him on this side, and, besides, you +and John were both pushing him from behind." +</P> + +<P> +"I've thought of a way," cried Betty. "Only I'm not quite sure whether +I should dare to do it. I would, if you promised to come with me. It +is for two of us to go down the rope-ladder into the orchard and try to +catch Jack, and then—" +</P> + +<P> +"Push him up the wall again, you mean?" interrupted Madge eagerly. +"Yes, we'll do it! It's the only way we can get Jack back." +</P> + +<P> +"But won't it be trespassing to go into Mrs. Howard's field?" inquired +John. +</P> + +<P> +This suggestion rather damped the spirits of the party. They knew that +if you were caught trespassing, very terrible though ill-defined things +might happen. When Barton found that village boys had been walking +over the farm, searching for birds' nests and trampling down the mowing +grass, he always said they had better not let him catch them +trespassing or they would never forget it. He never condescended to +explain exactly what punishment awaited them; but it sounded rather +like imprisonment for life, with hard labour. So the little Wests grew +up with a wholesome terror of being found trespassing, believing that +such an offence might lead to something much more severe than the +scolding at home, which was all the punishment they received for +ordinary acts of mischief. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps it would not count as trespassing if we stood on the +rope-ladder," said Betty hopefully. "And Jack might come to us if we +called him. Anyhow, we could climb up again quickly if we saw Mrs. +Howard coming, and she could never say that we had been exactly on her +land." +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you what," said Madge after a moment's thought, "I shall go +down the rope-ladder after Jack even if I have to run into the middle +of the field to catch him. And if it's trespassing I can't help it. +You two can sit in the Eagle's Nest and warn me if you see any danger. +I would rather do it all by myself." +</P> + +<P> +When Madge spoke in that decided kind of way, the younger ones knew +that she had made up her mind. And they were justly proud of her +bravery and energy. But an unexpected obstacle prevented Madge from +carrying her heroic design into execution. When they began to search +for the rope-ladder it was not there! +</P> + +<P> +No doubt Madge had been perfectly correct in saying that she had left +it safely coiled round a branch, the last time they played at the +Eagle's Nest. Only Betty had been equally right as she crossed the +field in saying that she could not see it there to-day. The children +would probably have noticed its disappearance much sooner if they had +not been so absorbed in watching Jack. There seemed really nothing +left to be done; for even Madge with all her length of limb and daring +courage could not get up or down a wall ten feet high without any help. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE TRESPASSER. +</H4> + +<P> +"Look! look!" exclaimed Betty suddenly, in a hoarse whisper. She +pointed towards the orchard, and then crouched down behind a branch, +trying to look even smaller than nature had made her. The others +followed her example, until they were not much more conspicuous than +three young squirrels. But though the children scarcely dared breathe +in their anxiety to remain hidden, six eager eyes were strained towards +a certain point in the orchard. +</P> + +<P> +A tall, thin man, with a gray beard, was standing not many yards from +Jack, carefully examining him through an eye-glass. How the man got +there nobody knew; possibly he rose up from the earth or fell down from +the sky; more probably he walked out of Mrs. Howard's garden gate while +the children were hunting for their rope-ladder. At any rate he seemed +immensely surprised at Jack's presence in the orchard. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-081"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-081.jpg" ALT="A TALL, THIN MAN WAS CAREFULLY EXAMINING JACK" BORDER="2" WIDTH="410" HEIGHT="645"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 410px"> +A TALL, THIN MAN WAS CAREFULLY EXAMINING JACK +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +The gray-bearded man stood irresolute for some time, as if unable to +make up his mind exactly how to treat the intruder. At last he walked +away towards the house, shouting to someone in the garden to come to +his assistance. Presently in answer to his call a boy ran across the +field. Even in the distance the children recognized that it was Lewis +Brand, and they became if possible more interested in the proceedings +than they were before. +</P> + +<P> +With considerable difficulty the gray-bearded man and Lewis hunted Jack +into a corner of the field, but just as they were about to catch the +goat he invariably sprang past them and escaped. Madge could hardly +keep from laughing aloud, because it was all so exactly what had +happened to her when she tried to drive Jack and Jill out of the garden. +</P> + +<P> +The Wests wondered a good deal if Lewis had any idea that the goat +belonged to them, and whether he noticed them crouching in the +beech-tree. For a long time he seemed absolutely unconscious of their +presence, but suddenly, when the gray-bearded man's back was turned, +Lewis looked towards the Eagle's Nest and unmistakably smiled. In a +moment Madge had replied by waving her pocket-handkerchief frantically +among the branches. +</P> + +<P> +Instead of replying in a friendly spirit to this signal, Lewis made the +most horrible grimace, put his finger to his lip, and turned away +resolutely. +</P> + +<P> +"We must keep very quiet. He is afraid of being seen," whispered +Madge, putting her handkerchief away. But she could not help feeling +rather mortified that Lewis had not trusted to her discretion only to +wave when his companion was looking the other way. She was not in the +habit of doing stupid things, and Lewis might have known it. +</P> + +<P> +After a great deal of running up and down, the gray-bearded man seemed +to consider it a hopeless task ever to catch Jack, so he changed his +plan and tried to drive the goat into a little shed in the corner of +the field. This was a much easier feat to accomplish, and in ten +minutes more Jack was safely imprisoned and the door shut. Then the +gray-bearded man, evidently much exhausted by his exertions, walked off +to the garden, fanning himself with his black felt hat as he went. +Lewis lingered behind his companion for one moment, and rapidly made a +mysterious series of signs. First he pointed at the door of the shed +where Jack was inclosed, then drew his hand across his own throat +several times. Lastly he shook his fist violently at the back of the +gray-bearded man as he followed him out of the field. +</P> + +<P> +"What did Lewis mean by making all those funny faces?" asked John, +when, the enemy being quite out of sight, the children dared once more +speak and move. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," said Madge. "It looked as if he were angry with that +man—" +</P> + +<P> +"No!" interrupted Betty. "It's worse than that! Lewis was trying to +show us that the gray-bearded man is going to hurt poor Jack. I +believe he has gone for a knife to cut his throat!" +</P> + +<P> +There was a horrified silence after these words, for the more the +children thought over them the more likely did it appear that Lewis's +signs had really contained some such terrible meaning. Madge as usual +was the first to come out with a heroic resolution. +</P> + +<P> +"If that terrible man comes back with a knife to murder Jack," she +said, "I shall jump off the wall and attack him with a stick. Very +likely I shall break both my legs, but I don't care. I can't leave +Jack to his fate." +</P> + +<P> +Betty and John listened with uneasy admiration. They were just as +sorry about Jack as Madge was; almost in tears at the idea of his +possible death. But they did not feel brave enough to jump off the +wall and risk breaking their legs. If it had been one leg between them +perhaps they might have faced it, but four legs were too many for even +brave twins to sacrifice. +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you think you will break them both if you jump?" asked Betty +anxiously, hoping against hope that there might be some miscalculation. +</P> + +<P> +"Because I know you can break one leg if you only fall five or six +feet, and this is double that height," replied Madge promptly. +</P> + +<P> +Such logical reasoning did not admit of a single ray of hope. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think we are big enough to jump, then," said Betty modestly. +And for once John did not contradict her. +</P> + +<P> +However, for the second time that afternoon Madge was spared having to +carry out a heroic resolve. The gray-bearded man did not return, +either with or without a knife. It is true that Jack's voice could +occasionally be heard raised in distressed accents from the inside of +the shed. But unless his life was in imminent danger, even Madge did +not feel inclined to sacrifice her limbs. +</P> + +<P> +"After all, it was entirely his own fault jumping over the wall," she +remarked when they had waited a long time without anything happening. +</P> + +<P> +"And they don't seem to be going to kill him," observed Betty. +</P> + +<P> +"And it's long past tea-time," added John. +</P> + +<P> +This last consideration decided the children, and they returned to the +house without taking any further steps towards rescuing Jack. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing more was heard of the missing pet that evening. The children +did not say anything about his escape, and their father happened to be +staying out rather late, so that when he came home Barton had left +work. The old man had noticed that there was only one goat in the +field when he went to drive them in for the night, but he did not waste +much time hunting for Jack, having expressed his opinion from the first +that it would be a good job when those nasty creatures either ran away +or got sent off in disgrace! He did not like any pets, regarding them +as useless creatures who ate food, gave trouble, and repaid nothing. +If he had been allowed his way the children's tame rabbits and pigeons +would all have gone into pies. +</P> + +<P> +Of course there was a good deal of anxiety about Jack's fate among the +only three people at Beechgrove who knew all the facts of his +disappearance. As the hours passed by, and they actually went to bed +and got up again without hearing any news, they began to wonder if, +after all, they should never know what had become of him. When they +all went to the schoolroom, and lessons began as usual, this really +seemed rather probable. But in the middle of saying the English dates +there was a knock at the door. John noticed it first, not because his +hearing was particularly acute so much as on account of its being his +turn to say the next date—which he had forgotten. +</P> + +<P> +"Do attend, John!" said Miss Thompson. "Who came after Queen Anne? +You always forget!" +</P> + +<P> +"But there was a knock at the door, I am sure! Yes, there's another!" +And for once John proved to be in the right, for at that moment Captain +West entered the room. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm dreadfully sorry to interrupt," he said to Miss Thompson, "for I +can see by the children's faces that something very interesting is +going on—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Papa!" interrupted Betty. "Why, it's only the English dates!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what can be more interesting?" But as nobody answered he +continued: "However, I haven't time to discuss the delights of your +various studies, I must leave that to you and Miss Thompson to settle +between you. All I want to say at present is, that you children must +really be careful and not get me into trouble with my neighbours. I +have just had a letter brought by Mrs. Howard's servant making +complaints. Now mind, I can't have any more of this trespassing on—" +</P> + +<P> +"We didn't step on Mrs. Howard's ground! Not one single inch!" +interrupted Madge. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't ever suppose that you did, considering the height of the wall +you would be obliged to climb over to get there!" said Captain West. +"But there has been a trespasser on her land all the same, and I hold +you partly responsible for him." +</P> + +<P> +"Is it Jack?" gasped Madge. "What has she done with him? Oh, please +tell me!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, sent him back, to be sure, with a polite note requesting me to +keep him under better control," answered Captain West. "It seems that +he got over the wall into her field somehow, and they shut him up for a +time. But he got loose before long, as usual, and in chasing him about +the garden some boy broke a cucumber-frame, and poor Jack got all the +blame for that as well as for destroying a row of early peas. So he +was sent back in sad disgrace." +</P> + +<P> +"Did Mrs. Howard try to kill him?" asked John solemnly. +</P> + +<P> +"Kill him? No!" laughed Captain West. "Did you think she wanted roast +kid for dinner? But how did he manage to jump over such a high wall, I +wonder? I suppose he did it while you were in the fields with him, as +you seem to know all about it?" +</P> + +<P> +"He jerked the string out of my hand and went off with it," said Madge. +</P> + +<P> +"And jumped the wall, I suppose?" added her father. "Well, it's a +tremendous height even for a goat, but one never can tell how high they +will go. However, I mustn't interrupt you any more at lesson-time." +</P> + +<P> +"This will teach Jack to look before he leaps," said Betty softly as +the door shut behind her father. She always enjoyed having the last +word, especially if she could twist it into a proverb. +</P> + +<P> +The children were much relieved at this happy conclusion to their +anxiety; but their delight was somewhat lessened when Captain West made +a rule that Jack and Jill were never to be let out of their pig-sty +unless he was at home to see that they did not get into mischief. The +poor goats did not at all approve of remaining prisoners so much of +their time; but really it seemed the only way of preventing them from +breaking bounds. The children did what they could to cheer their pets +in captivity by bringing them handfuls of cabbages and carrots at all +hours in the day, and Jack and Jill began to grow so fat that before +long it was to be hoped they would lose all taste for jumping. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +CERTAIN LITTLE GARDENS. +</H4> + +<P> +It is wonderful how often grown-up people walk about the world with +their eyes shut. Captain West thought himself decidedly an observant +man. He was fond of his garden, and even worked in it for hours at a +time; but he never noticed that within his domain there were sundry +other little gardens, just as carefully tended, and exhibiting a much +greater ingenuity of arrangement than his own. For instance, there was +one within a few yards of the schoolroom window, just at the corner of +the house, under the laburnum-tree. Here Betty was working hard one +morning, when, having finished her lessons with unusual quickness, she +was allowed out of the schoolroom half an hour before the others. +</P> + +<P> +A more unpromising site for a garden it would have been difficult to +imagine. All that the ordinary world saw were two stone slabs, that +had something to do with lighting a cellar below the house. But the +children had long ago discovered, that one stone being several inches +higher than the other, water poured on it would rush like a miniature +cascade to the lower level. This was by no means the only possibility +of amusement that the stones afforded. A large crack ran down the +centre of each, and these when properly blocked with mud at either end +made two admirable lakes. There were other smaller cracks, in which +the children from time to time planted a daisy or a laburnum seed. +Once or twice they had been known to grow, which was distinctly +encouraging. +</P> + +<P> +This little pleasure-ground had lately suffered considerable neglect, +owing to the number of exciting events that had occurred. Besides, +when Madge was out of doors she liked larger and more energetic +amusements. But Betty was devoted to arranging her little garden in +new ways, and directly she found herself alone she began to work out a +scheme for beautifying it that she had long had in her head. The lakes +were carefully formed with some nice sticky handfuls of clay at either +end to keep in the water. This had often been done before, but it was +quite a new thing, and entirely Betty's own idea, to cover the mud +banks with glittering fragments of gravel, so that they looked like +rockeries. She also stuck bits of grass round the edges to do duty for +rushes, and very well they looked. But the most happy thought of all +was making imitation water-lilies out of nasturtium leaves. When that +was done, Betty stopped to admire her work with very natural pride. It +seemed almost as perfect as human skill could make it. +</P> + +<P> +At that moment up came John. He had finished his lessons before Madge, +who, it seemed, had got into difficulties over her sums, from which she +was not likely to emerge until dinner-time. John admired the new +arrangements exceedingly, and also contributed a suggestion to the +effect that there should be a fleet on the lake. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but one of our boats will fill up the whole lake," said Betty, +who did not quite appreciate having her own arrangements interfered +with by a new-comer. +</P> + +<P> +John made no direct answer, but dipping his hand deep into his pocket, +he drew out about a dozen nut-shells and deposited them on the stone. +</P> + +<P> +Betty examined the heap carefully. "There isn't a single kernel left, +not half a one!" she said in a tone of disappointment. "What's the +good of bringing those?" +</P> + +<P> +"Boats, don't you see?" explained John. And really the nut-shells, +such of them at least as were not too utterly smashed, made excellent +boats, in exact proportion to the size of the lake. When a little +extra excitement was required, Betty scraped away the mud that blocked +back the water on the upper stone, and a cataract rushed out, bearing +the whole fleet with it, and plunged recklessly into the depths of the +lower pool. +</P> + +<P> +Once they adjourned for a short time to another little garden that had +lately been planned out in the middle of a shrubbery. To approach it, +one had first to cross a broad flower-border that edged the shrubbery. +Theoretically the children always jumped this flower-bed, leaving no +trace of their footsteps, but in practice, as it was rather wide, they +usually alighted heavily in the middle of it. Many a broken geranium +and crushed heliotrope testified to their unsuccessful efforts, and +Captain West, having no clue to their proceedings, was often driven to +wonder what charm—except naughtiness—there could be about jumping on +the flower-beds. He had not penetrated into the middle of the +shrubbery for years; never since the laurels and hollies had grown into +a solid prickly barrier against the outer world. So he could not +possibly guess that somewhere out of sight a weakly bush had been +gradually choked to death by its more robust companions, and that the +children on one of their voyages of discovery had noticed this, and +decided that since the poor thing was nearly dead it would obviously be +more sensible to pull it up and make a garden in its place. Of course, +the ground was so full of the roots of trees that ordinary digging was +quite out of the question; a spade (even if Madge stepped on it with +both feet and all her weight) would not go in more than half an inch. +But in the end the children very satisfactorily scratched up the ground +for about a square yard with pointed sticks, and put in a row of +primroses upside down, because they had been told that if planted in +that position they would come up red. This experiment failed with the +greatest regularity year after year in whatever corner of the garden it +was tried. Yet both children and gardeners are such hopeful people, +that when the two are combined one may expect to see absolutely +impossible feats cheerfully embarked upon as often as the sun rises. +</P> + +<P> +Betty and John did not go to this charming retreat empty-handed. The +former had some plants torn up by the roots, the latter a half-filled +watering-pot. The fact was that several small things had been left +over after finishing the naval display, and it seemed a pity to waste +them. Water, for instance, was always valuable, because there was a +certain amount of difficulty about getting it. The gardener objected +to their drawing off much from his pump, which was apt to run dry in +hot weather, while if they went indoors to get a drop from a tap they +were at once set upon by innumerable people ordering them not to make +messes and wet their frocks. So when some water was left over from +flooding the lake, it was proposed not to throw it away, but to carry +it to the shrubbery garden, where there were several languishing +plants. There was the inevitable little struggle for possession of the +watering-pot; but Betty was not unreasonable, so she gave it up when +John pointed out that she had the undivided enjoyment of it while he +was at lessons. And in its place she carried two or three very +drooping nasturtium plants, that had unfortunately come up by the roots +while she was picking their leaves. They would do very well to plant +in the shrubbery, where the sun could never manage to pierce the screen +of overhanging boughs even at mid-day. All gardeners know that a hot +sun has a very disastrous effect on newly-moved plants, especially if +their roots are mostly torn off. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll hold the watering-pot while you jump over the geranium-bed," said +Betty. "You know we broke two last week, and Papa said if he caught—" +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense! It's only you girls with your skirts who break things," +interrupted John, clutching his watering-pot tighter than ever, for he +strongly suspected his sister of intending to wile it away from him. +He jumped, the watering-pot was heavy, and the weight all on one side. +Consequently he fell, and his fall was unusually disastrous, being +marked by more than the ordinary number of crushed geraniums and +scattered earth. Of course the water was all upset, principally into +his boots: and Betty threw away her nasturtiums in disgust, for it was +quite useless to plant them dry, and they had both been warned off the +pump and the tap that very morning. There might easily have been some +rather bitter reproaches at this point, but fortunately Madge was sent +out to summon them to dinner. +</P> + +<P> +"I want you to do something for me this afternoon," she said to Betty +and John as they returned to the house. "Miss Thompson is going to +take me to Churchbury shopping, and I think Lewis will be expecting me +at the Eagle's Nest. I said something about it yesterday before I knew +that I was going shopping." +</P> + +<P> +"But why can't John and I go and talk to him?" answered Betty. "We +aren't all going shopping." +</P> + +<P> +"You don't think he will care to talk to little things like you?" +laughed Madge. "Why, he is two years older than me even; but, of +course, that isn't much. I only want you to tell him why I haven't +come, and that we shall have the usual afternoon holiday on Saturday. +Then you can come straight back, for I am sure he won't stop with you." +</P> + +<P> +Since the day that Jack jumped over the wall Lewis had talked to the +children several times, standing close under the tree, and keeping an +anxious eye in the direction of Mrs. Howard's house all the while. Of +course he could not climb up to play with them since the rope-ladder so +mysteriously disappeared. There had been no explanation of that +strange disappearance. At first the children feared that Barton had +found their hiding-place, and recovered his missing property; but they +soon made up their minds that this could not be the case, when the old +man continued to meet them every day without any signs of anger. For +when Barton suspected that they had been in mischief, he did not +hesitate to scold them severely himself, and also complain to their +father. They often got into trouble this way when he found them +hunting the pigs too vigorously, or playing tricks with the milk-pails. +He would certainly have made a great fuss about their borrowing his +ropes without leave, and knotting them all over. So, as he said +nothing, it was pretty certain that he knew nothing. +</P> + +<P> +But though Lewis Brand was now completely cut off from the Eagle's +Nest, being on a lower level by about a dozen feet than the children +who were sitting in it, he contrived to tell them a wonderful number of +stories about himself and the bad treatment which he suffered, speaking +all the while in a loud whisper that was very impressive. In this way +they heard, among other curious facts, that the gray-bearded man was +the jailer of whose cruelties Lewis had already told them. The +children were surprised at this, for the gray-bearded man had not +looked either very powerful or very savage. But they accepted from +Lewis the explanation that he was a hypocrite. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A NEW LADDER. +</H4> + +<P> +John and Betty started rather unwillingly on their task. It seemed +sadly dull to walk across several fields under a burning sun merely to +deliver a message for Madge, while she was enjoying an afternoon among +the Churchbury shops. Of course they were at perfect liberty to stay +playing in the Eagle's Nest as long as they liked. But somehow they +did not care to linger there by themselves. Without Madge's +substantial protection the shade of the spreading beech-trees seemed +more gloomy, and the distance from the house greater, even than usual. +Besides, when Madge was not present to remind them of the laws of +trespass, they could not help feeling as if Mrs. Howard might pounce +upon them at any moment and drag them over the wall to her darkest +cellars. So they only intended just to give their message to Lewis if +he appeared, and then to hurry back to those little gardens of which +they were so fond, where there was always something to be done, and no +fear of being kidnapped. +</P> + +<P> +However, everything turned out as differently as possible to what they +had expected. No sooner had they climbed on to the Eagle's Nest than +they heard a low whistle, and looking down saw Lewis gliding along on +his side of the wall with the stealthy tread of an Indian on an enemy's +trail. He was a thin boy, with a white face, and always looked over +his shoulder as if he expected some foe to be coming up behind him. +</P> + +<P> +"Madge can't come. She had to go to Churchbury shopping. She told us +to tell you," said Betty, leaning down from her perch and speaking as +low as she could. The children at Beechgrove shouted so much when they +were at home, that it was always a great effort to them to lower their +voices. Lewis, on the contrary, had the art of carrying on a long +conversation all in whispers, it seemed natural to him. +</P> + +<P> +"All right! Never mind. We can do just as well without her," was the +unexpected answer. +</P> + +<P> +Betty looked puzzled. "Shall I give her any message from you about +Saturday?" Betty said, preparing to leave the Eagle's Nest. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you in such a hurry to be off for?" cried Lewis, rather +louder than usual. "Aren't you going to stop and talk?" +</P> + +<P> +"But Madge isn't here, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, bother Madge!" interrupted Lewis. "You and John aren't her +slaves, are you? Can't we have a bit of fun by ourselves for once, +without having her interfering and trying to manage everything? I +often wonder you two stand it! I know I wouldn't!" +</P> + +<P> +"But I thought you and Madge were such friends!" said Betty, much +bewildered by the strangeness of this declaration. +</P> + +<P> +"She thinks you don't care to speak to us. Only to her, because she is +older," chimed in John. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's just where she makes a mistake," said Lewis roughly. "I +can't abide girls who think they are so grand, and are always ordering +other people about! Why, to hear her talk of this Eagle's Nest one +would believe she made it all herself, and I daresay you and John +worked just as hard as she did." +</P> + +<P> +Now until this moment it had never struck Betty and John as strange +that Madge should take the lead in everything. She was the oldest, +biggest, and strongest of the three; and if she usually had her own way +about everything, it had only seemed natural to the others that this +should be so. Besides, she took all the trouble of making plans for +them, and they really had much more fun under her guidance than they +would have had alone. So it was quite a new view to them that they +were oppressed, but when it had once been put into their heads they +began to think that perhaps they had something to complain of after all. +</P> + +<P> +"Now you won't be such silly sneaks as to go and tell Madge everything +I have been saying?" observed Lewis rather anxiously when he noticed +what a serious impression his words were making. "If you are such +babies as that I shall never speak to you again. And I have not been +saying any harm either, you know." He was beginning to fear, from the +twins' solemn faces, that they would go home and repeat his words to +Madge. "Only I have always thought you two looked such jolly little +things, if your sister would give you a chance of being spoken to, or +played with," he added. +</P> + +<P> +All this was excessively flattering coming from a big boy of fourteen, +and after some more remarks of the sort Betty and John began to feel +that they were very fine people, who had always, rather unjustly, been +kept in the background by their elder sister. For the first time in +their lives they looked upon Madge as a tyrant. +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to come up there and play with you," continued Lewis. +"Only the wall is rather too high for me to climb now that the ladder +has gone. Oh, I have a good idea! Capital! The very thing! Why +didn't we think of it before, I wonder?" +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" cried the twins. "What have you thought of?" +</P> + +<P> +Lewis did not answer, but turned away and ran quickly to the shed where +Jack had been shut up. Presently he came out again, dragging some iron +railings, which with considerable trouble he got as far as the +overhanging boughs of the beech-tree. +</P> + +<P> +"There's a ladder for you!" he exclaimed proudly, as he propped the +railings against the wall. +</P> + +<P> +"It's splendid! Quite splendid!" shouted the twins, forgetting in +their excitement how near they were to the terrible house with the +cellar. +</P> + +<P> +"Hush! Hush!" whispered Lewis. "If you make such a noise we shall be +caught, and all our fun stopped. And it's not quite perfect either. +Not high enough. See!" +</P> + +<P> +In point of fact the top bar of the railings was only five feet from +the ground, so that it did not reach more than half-way up the wall. +It was very nice as far as it went, but more of it was badly wanted. +However, Lewis was not easily discouraged. He returned to the shed, +where there were several more railings, and dragged out another. "They +are dreadfully heavy," he said; "but I don't care. I shall go on +fetching them until I get enough to reach the top of the wall. I know +there are a heap of them in the shed. They are kept there when they +are not being used to divide the field." +</P> + +<P> +"Take care you don't tumble! Oh, that's beautiful! I do wish we could +help you!" cried the twins, looking on in the highest admiration while +Lewis slowly pushed and pulled one railing on the top of another +against the wall. Then he tied them together with some bits of string +out of his pocket, and proceeded to mount. It was not a very steady +ladder, but with the wall to lean against there was small fear of +falling, and when near the top of it Lewis could reach the hands that +were eagerly stretched out to help him. In another moment he was +sitting on the Eagle's Nest. +</P> + +<P> +"This is a goodish sort of tree," he remarked, looking round with a +patronizing air. "Very easy to climb, of course—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but I can go much higher than these boughs by the wall!" +interrupted Betty. "So high that my feet are where your head is now." +</P> + +<P> +"That's not much," said Lewis scornfully. "Girls never can climb much. +They just flop about, and catch their frocks in all the branches, and +get giddy, and cry to be helped down again!" +</P> + +<P> +Betty flushed hotly. "You are talking nonsense!" she shrieked. "Silly +nonsense! I can climb much higher than John; and as for crying—" +</P> + +<P> +Her remarks were promptly cut short by a hand being roughly pressed +over her mouth. "Hold your tongue!" whispered Lewis. "Unless you wish +old Mother Howard and her slave-drivers to be after us!" +</P> + +<P> +At this terrible threat Betty looked nervously towards the brick house. +But there was nothing to be seen in that direction except the quiet old +cows in the orchard below. She was so reassured by seeing them chewing +the cud, as if nothing dreadful could possibly happen, that she +regained sufficient courage to remark defiantly that after all Mrs. +Howard did not seem a very formidable person. +</P> + +<P> +"That shows all you know about it!" replied Lewis. "I can tell you a +very different tale. If you two will promise faithfully not to say a +single word of what I tell you to anybody—not to Madge, or your nurse, +or anybody,—then I will tell you something that nobody else knows. +Only it's a secret, you must remember,—a dead secret." +</P> + +<P> +This was very solemn work. Betty and John glanced at each other, both +longing to know the secret, and yet a little afraid of the conditions +that had been imposed. +</P> + +<P> +"Mightn't we just tell Madge if she promises not to repeat it?" Betty +ventured to say. +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly not! We don't want Madge poking her interfering nose into +everything, do we?" replied Lewis rudely. "Just make up your minds +whether you want to hear a most terrible and extraordinary thing, or +not, for I can't wait much longer. But if I don't tell you to-day I +sha'n't breathe a word of it another time, so it's no good teasing me +again." +</P> + +<P> +This last remark decided Betty. She was very curious by nature, and +could not bear to miss any piece of news that promised to be +interesting. +</P> + +<P> +"I think I must hear the secret, although I would much rather tell +Madge about it," she said in a hesitating voice. "And if you don't +like to promise, John, you must go a little way off and stop your ears." +</P> + +<P> +But John was not equal to so much self-restraint. If Betty had +resisted the temptation of hearing the secret he would have done so +too, but he could not possibly let her enjoy the advantage of knowing +more than he did. "I promise not to tell," he grunted. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, that's all very well!" exclaimed Lewis; "but I must see if you two +babies can keep a secret. Just put out your hands. Now I am going to +pinch your little fingers, and if you cry out it means that you can't +be trusted." And pinch he did, and very hard too, but the twins +bravely clenched their teeth and said nothing. +</P> + +<P> +When Lewis had teased them to his heart's content, he began his +wonderful tale by whispering in a mysterious voice: +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know what Mrs. Howard really is?" +</P> + +<P> +"An old lady," replied Betty very naturally. "Your aunt, perhaps? No? +But she looks rather like it, doesn't she?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! but she is something quite different really," said Lewis. And +after pausing a short time to heighten Betty's curiosity, he added: +"She is a witch!" +</P> + +<P> +The twins started back, hardly able to believe their ears. "But there +aren't any witches now!" they cried. "Besides, there aren't such +things really. They used to be burned, but Miss Thompson says most +likely they were only poor old women who couldn't hurt anybody." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care a bit what Miss Thompson or anybody says," replied Lewis. +"Mrs. Howard is an old witch, you can tell that by the black cat that +follows her everywhere. That's a sure sign." +</P> + +<P> +Betty hardly knew what to say, for she had once seen a picture of a +witch, and there was undoubtedly a black cat crouching in the corner of +it. +</P> + +<P> +"You noticed the way she shook her head, I dare say?" continued Lewis, +who was delighted by the awestruck looks of his two companions. "Well, +she is muttering spells when she does that. She has the power to +destroy things if she says the right words. Any morning I may wake up +and find the house changed into a heap of dust, or perhaps be struck +dead myself." +</P> + +<P> +It seemed impossible that such things should be going on almost within +sight of Miss Thompson's schoolroom window. And yet, judging by the +gravity of Lewis's face, he was speaking in most sober earnest. John +and Betty pressed tighter together, and took hold of each other's hands. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope for your sakes that the old witch won't find out you've been +talking to me," continued Lewis solemnly. +</P> + +<P> +"Why what would she do?" Betty ventured to ask. +</P> + +<P> +"That would depend on what sort of a temper she happened to be in," was +the reassuring reply. +</P> + +<P> +And then Lewis proceeded to tell such terrible tales about Mrs. +Howard's power and malignity, that the poor twins longed to be safely +back at home, out of sight of that weird brick house, whose commonplace +walls concealed such dreadful deeds of cruelty. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE BROWN BAG. +</H4> + +<P> +Madge was spending her afternoon in a still more stirring manner than +the twins. A shopping expedition to Churchbury was always an +excitement, and it was extraordinary how many little purchases seemed +absolutely necessary directly the children found out that one of them +was going to town. +</P> + +<P> +Madge was heavily laden with money. Five shillings and sevenpence, +mostly in coppers, take up a great deal of room. This sum represented +the joint property of Madge, Betty, and John. They collected it in a +tin money-box shaped like a small doll's house, with a slit in the roof +to drop in the pennies. Miss Thompson kept the key of the front-door, +and they had to apply to her for it before any money could be taken +out. They had made this rule themselves, because they found that +unless their money was locked up so that they could not get at it +without a little trouble, they used it as soon as it was given them. +To-day they had all three asked for the key, and opened the front-door +with pleasant anticipations of finding a fortune inside. They were +able to judge in some measure of the probable extent of their fortune +by the weight of the tin house. Luckily there was no space required +for sitting-rooms or stairs inside the house (which was in fact rather +a sham, being really nothing better than a box), so that it would hold +an almost unlimited quantity of money. Even five shillings and +sevenpence did not half fill it. +</P> + +<P> +Of course Madge could not take a tin house with chimneys in her pocket +to Churchbury on a shopping expedition, and she signally failed in an +attempt to squeeze the money into her purse. Betty and John offered +theirs in addition; but at this point she was met by a fresh +difficulty, no pocket will hold three purses unnaturally distended with +pennies. +</P> + +<P> +"I really do think I had better only take my share and leave you two +your own money to spend another day," Madge had observed rather +dolefully, for she had been looking forward with some pride to the +unusually substantial purchases that the possession of their united +fortunes would enable her to make. +</P> + +<P> +But John and Betty would not hear of this suggestion for a moment. +They were longing to spend their saved-up hoards of money, and as there +was no immediate prospect of their going to Churchbury themselves, they +had been counting on Madge returning in the evening laden with +interesting purchases. +</P> + +<P> +There was a short period of dismayed silence. Then Betty suddenly +broke out: "I know a way! Wait just a second!" +</P> + +<P> +She rushed excitedly off, and returned waving a neat bag of shiny brown +calico. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, that's what Nurse made for you to pack your best shoes in when +you went away on visits!" exclaimed Madge. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it was made out of a bit of lining that was left over from Mama's +last winter dress, and it has got a wreathing-string and everything," +replied Betty proudly. "It really seems as if Nurse had made it on +purpose for a money-bag." +</P> + +<P> +To make a long story short, the brown calico bag appeared so exactly +suited to hold the sum of five shillings and sevenpence (mostly in +pennies), that it would have been a stupid neglect of opportunities not +to use it. Madge quickly emptied the contents of the tin house into +their new resting-place, and then started for Churchbury with the +comfortable feeling of having practically boundless wealth at her +disposal. +</P> + +<P> +Now it happened that Miss Thompson had several errands of a peculiarly +uninteresting nature to do in the town, as Mrs. West had asked her to +buy a number of things for the household. Generally the children +enjoyed being inside any sort of shop, but after watching Miss Thompson +carefully select dusters and pantry-clothes, cotton, tape, and buttons, +for what appeared an interminable time, Madge sighed deeply. +</P> + +<P> +"If you are tired of sitting still you may go outside and look at the +shop windows," said Miss Thompson. "I have not nearly finished yet, +and it fidgets me to hear you sighing in such a despairing way." +</P> + +<P> +"It's only because I'm afraid of not having time to buy all the things +we want if we stay here so long," explained Madge. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what do you want?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Miss Thompson! You know we have five shillings and sevenpence to +spend!" cried Madge reproachfully. "And we all want a nice thing +apiece out of it, and one or two little extra things if there is money +enough." +</P> + +<P> +"And you have not yet decided on what you are going to buy, I suppose," +said Miss Thompson; "and are waiting to choose until you get into the +right sort of shop?" +</P> + +<P> +Madge admitted that this was the case. +</P> + +<P> +"But if I may go outside and walk up and down the street, I dare say I +shall find something in the windows by the time you are ready," she +added. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Thompson thought this rather a good plan, as she knew from past +experience what a very long time it always took the children to decide +on how to lay out their money to the best advantage. So after Madge +had been solemnly warned not to wander far, she was allowed to go out +in the street by herself for a few minutes. +</P> + +<P> +It was an exciting moment when the little girl found herself walking +sedately up the pavement alone. She had never been quite so +independent before in her life, and she hoped that the passers-by all +noticed there was not any grown-up person in charge of her. But they +were mostly too occupied to take any interest in this event. Possibly +there were so many little girls in Churchbury that the appearance of +one extra did not strike people as particularly remarkable. +</P> + +<P> +At any rate Madge herself felt all the importance of the occasion. She +walked soberly along with the heavy little brown bag hanging from her +wrist by its string. Secured in this way, there was no chance of her +forgetting its existence and leaving it on the counter of a shop. She +had done this once with a purse, and Miss Thompson had been obliged to +go back to most of the places where she had been shopping before she +could recover it for Madge. But a brown bag tied firmly round the +wrist of its owner really seemed safe from any sort of accident. +</P> + +<P> +Madge had no wish to wander far away, but unfortunately the dulness of +the large linen-draper's shop that she had just left seemed to pervade +its neighbours on either side; for about fifty yards there was nothing +to be seen but highly respectable and uninteresting tailors' and +shoemakers' establishments. Thus it came about that Madge walked +almost to the end of the street before she found a shop window that +held any objects of the kind for which she was looking. At last she +stopped in front of a small stationer's. There, arranged among the +piles of writing-paper and envelopes, were a quantity of little +ornaments and toys. +</P> + +<P> +Madge was growing rather old to care about regular playthings, and yet +she could not resist the charms of a tiny doll's dressing-table covered +with miniature hair-brushes and combs. She wondered how much it cost, +and whether Betty would want to share it with her. +</P> + +<P> +"John won't care for it, I suppose," she muttered to herself. "At +least he will think it grander to pretend that he doesn't like such a +girlish thing, though I dare say he will always be wanting to play with +it. After all, one can't choose things that will suit everybody, and I +know I could make such a dear little pin-cushion to stand on that +table, with very small pins stuck into it in a pattern. I've got a bit +of silk that would do exactly—Oh! What has happened? Oh, dear! oh, +dear!" +</P> + +<P> +Poor Madge! While thinking over the various ways in which she could +amuse herself with the doll's dressing-table, she had been excitedly +swinging the little brown bag up and down by the string. Five +shillings and sevenpence, mostly in pennies, is rather heavy; an +insecurely tied knot gave way, and the bag suddenly fell with a loud +clatter—not to the ground, that would have been a very bearable +misfortune, but through a grating in the pavement on which Madge +happened to be standing at the moment. +</P> + +<P> +It does not often fall to a person's lot to drop his whole fortune down +a grating into someone else's cellar. It seemed to Madge as if no such +terrible fate had ever overtaken a human being before. If the brown +bag had contained nothing but her own money, she would have preferred +leaving it where it fell, to making a fuss about recovering it. She +could not bear to be thought stupid, and yet it did not seem very +clever to have lost the bag of which she was professing to take so much +care. But as Betty's and John's money had also disappeared down the +dark grating, it seemed quite hopeless to hush the matter up. They +would naturally question her until they found out the truth, and then +loudly express their opinion of her selfishness if she had not made +every possible effort to recover their missing property. +</P> + +<P> +Madge looked despairingly down the street in the hope of seeing Miss +Thompson, but only an unceasing stream of strangers passed and repassed +the spot where she stood. Then she stooped down and peered through the +grating. It was so dark down below that she could not distinguish the +bag; only, of course, having seen it fall, and even heard the clatter +of some of the coins as they rolled out, she knew it must be there. +She did not like to leave the spot and go back to Miss Thompson. It +seemed as if the money would be more likely to disappear in her +absence; although she could not really take care of it by standing on +top of the grating, yet she felt as if she could. +</P> + +<P> +While hesitating what to do next, Madge happened to look through the +window of the stationer's shop, and saw an elderly woman sitting behind +the counter. She had spectacles on her nose, and such a very mild +appearance that Madge at last decided to go in and explain the whole +matter to her. If the woman would only let her run down to the cellar +and pick up the money, nobody at home need ever know anything about the +silly accident. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +KEEPING SHOP. +</H4> + +<P> +"Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very +politely, as she entered the shop. "I am very sorry to trouble you, +but I won't be long." +</P> + +<P> +"What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking +that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for. "You must +excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last +winter my hearing has not been what it was before. It's very awkward +in the shop, as you may think. Many days I get one of my +grand-children, a little girl about your age, to come and help me, but +this week she has gone off to visit an aunt in London. Of course that +was a great treat for her, so I couldn't think of interfering with it, +and I am trying to do the best I can alone." +</P> + +<P> +Another time Madge would have been much interested in hearing all about +the little girl who helped her grandmother to keep shop; but now she +was in a great hurry to get her money back before Miss Thompson came to +look for her, so directly the old woman stopped speaking she began a +more detailed explanation of what she wanted, in a particularly clear +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"If it was only my own money I wouldn't interrupt you to look for it," +she said, "although it is five shillings and sevenpence. But it +belongs to the others as well, and, of course, they are expecting me to +choose all sorts of nice things in the shops. They will be so +disappointed if I don't get it back in time to buy something before we +have to start home. It seemed so safe in a brown money-bag, you know; +at least it was really Betty's shoe-bag, only she took them out and put +them in her drawer. I don't think Nurse knew she had done it. But +what I wanted to tell you was, that I believe I can find it in a minute +if you will only let me run down to your cellar." +</P> + +<P> +It is to be feared that the old woman understood even less than she +heard of this long speech. One sentence, however, reached her ears, +and to this she replied. +</P> + +<P> +"I haven't any cellar, miss," she said. +</P> + +<P> +"But—but—" Madge did not dare contradict her flatly. Yet there was +the grating in the pavement outside. "Please come to the door a +minute," she cried, "and I will show you what I mean, Mrs— Oh, I am +so sorry! I don't know your name!" +</P> + +<P> +"My name is Mrs. Winter, and I've kept this shop ever since I became a +widow thirty years ago," said the old woman. Then pitying Madge's +blushes she continued: "It doesn't matter about not knowing my name, +miss. Don't give it another thought. Mrs. Winter is my name, as I +said, and it is certainly written above the door, but perhaps you +didn't notice it." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I didn't look there! That was very stupid indeed of me!" +exclaimed Madge, who had been rather afraid that the old woman might be +vexed at her name not being better known. "But I shall remember that +you are Mrs. Winter always now," she added. "And now please let me +show you where the brown bag dropped." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, down there was it?" said Mrs. Winter, coming to the door. "You +will have a troublesome job to get in there, I am afraid. That cellar +belongs to the large house next door that's empty. The whole place is +shut up, and the man who keeps the key lives at the other side of the +town." +</P> + +<P> +"What shall I do? What shall I do?" repeated poor Madge, her spirits +quite giving way at this discouraging news. Up to that time she had +fancied that if she could once explain the state of the case to Mrs. +Winter all would be well. And now it turned out that after all Mrs. +Winter had no more power to get back the bag than Madge herself. Of +course at twelve years old one can't cry before strangers, but if Madge +had only been the same age as the twins, it is very certain that she +would have relieved herself by bursting into tears. Even as it was she +looked so miserable as to excite Mrs. Winter's compassion. +</P> + +<P> +"There! Don't you fret about your money, my dear," she said, patting +Madge kindly on the shoulder. "It will be all safe down that grating, +never fear! There are too many locked doors to the house for anybody +to run away with it, and the rats and spiders won't do it any harm. +And when the man who keeps the key comes to open the windows and air +the rooms a bit I'll try and catch him. He is generally here about +once or twice a week, and I'll see that you get back your money safe +enough." +</P> + +<P> +"It's very kind of you," said Madge dolefully; "but I am afraid it will +not be of much use unless I can get back the money this afternoon. You +see, we live in the country, and we hardly ever come to Churchbury; +only now and then for a great treat. And Betty and John are expecting +their toys this evening, or books, or chocolates. I was to choose +whatever I thought they would like best, and now I can't get anything." +</P> + +<P> +"Dear! dear!" exclaimed kind Mrs. Winter, in a tone of deep concern. +And then she proceeded to ask a great many questions about what had +happened. +</P> + +<P> +As Madge finished her sad story the old woman broke out into +lamentations. +</P> + +<P> +"If only I had someone to keep the shop for half an hour I would go +after the man myself and try to get the key, that I would," she said. +"But little Ann is away, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Who is little Ann?" interrupted Madge. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, my grandchild to be sure!" rejoined Mrs. Winter. "And not so +little either, only that's a manner of speaking I got into when she was +a baby, and now I keep on forgetting that she has turned thirteen and +able to help me in the shop as well as any grown-up woman." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be thirteen very soon myself," said Madge eagerly. "Don't you +think I could stay in the shop just as Ann does, while you go to find +the man with the key? Oh, please let me try! I'm sure I could manage +it if you are quick." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Winter hesitated. It is true that Madge was just as tall as her +own grand-daughter, but then Ann knew the ways of the shop; and it was +a very different thing leaving her in charge to confiding all one's +property to the care of a perfect stranger. Mrs. Winter, however, did +not feel any distrust of Madge, and quite believed the story about the +lost bag of money. She could see that it was not the invention of an +impostor, who wished to get an opportunity for pilfering little things +out of the shop. In fact, the more Mrs. Winter thought about the case +the more inclined she felt to help in the recovery of the brown bag. +She was one if those kindly people who naturally interest themselves in +their neighbours' affairs, and she felt strongly tempted to take a part +in the little adventure. +</P> + +<P> +"After all it's no great work to stand behind the counter and see that +the things are safe," said Mrs. Winter reflectively. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I'm sure I could do that!" replied Madge. "But then if +anybody came to buy. They do sometimes, I suppose?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course they do, or what would be the sense of calling it a shop," +said Mrs. Winter rather sharply. "You mustn't think because you caught +me just sitting down to knit for a few minutes this afternoon that +business is in any way slack. That's just my quiet time for an hour or +so then. But you wait till about tea-time, and there isn't standing +room for anyone in the shop many an evening. I know I could do with +another pair of hands easily! What with one wanting writing-paper, and +another pencils, and another a bottle of ink, it may be! And the +children running in with their pennies to ask for some of the little +things you may have noticed in the window; I always keep a lot of +knick-knacks for them." +</P> + +<P> +All this sounded very alarming. Even Madge began to doubt her own +capacity for standing behind the counter and awaiting such an +overpowering rush of business. However, she presently remembered that +Mrs. Winter had referred to the afternoon as being usually a very quiet +time, and certainly nothing could have looked more peaceful than the +old woman sitting quietly nodding over her knitting, and occasionally +flicking a speck of dust off the goods nearest her. Besides, on +careful consideration, the shop was so small that three or four +customers would have great difficulty in getting inside it at once, so +perhaps the crowd of which Mrs. Winter spoke was not really of such an +alarming size. At all events she wanted to get the brown bag back very +much, and it was worth risking something for its recovery. +</P> + +<P> +After a great deal of persuasion Mrs. Winter consented to put on her +bonnet and go in search of the man with the key. Up to the last moment +she poured out an unceasing flow of instructions to Madge how to behave +under every possible circumstance. "And if anybody should come while I +am away, which it's to be hoped they won't, you must just make a bit of +conversation about the weather or something till I come back," she +concluded. "That's what Ann does when I've stepped out for a moment, +and she doesn't know the price of a thing somebody inquires for. Why, +the child will chat away as cleverly as possible about the new electric +lights in the town, or the spring flower-show, or what not, and nobody +could ever guess that she is only filling up the time till I come back! +And that's what you must try and do." With these words Mrs. Winter +left the shop. +</P> + +<P> +It was a funny position for Madge, left all alone in charge of a shop. +If anybody had told her that it was going to happen she would have been +delighted at such an amusing prospect, and would certainly not have +been troubled by any modest doubts as to her power of selling like a +regular shop-woman. But now that the situation had actually come to +pass she felt unusually nervous, and very much hoped that her talents +would not be tested by any customer coming while she was alone. For +the first quarter of an hour she stood anxiously staring through the +glass at the passers-by, expecting each person to stop and come in at +the door. Nobody came, however, and in spite of Mrs. Winter's repeated +assurances of the popularity of her little shop, it seemed strangely +neglected that afternoon by the inhabitants of Churchbury. +</P> + +<P> +Madge gradually became calmer as she found that nothing was going to +happen, and with the comfortable reflection that Mrs. Winter must be +back before long she began to amuse herself by examining the contents +of the shop. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A CUSTOMER. +</H4> + +<P> +It was really very interesting to be inside the counter instead of +outside, and in a position to examine everything carefully without any +interference. On the rare occasions when Madge, Betty, and John went +shopping, it always seemed to them as if no sooner had they caught a +glimpse of some especially fascinating book, picture, or toy, than they +were instantly hauled away to one of those dull linen-draper's +establishments in which grown-up people so mysteriously delight to +linger. As for examining anything closely, that was quite out of the +question when they went shopping with Miss Thompson. Ever since the +time when Betty had knocked two china ornaments off a shelf and broken +them to pieces while stretching out her hand to pick up a pepper-pot in +the shape of an owl, there had been a strict rule that the children +should touch nothing in shops. It was a dreadfully dull rule, because, +of course, nobody can look at things comfortably from a yard off and +without handling them at all. The prettiest doll loses most of its +interest if one cannot count how many petticoats there are under its +dress, and examine how much of its neck is made of wax, and where the +stuffing begins. And what can be duller than a mechanical mouse, +unless one can wind it up to run on the floor? +</P> + +<P> +Madge decided at once that under such very peculiar circumstances as +the present she need not keep to Miss Thompson's rule. After all it +would be simply ridiculous to be standing inside the counter and left +in charge of the shop without even daring to look at the things she was +supposed to be selling. So, to provide herself as it were with a good +excuse, she took up a duster that she found lying on a chair, and began +carefully to rub over all the interesting things. The piles of +envelopes and writing-paper Madge did not consider required much +dusting, but pen-wipers in the shape of pigs, and work-boxes covered +with shells arranged in patterns, clearly called for a great deal of +attention. +</P> + +<P> +Although Mrs. Winter was very particular about calling her shop a +stationer's, she really seemed to sell a little of everything. Madge +could see very well that it was just the kind of place where she would +be able to choose the sort of interesting things that Betty and John +expected. When she got her money back she would set seriously to work +to spend it at Mrs. Winter's before she met with any further +misadventures. +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't many people who have first kept a shop and then bought things +out of it all in one afternoon, I should think," she said aloud, as she +vigorously dusted a mug adorned with coloured portraits of the royal +family. +</P> + +<P> +At that moment there was a great push, and the door flew open. +</P> + +<P> +"How quick you have been!" began Madge; then she stopped suddenly and +almost dropped the mug. It was not Mrs. Winter who came in, but a girl +a few years older than herself, evidently a customer. +</P> + +<P> +"I want a fashion-paper," said the new-comer in a harsh voice. "One of +those with big coloured pictures of ladies in party-dresses and +ball-gowns. Something smart, you know. It's for myself—Miss Amelia +Block of Ivy Villa." +</P> + +<P> +Madge felt that she was expected to know the name, and that Miss Amelia +Block was, in her own estimation at least, a very important person. +Perhaps she was in the habit of buying fashion-papers at this shop. +She probably had copied her hat, which was very large and profusely +trimmed with pink ribbon, out of one of the coloured pictures of which +she seemed so fond. It was a pity, Madge thought, that her face, +instead of being pretty and smiling, as the ladies are always +represented in fashion-papers, was ugly and cross-looking. And a pair +of very dirty gray kid gloves, with most of their buttons off, did not +improve her appearance by any means. +</P> + +<P> +"I do hope she intends to buy some new gloves before she has any more +smart dresses or hats made," Madge could not help thinking. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime Miss Block was walking slowly round, or to speak more +correctly, turning on her heels, in the middle of the tiny shop. "You +don't seem to have much choice of fashion-papers here," she said rudely. +</P> + +<P> +Madge did not reply, for the very excellent reason that she had not an +idea what fashion-papers Mrs. Winter kept. +</P> + +<P> +"Haven't you anything more stylish than this?" inquired Miss Block, +picking up an illustrated magazine off the counter, and pointing +contemptuously to the picture of two ladies in their best dresses on +the cover. "I'm going to several parties and bazaars," she explained, +"and, of course, I don't want to look a regular dowdy." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I see you don't," said Madge, staring at the enormous pink hat, +and then without intending it her eyes suddenly fell to the dirty gray +kid gloves. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Block evidently thought that the little girl was intentionally +trying to make her feel uncomfortable. She became very red, and +hurriedly hid her hands in the folds of her skirt. +</P> + +<P> +"If you will kindly give me what I asked for at once, instead of +standing there giggling at your betters, I'll be very much obliged to +you," she said, speaking even more disagreeably than before. +</P> + +<P> +Madge was quite taken aback by this address. She never had the least +intention of behaving rudely, although it was true that in the bottom +of her heart she did not at all admire Miss Block's appearance. Still, +she had not meant to show her feelings so plainly. While she stood +speechless, wondering how she could best beg her customer's pardon, +Miss Block burst out into a storm of abuse that would better have +befitted a neglected street child than such a very smartly dressed +young woman. +</P> + +<P> +"You just wait a bit till I see your grandmother!" she cried. "I'll +soon give her a bit of my mind for leaving such a vulgar chit of a +child in charge of her shop! It's my own fault I suppose for coming to +such a low place instead of going to the largest shops in the town, +which I might as well do. And in future I shall certainly go where I +shall be treated like a young lady! Mrs. Winter needn't look for my +patronage any more, I can tell you. She may think I am going to submit +quietly to being insulted by her pert little granddaughter, but she +will soon find out—" +</P> + +<P> +"Please, I am not Mrs. Winter's grandchild, so you need not say that!" +interrupted Madge, suddenly recovering the use of her voice. Her anger +at this undeserved abuse almost got the better of her shyness. "I've +got nothing to do with Mrs. Winter," she continued. "But it's a nice +shop and I won't hear it abused. I dare say there are heaps of +fashion-papers in it, only I don't know where to find them—" +</P> + +<P> +"If you aren't Mrs. Winter's grand-daughter, who are you then, I should +very much like to know?" said Miss Block, looking at Madge curiously +across the counter. +</P> + +<P> +"That's no business of yours," replied Madge, with more truth than +politeness. In point of fact she did not wish this very disagreeable +young person to find out her name. It seemed as if the adventure might +end rather sillily, and Madge was not at all anxious for her part in it +to be widely known. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Block did not appear daunted by the abrupt answer she had +received. On the contrary, she gave a curious smile when Madge +declined to tell her name, and nodded her head, repeating softly to +herself, "I thought so. Just as I thought." +</P> + +<P> +"What did you think?" said Madge at last, feeling intolerably irritated +at her customer's mysterious words and manners. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it wouldn't require a very clever person to guess what you are!" +replied Miss Block triumphantly. She spoke as if she had just made +some great discovery that gave her infinite pleasure. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't really know who I am, do you?" said Madge with considerable +anxiety. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I am generally considered as sharp as my neighbours, I believe!" +retorted Miss Block. "And I can make a pretty good guess! When I find +somebody in a shop who doesn't know where any of the things are kept, +although I see her pulling them all about as I come in; and when she +gets very frightened, and won't tell her name or how she got there, I +call that person a thief!" +</P> + +<P> +"A thief! You think I am a thief!" cried Madge, almost more astonished +than offended by such an extraordinary accusation. "Why, Mrs. Winter +herself told me to stay in the shop while she went off to find the man +who—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes! A very fine story. I have heard of that kind of excuse +before!" interrupted Miss Block mockingly. "It's my belief you just +slipped in when poor old Mrs. Winter was out of the way for a minute, +and if I hadn't luckily caught you in the very act you would have been +off with your pockets crammed—" +</P> + +<P> +"How can you say such things!" cried Madge. "Why, I have money to pay +for everything I want, only it's dropped down the grating into the +cellar of the next house, as I was just going to tell you. And while +Mrs. Winter went to get the key I was making up my mind what I would +buy presently. And as I have five shillings and sevenpence to spend +(it's not all mine exactly, but nearly the same thing), you certainly +need not say that I wasn't going to pay!" +</P> + +<P> +"Now that's a very interesting story! So interesting that I'll give +you the chance of repeating it to a policeman, and we'll see what he +says to it," remarked Miss Block, at the same time moving towards the +street door as if to go out. +</P> + +<P> +Madge could hardly believe her ears. A policeman being called to +examine her just as if she were really a thief! It seemed impossible, +but Miss Block, with a most unpleasant smile, was actually turning the +door-handle, when she was suddenly seized round the waist by two strong +arms. +</P> + +<P> +"You sha'n't do it!" cried Madge hysterically. "You sha'n't do it, I +tell you!" +</P> + +<P> +She was a tall, strong girl for her age, and having sprung on Miss +Block from behind and taken her quite by surprise, she had no +difficulty in dragging her across the little shop. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Block uttered a series of frightened shrieks and tried to wrench +herself free, but though taller she was not nearly so active as Madge. +While struggling together the two girls pushed heavily against a door +at the back of the shop that led into Mrs. Winter's little +sitting-room. It burst open, and they both fell headlong on to a black +horse-hair sofa which occupied a prominent position in the room. Madge +recovered first from the shock of the fall, and darting back into the +shop slammed the door behind her, turning the key in the lock. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +IMPRISONED IN A PARLOUR +</H4> + +<P> +On finding herself imprisoned in the little parlour Miss Block began to +scream. The noise she had been making before was nothing compared to +what she made now. One would never have supposed that the wearer of +such a magnificent pink hat could scream as loud as she did. Madge +looked anxiously at the faces of the passers-by in the street, but +apparently the sounds were considerably softened by coming through two +closed doors, at all events nobody took any notice of the turmoil. If +only no more customers came to the shop all might be well; but Madge +could not help feeling that she was running a great risk of getting +mixed up in a really serious affair. Without knowing much about the +law, she understood very well that it was exceedingly unusual conduct, +to say the least of it, first to knock a strange lady down, and then +shut her into somebody else's back parlour. Of course, Madge had +rolled over at the same time as her prisoner, and indeed hurt her own +elbow rather severely against the wooden framework of the sofa, so that +the two girls had really fared very equally. In spite of this Madge +felt convinced that Miss Block would describe herself in the future as +having been violently assaulted. It might even turn out that, quite +unintentionally, Madge had broken the law, and now deserved to be +seized by the policeman with whom Miss Block had threatened her a few +minutes previously. Then, the very idea of being a fit object for the +attention of a policeman seemed absurd; but now Madge could not feel +quite as consciously innocent as she would have wished. +</P> + +<P> +Until to-day it had never occurred to Madge that she could possibly +break the law except by trespassing on her neighbours' property. The +children were all terribly afraid of being caught doing that, because +old Barton had often told them warning stories of boys who had been +sent to prison for this offence. But now it seemed that it was much +easier to get into the clutches of the law than they had imagined. +Miss Block between her shrieks might be heard loudly requesting the +presence of a policeman, and it could hardly be expected that she would +go on much longer without attracting any attention. +</P> + +<P> +On the whole, Madge's best chance of safety seemed to be in trying to +make friends with her late adversary. She stood close to the parlour +door, and seizing an opportunity when Miss Block's shrieks became a +little fainter (probably owing to loss of breath), she put her mouth +close to the key-hole and shouted: +</P> + +<P> +"I am very sorry I was rough. Please listen, I have something to say." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Block did not answer, but she did what was still better, she +stopped screaming for a minute. +</P> + +<P> +"It was like this," continued Madge, still shouting through the +key-hole. "I dropped all our money, five shillings and sevenpence, you +know, down the grating in the pavement outside. And when I came and +told Mrs. Winter, she promised to fetch the man who kept the key of the +house if I would stay—" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe a word of it!" suddenly shrieked Miss Block from +behind the door. "I expect you rushed in and knocked the poor old +woman down like you did me! I shouldn't be a bit surprised to hear +that she was lying unconscious behind the counter at this very moment!" +</P> + +<P> +Madge was dreadfully disappointed by this fresh outbreak. She had +hoped, judging by Miss Block's momentary calm, that she was becoming +more reasonable, and that the door might soon be unlocked without there +being any danger of a policeman being summoned. But this last absurd +accusation of injuring Mrs. Winter was the worst of all. It would +clearly be extreme folly to release Miss Block while she was capable of +such malicious misrepresentations. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't let you out unless you promise solemnly on your word and +honour not to tell anybody silly stories about my stealing, or hurting +Mrs. Winter. As if I would do such a thing!" shouted Madge through the +key-hole. +</P> + +<P> +"Help! Fire! Murder! Thieves!" shrieked Miss Block in reply. +</P> + +<P> +"If you go on making that noise I won't unlock the door at all until +Mrs. Winter comes back," threatened Madge, rendered desperate by terror. +</P> + +<P> +"You won't let me out, won't you? Then I'll smash everything in this +room with the poker!" screamed Miss Block in a voice choking with rage. +</P> + +<P> +There was an ominous pause followed by a loud crash. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, please don't break Mrs. Winter's things! Please don't!" implored +Madge. "It isn't her fault, you know, or mine either for the matter of +that! The whole thing is a mistake, just because you won't listen to +the true—" +</P> + +<P> +"I am going to wait exactly one minute," interrupted Miss Block, "and +at the end of that time if the door isn't opened I shall knock the +clock off the chimney-piece, and the glass shade that is over it too!" +</P> + +<P> +Poor Madge was almost wild with terror at this horrid threat. She +broke out into incoherent cries and entreaties for mercy, to which +there was no reply. Then she dashed to the street door in the hope of +seeing Mrs. Winter, but only an unceasing flow of strangers passed +along the pavement outside. +</P> + +<P> +"The minute is over!" screamed Miss Block. "Let me out at once or—" +</P> + +<P> +Madge was dreadfully afraid of a policeman, and felt that, very +shortly, the worst terror of her life would come to pass and she would +be dragged off to prison. Still, she could not let kind old Mrs. +Winter's best clock be broken on her account. She unlocked the parlour +door and flung it wide open. +</P> + +<P> +Out bounded Miss Block, her face scarlet with rage, the pink hat cocked +unbecomingly over one ear. "You miserable, impertinent, thieving +little wretch!" she stammered, literally sobbing with fury. "I'll soon +teach—" +</P> + +<P> +"My dear child! What has happened, and what are you doing?" +interrupted a calm voice. +</P> + +<P> +Unnoticed by the two angry girls the street door had opened, and there +stood Miss Thompson. When things came to be explained afterwards there +was nothing very strange about her arriving at that moment, but to +Madge her appearance seemed so opportune as to be little short of +miraculous. In point of fact Miss Thompson had left the linen-draper's +shortly before, and on looking up and down the street for her pupil had +seen her face peeping out of Mrs. Winter's door. Madge at the time had +been so occupied in watching for Mrs. Winter that she had no thoughts +to spare for anyone else, and never noticed Miss Thompson until she +heard her voice. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Block was not at the best of times a well-bred girl, and now, her +face distorted with passion she seemed ready, positively, to fly at +Madge. Anything like opposition or argument would have produced a +regular torrent of rude words and foolish accusations. But Miss +Thompson did not give her any chance of being insulting; she was so +calm herself, and so full of dignified apologies for Madge's behaviour, +that before long the angry girl left off sobbing hysterically and began +to listen to reason. +</P> + +<P> +When Miss Block had heard the whole story she felt distinctly +uncomfortable. Captain West was exceedingly well known in the +neighbourhood, and the last thing Miss Block would have wished to do +was to call his daughter a thief; but how could she guess that a +plainly-dressed little girl in a small shop belonged to anyone of +importance? Miss Block was sufficiently vulgar to have different +manners for different classes of society. It confused her very much to +find that she had treated Captain West's daughter as if she were Mrs. +Winter's grandchild, or even someone poorer. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm very sorry for all that's happened," she said awkwardly. +"It's been a mistake, and I hope Captain West won't think any more +about it." Miss Thompson politely assured her that Captain West would +attach no importance to the unpleasant interview that had taken place +between his daughter and Miss Block, in fact that he would probably +never hear of it. +</P> + +<P> +"That's a good thing!" cried Miss Block, evidently much relieved by +this assurance. "Then I think I'll be going. And," she added, pausing +for a moment in the doorway, "there's not much fear of my coming here +again! I might have guessed something would happen in a low little +place like this! None of these vulgar poky shops for me in future!" +</P> + +<P> +Miss Thompson was about to speak rather sharply in defence of Mrs. +Winter, when Miss Block cut her short by flouncing noisily out of the +shop. +</P> + +<P> +There was a short silence, and then Miss Thompson said: "I need not +point out to you, Madge, the extreme vulgarity of that last remark?" +</P> + +<P> +"About the poky little shop, do you mean?" asked Madge shyly. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed. I doubt whether anybody has ever before behaved half so +rudely in this little house as the smartly-dressed girl who has just +gone out of it. I am glad to see, however, that she has not really +broken anything in the parlour, only knocked over a small table to try +and frighten you with the noise. But we won't talk of her any more." +And Miss Thompson shrugged her shoulders impatiently. +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately, at this point Mrs. Winter returned, bringing with her the +key of the empty house that she had actually persuaded the caretaker to +lend her. +</P> + +<P> +"I have promised faithfully to return it to him this evening, miss," +said the kind old woman. "He made some little difficulties at first +about letting it go out of his own hands, but being in the shoe-making +business he couldn't come himself till after work hours, and I told him +the young lady was in a sad way to be getting home again before +tea-time—" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think the young lady is half as anxious to get home in good +time as I am!" laughed Miss Thompson. Then she thanked Mrs. Winter +heartily for the trouble she had taken to get back the children's +money. "And now that we have the key," she concluded, "it will soon be +recovered. I will stay in the shop, and if any customers come I will +ask them to wait a few minutes until Mrs. Winter returns." +</P> + +<P> +Madge was quite satisfied with this arrangement; she had had enough of +keeping shop for one afternoon. Besides, she was very anxious to see +the inside of the empty house. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +IN AN EMPTY HOUSE. +</H4> + +<P> +It was with a certain air of importance that Mrs. Winter walked along +the pavement, closely followed by Madge. The friendly old woman always +took a great interest in her neighbours' affairs, and she thoroughly +enjoyed seeing the recovery of the lost money with her own eyes. When, +after about a dozen steps, the front-door of the adjoining house was +reached, Mrs. Winter smiled with conscious pride as she put the key +into the key-hole. It was a critical moment. If the children ever +recovered their lost money it would be entirely owing to her exertions. +Not many elderly women in Churchbury that afternoon were playing such +an exciting part. +</P> + +<P> +The street in which Mrs. Winter lived was an old one, and consequently +built without any regularity. It thus happened that next to Mrs. +Winter's tiny shop stood a substantial family dwelling-house, whose +cellars, as it has been said, took up rather more room on the pavement +than seemed rightly to belong to them. Since the death of the last +occupant some time before, the house had stood empty; only the +caretaker visited it occasionally to air the rooms. +</P> + +<P> +When Mrs. Winter pushed the heavy, creaking front-door open Madge +followed her into a roomy hall, out of which a handsome staircase led +to the upper part of the house. It was all very dignified and dreary. +When the door was shut the noise echoed all over the house. It was not +a very cheerful sound, especially heard in the sombre twilight caused +by windows with the blinds all drawn down. +</P> + +<P> +"We shall want a light for the cellar," observed Mrs. Winter. "The man +said I should find all that was required on the window-sill in the +hall—and here it is too!" she continued joyfully, holding up as she +spoke a box of matches and a short candle stuck in a bottle. +</P> + +<P> +Madge was exceedingly interested in this simple form of candlestick, +and asked permission to carry it, in spite of the grease trickling down +the bottle on to her fingers at every draught, as soon as the candle +was lighted. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a fine house. I've been over it many a time in old Doctor +Freeman's day," said Mrs. Winter thoughtfully. "But it isn't much to +see now since the sale, with all the furniture gone out of the rooms +and the carpets up. Besides, we have not the time to lose going over +it, or the lady will get tired of waiting for you." +</P> + +<P> +Madge always liked investigating unknown places and things, but still +she could not deny that Miss Thompson was awaiting her return rather +anxiously. And when Mrs. Winter, taking another key fully as large as +the first, proceeded to push open a heavy door and disclose a steep +flight of slippery stone steps leading downwards into the cellars, +Madge had the comfort of feeling that at all events she was seeing the +most interesting part of the house. The bedrooms, or even attics, +could not be as thrilling as that yawning chasm beneath her feet into +which she was now about to plunge. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor old Doctor Freeman set a great store on his collection of wine," +observed Mrs. Winter as she slowly went down the cellar steps, feeling +with her hands along the wall, for the bit of candle that Madge carried +in front gave a very insufficient light, and she was terribly afraid of +slipping. However, her nervousness did not prevent her from giving +Madge a long account of the sale that had taken place after Dr. +Freeman's death, and of the large sums of money that people gave for +his treasured collections of wine. +</P> + +<P> +"And to my thinking he would have been much wiser to drink it himself, +poor gentleman!" she concluded. "But each one knows what he likes +best, and if he preferred the look of the bottles to the taste of what +was in them—well, 'twas his own to do what he liked with!" +</P> + +<P> +Madge did not listen very attentively to Mrs. Winter's somewhat +rambling discourse. By this time they had reached the bottom step, and +another large key having been produced the last heavy door was opened +with a loud creak. To any young lady who had read as many fairy-tales +as Madge, the situation irresistibly suggested a subterranean cavern, +in which unlimited gold was stored away by thrifty dwarfs. +</P> + +<P> +"And there really is a lot of money there," thought Madge; "five +shillings and sevenpence might easily be called a heap of +treasure—with a little pretending. But I do wish Betty and John were +here to help to discover it! We should have so much more fun." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Winter was not a very satisfactory companion on an adventurous +expedition. She was kindness itself—nobody could have been more +good-natured,—but she did not seem quite to enter into the spirit of +the thing. The dark mysterious cavern remained to her nothing but Dr. +Freeman's empty wine-cellar; and it evidently never occurred to her for +a moment that there was anything to be gained by calling the candle-end +a torch! Life in the nursery and schoolroom at home had afforded Madge +comparatively few opportunities for real adventure; and when one +suddenly fell across her path it was tiresome to have an unappreciative +companion who took everything as a matter of course. +</P> + +<P> +Presently a trifling accident brought about a change in the situation. +At the farther end of the long cellar there was a very faint glimmer of +light coming through a grating overhead. +</P> + +<P> +"That's where your money dropped down," observed Mrs. Winter. "You are +sure to find it scattered on the ground under the grating." +</P> + +<P> +At this suggestion Madge very naturally ran forward, and the violent +draught coming from the opening above blew out the candle she carried +in her hand. +</P> + +<P> +Poor Mrs. Winter was greatly disturbed by suddenly finding herself in +the dark. Even by the light of the candle it had seemed hard work to +her coming down the steep steps, and how she was ever to get up them +again in total darkness she really did not know. Yet she would not +consent to let Madge go back to the hall where the matches had had been +left and light the candle, fearing that the little girl might set fire +to the house. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I may stay here in the dark by myself while you go, may I?" +pleaded Madge, who did not wish to waste a minute of her time in this +exciting place. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I suppose so," replied Mrs. Winter, rather wondering at the +little girl's taste, but too much occupied in the effort of feeling her +way to the stairs to pay much attention to anything else. Presently +she could be heard slowly mounting step by step, then the door at the +top of the stairs shut with a noisy clang behind her, and there was +silence. +</P> + +<P> +Madge was all alone in the dark. It was certainly delightfully +exciting, but not, strictly speaking, quite so enjoyable as she had +anticipated. The chief pleasure would be in afterwards describing to +Betty and John what had happened. In the meantime she would be very +brave, and Mrs. Winter might return at any moment with the candle. +</P> + +<P> +The worst of darkness and silence is, that they seem to increase every +moment. What is merely gloomy at first becomes almost intolerable as +time goes on. All sorts of horrid ideas came into Madge's head. Could +it be that Mrs. Winter had shut her in and gone home? Or fallen down +in a fit in the hall? Or that the cellar door had slammed with a +spring-lock and could not be got open again? None of these +suppositions would have seemed very probable in the light; but Madge +was becoming too frightened to form a clear judgment on the subject. +She longed to call out in the hopes of getting an answer from Mrs. +Winter, but dread of hearing her own voice echoing through the empty +house kept her silent. And from the same cause she remained standing +motionless on the spot where she had been left. The terror of stepping +on some strange soft object that would squeak or squash under her feet +was enough to keep her still. She thought of Lewis Brand's tales about +rats and toads in Mrs. Howard's cellar, and she wondered that he did +not go mad when shut up among them. +</P> + +<P> +As Madge was standing stiff with fright, and straining her ears to +catch a distant sound of footsteps that never seemed to come, she +suddenly remembered the grating at the farther end of the cellar. +"What a stupid creature I am!" she exclaimed joyfully, as, turning her +head, she again caught sight of the reassuring glimmer of light behind +her. It had been there all the time, while she was staring into the +darkness in the opposite direction. +</P> + +<P> +In another moment Madge was cautiously creeping towards the grating. +She could only go slowly pushing one foot before her in order to avoid +stepping heavily on some hidden horror; for the daylight struggling +through the tiny opening overhead only faintly lighted the ground +immediately below, leaving the rest of the cellar in total darkness. +</P> + +<P> +Even this feeble patch of twilight quite restored Madge's confidence. +She would reach it and feel about for the lost money, then if Mrs. +Winter did not speedily return she could no doubt find her way back up +the cellar steps without any help. When Madge was not frightened she +was just as sensible and energetic as a grown-up person. +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had she resolved on this most practical course, however, when +there was a wild scuffle round her legs, and something brushed past her +with glaring eyes—something that uttered confused sounds of rage as it +lurked in the darkness to spring out upon her. +</P> + +<P> +Poor Madge! She forgot her age, her dignity, and her character for +good common sense. She only remembered alarming stories about +hobgoblins and witches, and she began to scream. Luckily Mrs. Winter +had by this time found the box of matches, and very soon returned with +the candle. Then all at once the scene changed. The mysterious +haunted cavern again became nothing but a large cellar full of empty +shelves, hung with festoons of cobwebs. And the lurking monster turned +out to be a half-starved kitten, that must at some time have followed +the caretaker down the steps and got locked in. +</P> + +<P> +With trembling hands and a rather shamefaced expression Madge collected +the fallen coins, many of which had rolled out of the bag to some +distance. She could not bear to think that Mrs. Winter had heard her +screaming like a frightened baby. The annoyance of this recollection +prevented her from taking any interest in the poor kitten that Mrs. +Winter was gently coaxing towards her; and it was not until they were +again back in the little shop that Madge regained her customary good +spirits. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE RETURN AFTER SHOPPING. +</H4> + +<P> +After all, there was very little time left for the important work of +choosing toys. Madge did her best to make up her mind in a hurry, +assisted by a good deal of judicious advice from Miss Thompson. But +that was not the way in which she enjoyed shopping. She liked to dwell +on every purchase, carefully calculating whether its merits justified +its price, and trying to imagine how it would look when the stuffing +came out of it, or the paint was rubbed off. When the money was not +all her own, and the toys not all for herself, as in the present +instance, it naturally much increased the difficulty of selection. +There were the tastes and needs of different people to be considered, +their various wants and wishes to be recalled. Madge was a most +conscientious shopper, and in the main a thoughtful elder sister. She +would have scorned to spend Betty's and John's money and not give them +full satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear child," said Miss Thompson at last, "I have really waited as +long as I dare. We must go to the place where we left the carriage, +and start home. Your parents will think we have met with an accident." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, please wait a minute! Just one minute!" begged Madge. "I haven't +half chosen yet. That's to say, I have put together a lot of things +that might do, but I want to look through them before I quite settle." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps I can help you to decide?" said Miss Thompson briskly. +"What's this? A whip and a boat for John? Surely that is exactly what +he had last time we went shopping?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; but he has broken the old whip, and he wants another boat," +explained Madge. "They have just put such a nice great tub of water in +the garden, because the pump has gone dry with the hot weather, and we +sail—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's all right!" interrupted Miss Thompson. "So long as you +know what you like and are satisfied. And Betty is to have this doll, +I suppose, and that trumpet? Isn't she getting rather old for a +trumpet?" +</P> + +<P> +"But she likes a trumpet better than anything, except a whistle," +explained Madge hurriedly. "We all like trumpets or anything that +makes a noise." +</P> + +<P> +"You are welcome to your noises so long as I hear nothing of them in +the schoolroom!" laughed Miss Thompson. "And you have chosen a knife +and a china tea-pot for yourself, I see. Well, now be quick and let +Mrs. Winter make up the bill." +</P> + +<P> +"But there was a lot of other little things I want to get!" cried +Madge. "I have not had time to think properly yet." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Thompson looked at her watch, and said that she would wait exactly +five minutes and no more. At the end of that period Madge with many +groans of regret was obliged to turn away from the counter, feeling +that if she only had all the time she wanted she would immediately put +back most of the things she had chosen and select fresh ones. Perhaps +it was just as well that she was rather hurried, for at this rate there +would have been no end to the shopping. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Winter parted from her customers with many invitations to them to +return and see how the poor half-starved kitten prospered under her +care. She had already put him to bed in a basket in the back-kitchen, +after giving him two whole saucers of milk, that he drank without +stopping. Altogether it seemed probable that he would find the shop a +much more agreeable residence than the cellar, where, judging by the +prominence of his ribs, he must have kept himself alive on a very +limited supply of mice and black-beetles. +</P> + +<P> +It was long past the usual time for schoolroom tea when Miss Thompson +and Madge returned home. The twins, it may be remembered, had been +climbing in the Eagle's Nest a good part of the afternoon, and were +consequently as hungry as people who have been playing for hours in the +open air have a right to be. They were waiting on the door-step when +the carriage drove up, and began at once to reproach Madge for being so +late, and to inquire what she had brought. +</P> + +<P> +"Come along," said Miss Thompson briskly. "Not a word is to be spoken +until Madge has taken off her hat and we are seated at the tea-table. +If we begin to embark on our adventures now, we shall never get any tea +to-night." +</P> + +<P> +The children grumbled, but they were forced to obey, as Miss Thompson +waited to see Madge walk upstairs before she took off her own jacket. +Long experience had taught her that if an exciting story was once +begun, even tea would be forgotten. +</P> + +<P> +At last, however, the delightful moment had arrived, when the children +were all seated round the table and at liberty to recount their +afternoon's occupations. Of course, Madge's adventures were altogether +so out of the common as to throw everything else into the shade. The +twins said nothing about their meeting with Lewis, and Madge never +thought of inquiring what they had been doing. They did not +intentionally conceal anything, but in the excitement of hearing about +the loss and recovery of the brown bag they completely forgot what, up +to that time, had been a great source of pride—namely, that they had +been associating on equal terms of friendship with a big school-boy. +Even when tea was over and Miss Thompson left them alone, they forgot +to tell Madge how they had spent the afternoon, in the interest of +looking at the new purchases. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose all's well that ends well," remarked Betty solemnly, +as she helped to unpack the brown paper parcels on the schoolroom +table. "Only it must have been very terrible in that cellar, +especially when you saw those flaming eyes in the dark! What colour +were they, green or yellow?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I hardly remember! The colour of cats' eyes, I suppose!" replied +Madge rather impatiently. +</P> + +<P> +She did not much care to dwell upon that time in the cellar, when she +had mistaken the poor starved kitten for some sort of hobgoblin, and +screamed at it in a way that was most unworthy of her age and good +sense. To change the subject, she asked John how he liked the things +she had chosen for him. +</P> + +<P> +"The ship is all right," he said slowly, "and so is the whip. At least +it's not quite so big as the one I got last time, and it cost a penny +more, but still it will do. Only—" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what's the matter?" interrupted Madge. "What have you got to +grumble at now, I should like to know?" +</P> + +<P> +She spoke sharply, for, with all her kindness, she could not bear to +have the younger ones finding fault with anything she did. So long as +they were duly grateful she would work hard to amuse them; but the +moment they began to criticise her conduct in any way there was trouble. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think you could have chosen anything better yourself?" she said +scornfully. "You had better try next time if you think it's so easy!" +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't say the things were not nice things," observed John in his +quiet obstinate way. "I never meant that. Only I can't understand how +you spent our money. That's all." +</P> + +<P> +"Why it's as simple as A B C!" broke out Madge. "Just listen, you +little silly, and I'll tell you. I took five shillings and sevenpence, +didn't I?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course you did! In the brown bag," answered Betty, although nobody +had spoken to her. +</P> + +<P> +John merely nodded his head to show that he was following the argument +up to this point. +</P> + +<P> +"And as the money belonged to us all we were all to share alike," +proceeded Madge rapidly. "So I got a ship and a doll and a knife, each +costing a shilling. And we had one apiece. That's three shillings. +Then the whip and the trumpet and the tea-pot cost sixpence each. That +comes to four shillings and sixpence. And the packets of sugar-plums, +and pipes for blowing soap-bubbles, come to tenpence. That makes five +shillings and four-pence. And—and—" +</P> + +<P> +"And that's all!" interrupted John. "But you took five shillings and +sevenpence in the brown bag, you know. I remember counting it; didn't +we, Betty?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm well aware of that!" cried Madge impatiently. "If you will +only just keep quiet I can make it right in a moment. I must have +added up wrongly while you were chattering." And spreading all the +purchases out on the table she tried to count them more carefully over +again, repeating their prices as she did so. But it was no use. Try +as she might her accounts would not come perfectly right. There was +threepence missing, and Madge could not account for it at all. +</P> + +<P> +"It must have slipped out of the bag and be lying in a corner of that +cellar," said Betty with considerable reason. "Threepence is such a +very tiny bit of money you would never see it in the dark, or even by +the light of one candle." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps not. I suppose that is what has happened," admitted poor +Madge. She was ready to cry with mortification at having had the worst +of the argument with John, in spite of his being two years younger than +herself and very much her inferior in arithmetic. Besides, she knew +that if she had, as seemed most probable, left a threepenny piece on +the cellar floor, it was all owing to that annoying fit of nervousness +that had suddenly come over her in the dark. At the time that she +picked up the money she was still suffering from the fright caused by +the sudden appearance of the kitten, and no doubt had been too much +upset to notice very carefully what she was doing. But she did not +like to explain all this to the twins, who were in the habit of looking +upon her as the living embodiment of courage. So she merely laid the +blame on the dim light of the cellar. +</P> + +<P> +The consequence of this was, that when John next found himself alone +with Betty he began to grumble. +</P> + +<P> +"It's all very well for Madge to say she didn't see the threepenny +bit," he said, "but I think she ought to have stayed there looking +until she did see it. She can see things very well when she tries. I +don't believe she took any trouble about it, because it belonged to us." +</P> + +<P> +"But part of it belonged to her," objected Betty. +</P> + +<P> +"Only one part," said John persistently, "and two parts belonged to us. +So of course it was more ours than hers, and that's why she didn't +trouble to look for it." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think so really?" said Betty in an irresolute tone. She had +great faith in Madge always acting for the best, but these new +arguments were rather disturbing. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll tell you what it is," continued John. "Madge thinks herself a +much grander person than we are, because she is a little older. And it +isn't fair. Lewis said he wouldn't be ordered about by her if he were +in my place, and I won't either. After all, she is only a girl!" +</P> + +<P> +After this remark the conversation became rather quarrelsome. Betty +objected to the expression, "only a girl", and retorted by some very +rude remarks about boys in general and her brother in particular. She +reminded him with unpleasant emphasis of how slow he was at climbing +trees compared with Madge, and she dwelt with more truth than +politeness on the fact that he had once grown giddy on the roof of the +cow-house, and had to be ignominiously helped down by his sisters. But +in the long run John's solid persistency got the best of it, and in +spite of Betty's wish to believe that Madge always acted for the best, +she was gradually talked over into thinking that there was some real +grievance in her elder sister always taking the lead. +</P> + +<P> +Whenever Lewis Brand had an opportunity of talking to the twins by +themselves he mischievously encouraged this idea, so that disagreements +among the children became a matter of everyday occurrence. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AN INTERESTING DITCH. +</H4> + +<P> +If a stranger had happened to meet Madge, Betty, and John one fine +Saturday afternoon a few weeks later in the summer, he would probably +have imagined that they were hurrying to the sea-side. It was +certainly an odd way to get there, across the fields and through a +grove of beech-trees; but where else could they be going, each carrying +a boat? +</P> + +<P> +They passed by the Eagle's Nest for once without even glancing up at +it, and walking a little farther along the field stopped by a deep +ditch. Now, even during the hottest summer weather this delightful +ditch seldom became completely dry. A tiny stream generally contrived +to trickle along the bottom, pushing its way in and out among the dead +leaves and sticks that the wind blew into its course. During the +winter months the ditch sometimes got blocked with this sort of +rubbish, and then the water being kept back very rapidly rose and +flooded over the field. However, old Barton was always on the look-out +for accidents, and on extra wet days generally marched out with a sack +over his shoulders to keep them comparatively dry, and cleared away the +drifts of dead leaves with his spade so that the stream should flow +freely. Of course, the children would have loved to accompany him on +these expeditions, but they always took place on such wet days that the +thing was not to be thought of seriously. +</P> + +<P> +But though the children were never allowed to help in moderating a +regular winter flood, they valued the ditch highly as a place where +they could always collect enough water to sail their boats in a +thoroughly satisfactory manner. They had done it so often that they +did not take very long time in setting to work. Betty and John going +down on their knees began to build the mud and dead leaves at the +bottom of the ditch into a great barrier across the narrowest part, +while Madge with a stick cleared the course of the stream from all +obstructions above. It was the way in which they made tiny ponds in +the cracks of the big stones under the laburnum-tree, only of course +this was hundreds of times larger. +</P> + +<P> +The water soon began to rise. It is most surprising what a lot of +water even a tiny stream contains if one can once prevent it from all +running away! When the ditch was about half-full, the children +launched their boats and made them go imaginary voyages from port to +port, carrying merchandise. +</P> + +<P> +"I will be London," said Madge, "and Betty can be Cardiff, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"I can choose for myself without your help!" interrupted John +peevishly. "I'll be Birmingham." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you choose very cleverly for yourself!" jeered Madge. "I wonder +how you can think of such difficult places!" +</P> + +<P> +"You think nobody can be clever except yourself, but you are finely +mistaken," rejoined John seriously; and he could not imagine why both +his sisters burst out laughing. "There isn't much joke that I can see +in that," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"The joke is about Birmingham, you know," explained Betty. "It isn't a +port." +</P> + +<P> +"Then it ought to be," said John decidedly. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you had better write to the Queen and suggest that it should +be made into one," remarked Madge. But then, seeing that her brother +looked vexed at his mistake, she continued cheerfully: "I have thought +of a new and much better plan. We will not have real towns, but we +will call them after our own names—Madgebury, Bettybury, and Johnbury!" +</P> + +<P> +This idea gave very general satisfaction, and the game proceeded most +peacefully for some time. A vessel laden with acorns started from +Madgebury and went to Johnbury, crossing on the way another ship full +of horse-chestnuts. From Bettybury a small wooden doll set out on a +voyage of discovery into unknown regions, the owners carefully +superintending the course of their vessels and guiding them by long +strings. Once the strings got entangled and there was a terrific +shipwreck in Johnbury harbour, most of the cargo, consisting of +marbles, being lost in the mud at the bottom. After this collision it +was discovered that the sails of two of the vessels were injured, so +the ship-owners decided to retire for a short time to Eagle's Nest and +work at some necessary repairs. +</P> + +<P> +It was a warm afternoon, and the shade of the great spreading +beech-tree was particularly pleasant after an hour spent in the glaring +sun by the ditch. The children sat about in idle lounging attitudes, +mending their boats and talking in a leisurely fashion. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I hadn't lost all those marbles," remarked John mournfully. "I +only found four, and I believe there were quite eight in the ship, only +the mud was so soft they sank out of sight at once. I squeezed it all +over with my hands to try and find them, but I couldn't." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think you will lose those four as well, if you try and carry +them in your pocket," said Madge. "Don't you remember what a big hole +you have in it, and how your knife dropped on the schoolroom floor this +morning when you were saying your lessons?" +</P> + +<P> +"But I must put them somewhere," answered John peevishly. "I can't +leave them behind, and I can't carry them in my hand when I am mending +my ship." +</P> + +<P> +"I've got a capital idea!" broke in Betty. "We will have a +treasure-house in the Eagle's Nest, and we can safely hide away the +things we don't want there. And I see just the place that will do!" +With an excited cry she scrambled up to a hole in the tree a few feet +above the platform of sticks on which they sat. "Isn't this the very +place?" she shouted. +</P> + +<P> +"The very place! The very place!" echoed John; and immediately the +three children began to empty out their pockets and decide what they +would leave in the Eagle's Nest storehouse. John's marbles and various +small articles belonging to the girls, such as pencils, both slate and +lead, a broken knife, and a doll's boot, were carefully stored away +packed in dock leaves. +</P> + +<P> +"We can leave them there all right," said Madge. "Even if it rains +they can't get wet in this beautiful hole. It's a regular out-of-door +cupboard, and I shall keep lots of my things here now that we have +found it." +</P> + +<P> +This plan was so incomparably more interesting than putting one's +possessions back tamely in the schoolroom or nursery, that the hole was +soon filled with oddly-shaped parcels tied up in leaves and twists of +grass. +</P> + +<P> +"That's done!" exclaimed Madge at last with a sigh of satisfaction, as +she covered the opening to the hole with an enormous bunch of elder +flowers, which she fondly hoped looked so natural that no passing enemy +would suspect they concealed a treasure-house. "Now shall we go back +and sail our boats or—Oh, look!" her voice rose to a shriek. And well +it might. +</P> + +<P> +Quite taken up with their present occupation, the children had entirely +forgotten the fact that they had left the ditch blocked, so that the +stream could not flow away as usual. The water had been rising for the +last hour or more, and all one end of the field was rapidly turning +into a swamp. Rivulets of water were finding their way in and out +among the rank tufts of long grass, and at this rate Eagle's Nest +itself would be surrounded by the evening. +</P> + +<P> +It was a moment of most intense excitement. There were hurried +consultations among the children, and even a daring suggestion that the +flood should be allowed to rise until they were left upon an +impregnable island. But a certain longing for tea, combined with a +wholesome dread of Barton, prevented this alarmingly bold scheme from +being carried out. +</P> + +<P> +"If we had only known what was going to happen and brought provisions +with us, what fun it would have been to stay here all night!" cried +Madge, who dearly loved an adventure. "I think if I had brought the +piece of bread that they put by the side of my plate at dinner, and +that I never eat, it would have been enough to keep me alive all night." +</P> + +<P> +"I should like sandwiches better," observed John. +</P> + +<P> +"Very likely!" rejoined Madge impatiently. "Honey and cream are very +nice too, and just what people always carry with them when they are out +all night in a forest!" +</P> + +<P> +"They would be very good, but much stickier than sandwiches," began +John, then stopped as both his sisters burst out laughing. "I don't +see anything funny," he said sulkily. "They are very sticky, you know +they are!" +</P> + +<P> +"We were laughing at your idea of having all sorts of nice things to +eat when you were escaping from the enemy," explained Betty. "It's a +time for hardships—" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care to live on hardships," interrupted John. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it doesn't matter, because I think we had better go home to tea +after all," observed Madge. "I don't really mind Barton complaining +about us much; and it would have been frightful fun to sit in the +Eagle's Nest and see everybody on the other side of the water scolding +and threatening us without being able to get at us. But I dare say +Mama would have been rather anxious about our staying out all night in +the damp." +</P> + +<P> +Though troublesome and thoughtless the children were really +affectionate, and this consideration weighed with them. They gave up +all idea of allowing the advancing torrent to cut them off from any +communication with the world. (When we talk of the torrent, it must be +understood that it might not have appeared quite worthy of the name to +grown-up people; but that is how the children managed to see it.) +</P> + +<P> +Having decided to resist the temptation of camping-out for a night, the +next question was how to avoid getting into serious trouble with +Barton, who would be dreadfully cross if he came in the morning and +found the field turned into a swamp. It was all very well for Madge to +talk defiantly about not minding if Barton scolded or not; but the fact +was that everybody, even Captain West, stood in respectful awe of the +old man's stern disapproval. +</P> + +<P> +"I do wish you children would not be so disobedient to me before +Barton. I can see he thinks you are spoilt, and it makes me feel so +dreadfully ashamed of myself!" Captain West would laughingly say; and +though, of course, this was only a joke, there can be little doubt that +Barton would have brought up a family very strictly if it had been left +to him. +</P> + +<P> +"We can't go home and leave it like this," said Madge, looking round +despairingly on the ever-widening circle of glistening wet that was +spreading through the grass. +</P> + +<P> +"If we took away the mud that we put across the ditch, would not the +stream run down the ditch again as usual?" suggested John. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, we all know that! But who can get through the water to +clear it out?" cried Betty. +</P> + +<P> +There was an anxious pause. Then suddenly in a tone of solemn +resolution Madge announced that she was once more ready to take the +post of danger. +</P> + +<P> +"You will get your boots wet through, and catch cold," said Betty +nervously. +</P> + +<P> +Without replying to this remonstrance Madge climbed down from the +Eagle's Nest. It was the work of a moment to remove not only her boots +but also her stockings. Then she plunged into the soaking grass, the +water splashing up round her bare feet at every step. It was a wet +job, and a dirty one, but Madge accomplished it safely, and Barton +never guessed next day how near he had been to finding the meadow +flooded. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +DISPUTES. +</H4> + +<P> +The treasure-house in Eagle's Nest did not turn out quite such a happy +idea as was anticipated. For a few days after causing the ditch to +overflow the children rather avoided that part of the fields. It +seemed prudent not to give Barton any occasion to connect them in his +mind with the extra muddiness of the corner between Eagle's Nest and +the ditch. But when nearly a week had passed by without any awkward +inquiries being made, and it was considered safe to return to their old +haunts, an unpleasant surprise awaited them. Some of their +carefully-stored-away possessions were missing! +</P> + +<P> +John's marbles could nowhere be found. This was a most unfortunate +fact; but when, after a hurried turning out of the contents of the +treasure-house, it became apparent that a pencil also belonging to John +was missing, there was a positive uproar. Betty had only lost an old +pocket-book with all the leaves torn out, and she was not even quite +sure that she had ever put it into the hole. Madge had lost nothing. +</P> + +<P> +"I do say it's a shame!" shouted John positively, dancing about on the +platform of the Eagle's Nest with rage. "It's a horrid shame! All my +things are lost, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"If you stamp so hard your foot will stick in the cracks of the floor, +like the dwarf in the fairy-story," interrupted Madge. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it's all very well to laugh! Laugh away!" shouted John. "That's +just like you! Put in all your own things safely enough, and left mine +out! And then you laugh. But I won't stand being bullied by a great +ugly thing—" Here his voice fortunately became choked with angry sobs. +</P> + +<P> +"What is the matter? What nonsense you are talking!" exclaimed Madge +impatiently. "All the things were put into the hole at the same time. +You saw me do it yourself, because I happened to be nearest to the +treasure-house." +</P> + +<P> +"And I believe I saw you pushing my things on one side to make room for +your own!" rejoined John. "And very likely you slily took some of mine +out and threw them away, so that the hole should not be too full." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if you believe all that you must be a little idiot!" said Madge +scornfully; and Betty cried: "How can you say such things? Of course +she wouldn't!" +</P> + +<P> +"I think she would," asserted John, with irritating obstinacy. "She +thinks she can do as she likes with us and our things. Lewis often +says—" +</P> + +<P> +"So it is Lewis who has been putting all these stupid ideas into your +head?" interrupted Madge. "I could not think why you had become so +discontented and grumbling all of a sudden! Now I see what it is, and +I'll never speak to that sneak again!" +</P> + +<P> +"He is a very nice boy, very nice indeed," repeated John. "And I like +talking to him much better than playing with girls." +</P> + +<P> +"You are welcome to him, I'm sure!" exclaimed Madge tempestuously. "A +horrid sneak who used to be always laughing at you little ones to me, +and calling you silly babies! And then directly my back is turned for +an afternoon, he goes trying to set you against me. No, I don't want +him coming sucking up to me any more, that's certain!" And a good deal +more of the same sort; for when Madge was indignant, she had an +extraordinary flow of very forcible but inelegant language. "Now for +my part I'm going away from here directly," she concluded. "John will +stop and tell tales to his friend, I suppose. Betty can do as she +likes." +</P> + +<P> +Betty did not look as grateful as she might for this kind permission. +She was a peace-loving little person, and always particularly disliked +being called upon to take sides in family disputes. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't we all go away and play together just as we used to, before we +knew Lewis?" she said at last. "We really had more fun then than we +have now, because we were not always afraid that something would be +found out." +</P> + +<P> +"You are quite right!" answered Madge heartily. "We built this Eagle's +Nest to play in, didn't we? But now, instead of playing we are always +watching and waiting for Lewis, and when he comes we can't have any +fun, because if we make a noise somebody may catch us. It seems rather +a sneaking business altogether." +</P> + +<P> +Betty was quite of this opinion. If she had not been drawn on by her +elder sister's enthusiasm in the first instance, she would never have +done anything so boldly naughty as to make friends with a strange boy. +The constant fear of discovery had weighed heavily upon her, and on +more than one occasion lately she had trembled all over if anyone had +called her suddenly, thinking that the whole affair was discovered and +she was about to be blamed. "Yes, do let us play somewhere else. And +then perhaps Lewis will get tired of coming to look for us," she said +fervently. +</P> + +<P> +"At first I was sorry for him," continued Madge, "and I should be now, +only he is so mean. Of course I shall never betray him to anybody, and +get him punished for climbing over the wall. But I won't speak to him +after he has proved a sneak!" +</P> + +<P> +In the end Madge and Betty went off together to play elsewhere, while +John remained behind in the Eagle's Nest, saying that he should wait +there for his friend. But it was not very cheerful work sitting alone +on a bough in sight of that terrible red brick house, after the girls +had disappeared. He would gladly have climbed down and ran after them, +if he had not boasted so loudly of his preference for Lewis's society. +And when Lewis at last came he was not a very cheery companion. John +tried to feel flattered at being left alone with such a big boy, and to +get all the comfort he could out of his companion's abuse of girls in +general, and Madge in particular. But when Lewis began to tell long +dreary stories about the cruel doings that went on under Mrs. Howard's +roof, the small listener soon realized that the presence of a strong +and courageous elder sister would be very comforting indeed. He tried +to keep up his spirits by reflecting that there was no fear of his +being entrapped from the Beechgrove side of the wall. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! Don't you make too sure of that," said Lewis. "The last boy Mrs. +Howard stole was bigger than you, I think." +</P> + +<P> +"Does she steal children, then?" cried John in terrified accents. "I +didn't know anybody could do that nowadays! Why don't the police stop +her?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's just the question! My belief is that she's more artful than a +whole army of police," answered Lewis. "I don't know how it's done of +course, but I expect that man with a gray beard wanders about the road +after dark and catches them as they are going home from school, perhaps +in the evening—" +</P> + +<P> +"Catches them? What does he catch?" interrupted John. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, catches boys about your size, of course! I've just said so, +haven't I? How stupid you are!" answered Lewis, speaking quite as +contemptuously as Madge in her most overbearing moods. "And then they +are locked into the cellars under the house.—Chained? Oh yes! hand +and foot. Gags in their mouths too, if they groan loudly enough to be +heard. I know the sound when I am awake at night. Mrs. Howard calls +it the wind in the chimneys, but I know better than that." +</P> + +<P> +"But what does she want boys for?" asked John in a trembling voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Nobody knows. Perhaps she sells them as slaves to the black people, +just as black people used to be sold to white. Perhaps she keeps them +prisoners for life in her cellars. Nobody knows." Lewis began to +whistle, and positively declined to give any further information. +</P> + +<P> +"I think I'll go home, it's getting rather late," said John presently. +"And very likely I sha'n't be able to come here to-morrow to meet you. +It doesn't seem quite safe to come every day if that dreadful man is +always on the look-out. Besides, I don't think I shall have much time +after lessons, some days we dig in our gardens." +</P> + +<P> +"You aren't afraid to come without your sisters, I suppose? It looks +remarkably like it," said Lewis disagreeably. +</P> + +<P> +"No! of course not!" cried John, as he hurriedly scrambled out of the +tree. +</P> + +<P> +In another moment he was in full flight home. It did not require much +persuasion on Betty's part that evening to convince him that, after +all, one's own brothers and sisters are much safer and pleasanter +companions than any chance strangers. +</P> + +<P> +"But," concluded Betty, "though Lewis talks so much about the dangers +he goes through I don't believe he is half as brave as Madge. See how +she plunged into that water the other day without hesitating an +instant, though it was very cold, for my hands were quite blue after +sailing my boat. It's so odd how water keeps cold even in the summer! +But I don't think Lewis could have done it. He made such a fuss when +he scratched his hand with a sharp stone in the wall one day. Of +course he is very brave about being shut up in those dreadful cellars; +only I don't think they can be quite so dreadful as he pretends, or +nobody could bear them." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you think it is quite true about the cellars, then?" asked John, +eagerly grasping at a ray of hope. If the cellars were not dungeons +swarming with toads, then there might also be some mistake about little +boys being stolen and sold as slaves to black people. So he waited +anxiously for Betty's opinion on the subject. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose it is true that he is shut up in those dark places," +she replied thoughtfully; "because, you see, he can tell us all about +them; the slimy walls I mean, and the black pools of dirty water. Only +I don't believe he is quite as brave as he makes out. I dare say he +cries and screams when he is locked in." +</P> + +<P> +This answer did not do much to calm John's fears. After some natural +hesitation at owning himself in the wrong, he said shyly: +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think I care so very much about Lewis after all. He bullies +just as much as Madge, and doesn't play such amusing games either." +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed he doesn't!" chimed in Betty eagerly. "It was much more +amusing before we knew him, and there was no hiding things and being +afraid of being found out. It doesn't seem right when we are trusted +to go out by ourselves—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know about that!" interrupted John. "I can't see any harm +in it, not for me at least, because I am a boy, and boys don't stop to +ask whether they may speak to people. I dare say you and Madge ought +not to have done it, as you are girls. But," he added, rather less +grandly, "I think I will play with you to-morrow instead of going to +talk to Lewis. That's to say, I will come if Madge won't be nasty and +disagreeable." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course she won't! I'll talk to her about it, and she will be right +enough when she hears you are not going to follow Lewis any more!" +cried Betty, rejoicing in the prospect of the good time coming when +they would once more all three play harmoniously together, without the +interference of any mischief-making stranger. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +OLD GAMES. +</H4> + +<P> +It was many weeks since the children had started out in such high +spirits as they did on the following afternoon. As long as they were +secretly meeting Lewis, there was always a certain mystery about their +doings which, though at first very exciting, soon became oppressive. +They were in the main truthful, straightforward children, and when they +were tempted first to talk to Lewis, and then to promise secrecy about +having done so, they had not foreseen what an amount of concealment +this conduct would give rise to in the future. Often when chattering +about their doings before Miss Thompson or their parents, references to +Lewis and his wonderful tales nearly slipped out, and the subject had +to be awkwardly changed. Once or twice questions were asked to which +the children, though they avoided telling downright falsehoods in +reply, yet gave wilfully misleading answers. And they had been +sufficiently well brought-up for this course of little deceptions to +make them feel thoroughly uncomfortable. +</P> + +<P> +It was a real relief to have done with Lewis and all concealment, and +to be starting off boldly to play their old games, which, though a +little noisy and rough, were admittedly innocent. Sometimes they were +explorers discovering the source of the Nile; another day they would be +an eager party of adventurers hunting for gold in Australia. In either +case they carried long sticks and shouted the whole time. To-day, as +it happened, they were big-game hunters, looking out for giraffes, +elephants, and an occasional lion. They expected to find them behind +the hay-ricks or in the poultry-yard; failing those likely spots, they +would try the cow-house. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope my new rifle will act to-day," observed Madge, shouldering a +pea-stick with great dignity. "Last time I was out it missed fire, and +I lost a fine buck in the forest." +</P> + +<P> +This piece of information was received with perfect gravity by the +other children. The only way to enjoy games properly is to be quite +serious about them. +</P> + +<P> +"I have slain twenty wolves with this spear!" cried John suddenly. +</P> + +<P> +"But that's no reason why you should poke my eye out with it!" +exclaimed Betty, seizing the rough end of a long stick that was being +brandished close to her head. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm so sorry! Your cheek is bleeding. Let's look!" and John +proceeded to examine his handiwork with more apparent interest than +regret. +</P> + +<P> +"It's nothing! A miss is as good as a mile!" answered Betty +impatiently, as she scrubbed her cheek with a dirty handkerchief. It +was considered a great breach of etiquette to acknowledge that one was +hurt when playing a game. At lessons, on the contrary, a little fuss +about a scratch or bruise was allowable, because it took up time which +otherwise would have been devoted to study. +</P> + +<P> +"Hist! Go gently! We are tracking the wild boar to his lair!" +muttered Madge. "Conceal yourselves from view behind the brushwood and +creep after me." +</P> + +<P> +Now, a mere ordinary grown-up person would have been puzzled how to +carry out this order in a field where the grass was only about an inch +long. He would have looked in vain for any shelter behind which even +to hide his boots; he would in fact have been deplorably dense and +literal. The three children did not hesitate for a minute. They +slouched their hats forward over their faces, that being a concealment +behind which it was recognized that no wild boar would be likely to +penetrate; and they bent their knees into a fancied imitation of the +attitude of an Indian on the war-path. This was the established mode +of attacking a herd of wild animals. +</P> + +<P> +"Halt! They have caught sight of us! Make ready your weapons!" cried +Madge in a sort of suppressed shout. "They are preparing to charge! +Look out!" +</P> + +<P> +If the six black Berkshire pigs lying asleep in the sun under the wall +were really preparing to charge they dissembled their purpose +remarkably well. Half opening their tiny eyes they blinked lazily at +their assailants, and it was not until they had received several sharp +pokes from the long sticks that they would move from the spot where +they were lying. Even then they only tottered a few steps farther off, +and sank down again in a great heaving sleepy mass. +</P> + +<P> +"If we threw a few stones at them perhaps they would run?" suggested +John. +</P> + +<P> +"Better not," said Madge; "supposing Barton saw us he would be sure to +say we were hurting them." +</P> + +<P> +"I only meant small ones, of course," answered John; "but I dare say he +would make a fuss and tell Papa some long story, just as he did about +our hunting the cows when we were only trying to catch the calf. He +always thinks things are so much worse than they are really. But how +shall we move the pigs without stones?" +</P> + +<P> +Even Madge could not suggest a remedy for the pigs' excessive +drowsiness. Words, or rather shouts, seemed thrown away upon their +dull ears, and more active interference was impossible with Barton +hovering in the neighbourhood. The chase threatened to come to a +stand-still, when Betty burst into an agitated war-cry. +</P> + +<P> +"The enemy are upon us! No, I forgot! The elephants, I mean! They +are galloping towards us! We shall be overwhelmed!" +</P> + +<P> +She waved her stick defiantly as she screamed, in the spirit of one +prepared to perish sooner than surrender. +</P> + +<P> +This time the alarm had sufficient foundation in fact to be very +exciting. A young heifer, attracted by the noise, and probably +thinking that it had some connection with Barton and hay, set off +trotting across the field, followed at a discreet pace by all the +milking-cows. In the distance, with the help of a little imagination, +they made quite a formidable array. +</P> + +<P> +"We are outnumbered! There is no dishonour in flight!" shouted Madge +in the grand phrases gained from books, that were always employed on +these occasions. "Rush for the fort!" she continued. "The fort under +the oak-tree!" +</P> + +<P> +The children needed no further instructions. They had well-established +settlements under several of the trees, consisting of fallen branches +that had been chopped into logs and piled in a heap to remain there +until wanted. In a few minutes more they were defying elephants and +everything else from the summit of a log-pile fully five feet high, +their backs planted firmly against the solid trunk of the oak-tree. So +safe did they feel that it was annoying of the cows not to come on +faster, and they took it as nothing short of a direct insult when the +leading heifer, to whom they had all along alluded as a mad bull, gave +up the pursuit and began quietly to eat. +</P> + +<P> +"There's no spirit in anything, elephants or bulls! I never saw +anything like it!" said Madge in a tone of utter disgust. "If they +won't run away how can one hunt them?" +</P> + +<P> +"But what is that coming in and out of the farmyard doorway? It isn't +there always," said John, screwing up his eyes and trying to see across +the field in the blinding sunshine. +</P> + +<P> +"I think it's a dog! I am almost sure it is," observed Betty +nervously. "I do hope it is not a mad dog that has strayed in off the +road." +</P> + +<P> +"That's not very likely," laughed Madge. "There aren't many mad dogs +on the road, in fact I know people are obliged to keep them shut up at +home, or muzzled, or—" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I dare say that is the rule. But suppose this one had escaped +without anybody noticing him?" said Betty, who was very much afraid of +dogs; "and suppose he smelt us out, and followed us down here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I should just pat him on the head," said Madge loftily. "You +can make friends with any dog if you aren't afraid of him." +</P> + +<P> +"I say!" exclaimed John suddenly. "It's that brute belonging to the +butcher, that bit the postman. He is wandering about the field, I can +see him quite plainly. The butcher must be in the yard talking to +Barton about buying the calf. I think we had better run back to the +house." Even the courageous Madge prepared to act on this suggestion. +They had been warned never to go near the butcher's dog, and it really +seemed almost beyond the bounds of sport to wait patiently until he +chose to bite them. +</P> + +<P> +"We will run for the house!" cried Madge, rather enjoying the +excitement. "Now, off!" +</P> + +<P> +As is often the case, Betty, being the most nervous and anxious to get +away, made a false start, her foot slipped between two logs of wood and +remained firmly jammed. "Oh stop! stop!" she cried, as the others, not +noticing her misfortune, were hurrying away across the field in the +direction of home. "I can't get out! Don't run away!" she wailed +frantically, twisting and tugging at her foot, but only succeeding in +hurting her ankle rather severely. +</P> + +<P> +The large dog, who had up to this time contented himself with sniffing +about at the top of the field near the yard where his master was +standing, being attracted by the noise now began prowling like a wolf +nearer and nearer to the oak-tree. Betty, looking up from an +ineffectual struggle to roll the logs farther apart, saw him half-way +across the field towards her, and gave a terrific scream. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" cried Madge, checking herself and looking back. "Why, +Betty has never come! What's the matter?" While speaking she had +turned and was rushing back towards her younger sister. +</P> + +<P> +"The dog is coming! Look! He is coming!" shrieked Betty, almost +frantic with fright. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll keep him off! Trust me!" gasped Madge, breathless with running, +as she posted herself in front of the logs, waving her stick like a +battle-axe. Her courage was undeniable, and fortunately her strength +was not put to any proof, as the butcher, hearing terrified cries, +stepped outside the yard and whistled to his dog. +</P> + +<P> +"There! it has turned round! It is running back to its master! Barton +is there, so he will take care that it doesn't follow us again. I dare +say it would not have bitten, though," said Madge soothingly, as Betty +sobbed on her shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +John came up at this moment, and they both tried to push the heavy logs +away, but could not move them an inch, even with all their strength. +At one time it really seemed as if Betty must remain there all night. +</P> + +<P> +"It's no use pulling any more," panted Madge, scarlet from her efforts. +"I shall run up to Papa's workshop and get his little axe. Then I can +chop away the log enough for her to get out." +</P> + +<P> +Possibly Betty was terrified by the prospect of having an axe wielded +by alarmingly energetic but unskilled hands too near her foot. At all +events she not only dried her tears at this suggestion, but twisted her +ankle so actively about that it slipped out of the crack as +mysteriously as it had gone in. There was no harm done, except various +bruises which had been chiefly caused by her efforts to escape. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of some natural disappointment at not having any occasion to +exhibit her powers as a woodcutter, Madge congratulated her sister +heartily on getting loose, and the three children returned towards the +house. Miss Thompson was looking for them in the garden. They ran up +to her, concluding that as usual they were late for tea and she had +come to remind them of it. +</P> + +<P> +"For once you are wrong," she said. "At least it is just tea-time, but +that was not why I was trying to find you. Now wash your hands, brush +your hair, and go to the schoolroom. There you will find three +visitors." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE VISITORS. +</H4> + +<P> +The children were far quicker than usual in carrying out Miss +Thompson's directions and preparing themselves for tea. They were +exceedingly curious to see the visitors, who, contrary to all custom, +seemed to have been shown into the school-room instead of the +drawing-room. And yet they were also a little shy, so that there was +none of the usual crowding at the doorway in trying who should enter +first. The younger ones very contentedly stood aside and allowed Madge +to take the lead without a murmur. +</P> + +<P> +An elderly person, in a large black velvet bonnet, sat with her back to +the window, a very gaily-dressed little girl standing by her side. The +children looked vacantly from one to the other, wondering why they had +come. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Madge!" exclaimed Miss Thompson, "how much longer are you going +to stand there before you speak to Mrs. Winter, who has come all the +way from Churchbury to bring you a present?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course it's Mrs. Winter!" cried Madge, who had really been +completely mystified by the presence of the best black velvet bonnet, +so unlike the rather shabby straw hat in which Mrs. Winter had helped +to search for the missing brown bag. +</P> + +<P> +"And this is Mrs. Winter's grandchild," continued Miss Thompson. "Her +name is Ann—" +</P> + +<P> +"Is that Ann?" cried three excited voices; and the children pressed +eagerly forward to have a good look at the little girl who, though +scarcely older than themselves, was frequently left in charge of a real +shop. +</P> + +<P> +Ann was a large solid-looking girl of thirteen, in a red cashmere frock +that was hardly as bright as her plump cheeks. Her hair had evidently +been plaited very tightly overnight, so that it stood out in a frizzled +mass all round her head. The whole effect was very large and bright. +</P> + +<P> +"I have brought you a new pet," said Mrs. Winter addressing Madge; +"something you have seen before, but it looks rather different now." +She opened a large basket that was on the floor beside her, and lifted +out a pretty tortoise-shell cat. +</P> + +<P> +"What a love!" cried Madge. "Is it the kitten we found in the cellar? +But it looks quite big and fat now, only the colour is the same." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, it's wonderful what care and good feeding will do for any animal!" +observed Mrs. Winter. "You remember how scared the poor creature was +at first? Well, now she is so tame that she will sit on my shoulder. +Just see." +</P> + +<P> +While the cat exhibited two or three little tricks, such as standing on +her hind legs to eat a bit of bread, Mrs. Winter explained that she had +always intended to make a present of the pretty creature to the young +lady who had been so frightened by her in the cellar. +</P> + +<P> +"So, this being early-closing day in the town, I borrowed Mrs. Smith's +pony-trap and drove out, bringing little Ann with me for company," she +said. +</P> + +<P> +"And Mrs. West wishes you to rest and have some tea before you return," +added Miss Thompson. "So let us all sit down at once, and Pussy shall +have a saucer to herself in the corner of the room." +</P> + +<P> +When tea was finished the children asked permission to show Ann their +gardens, and pick her a bunch of flowers before she returned to the +town. Mrs. Winter preferred sitting indoors in the shade, until her +grandchild was ready to start. +</P> + +<P> +It must be owned that as long as they were in the schoolroom Ann had +proved disappointingly dull. Instead of enlightening them on her +method of keeping shop when she was left in sole charge, she sat +stolidly munching cake, and hardly replying when she was spoken to by +Miss Thompson. In point of fact poor Ann was rendered desperately shy +by being dressed up in all her finest clothes to come on this important +visit. All the way to Beechgrove her grandmother had been warning her +that she must behave beautifully if they were asked to go inside the +house, and the consequence was that the poor girl was almost afraid to +speak, for fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. But when once in +the garden her shyness of the young ladies rapidly faded away. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you ever climb trees or sail boats in ditches?" inquired Madge, +when they had at last got on easy conversational terms with their +visitor. +</P> + +<P> +Ann explained that there were only a limited number of trees in +Churchbury, and that the police forbid any interference with them. "Of +course some of the children sail their boats in the gutters after a +storm," she added; "but Mother wouldn't like us to do that. She always +makes us keep ourselves to ourselves." +</P> + +<P> +"But here it's quite different!" broke in Madge. "We do just what we +like, only there is rather a fuss if we tear our clothes very badly. +You might begin on an easy tree." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps she would like to see the pigs and cows first?" interposed +Betty, who could not help noticing that their guest showed some natural +reluctance to risk the red cashmere frock among unknown and probably +prickly branches. +</P> + +<P> +Ann had been afraid to say that she did not at all wish to climb trees, +but she eagerly grasped at this chance of a reprieve, and they all set +off towards the pig-sty. Now the young Wests always regarded the +little farmyard over which Barton presided as far the most interesting +part of Beechgrove. If their mother had visitors she invariably took +them to see the greenhouses, a dull sort of entertainment, as it seemed +to the children. Certainly some people would stand for half an hour in +front of a row of pots asking questions and reading the names on wooden +labels. It seemed incredible that they should derive amusement from +this monotonous performance, so the children concluded that they did it +merely because some such absurd custom was demanded by good manners of +all guests. Now, looking at the pigs was quite a different affair. +There was some pleasure to be got out of that, and as Ann stood on +tiptoe to peep over the wooden door of the sty they felt convinced that +they were giving her an unusual treat. +</P> + +<P> +Unfortunately, one has to be accustomed to pigs to appreciate them +properly. When a gigantic old sow was at last lured out of her +sleeping apartment by a shower of acorns, artfully thrown against her +flabby sides, the Wests shrieked with delight because she was followed +by her whole family. +</P> + +<P> +"I never saw them all out before although they are nearly a month old," +observed Madge, wishing delicately to impress upon the stranger that +she was unusually lucky. +</P> + +<P> +"We never saw them all out before," echoed John. "You see there are +three in the trough, and one all sticky who has just crawled out, that +makes four. Then there are five squeezed up in the mud behind the +sow's back and two under her snout, so you can see the whole eleven at +once. She had thirteen, but two of them were squashed to death the +first day. Barton found them both flat; he says she must have slept on +top of them by mistake. Our sows generally do when they have a lot of +children." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you notice that little black one with a white patch under his right +eye?" inquired Betty, feeling that it was now her turn to do the +honours of the pig-sty. "We call him Spot. He is such a little love, +only horribly greedy. That is why he is in such a mess, he will crawl +in the trough and get covered with milk. Sometimes Barton brings him +outside for us to pat. I wonder if we could possibly get him for +ourselves if we poked the sow off with sticks so that she shouldn't +push through the door when it is opened?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't try! Please don't open the door!" begged Ann. "I couldn't +bear to have those horrid smelly creatures coming after me. I know I +should scream if they got loose!" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you like pigs, then?" This inquiry came in tones of +astonishment from all three children. +</P> + +<P> +"Like them? No! They smell that horrid it quite upsets me!" Poor +Ann's disgust was so genuine that she quite forgot to speak as +correctly as she had succeeded in doing up to this point. +</P> + +<P> +It was in vain that the Wests pointed out how baby pigs are quite as +pretty as kittens or puppies when they roll playfully over on their +mother's fat sides. Ann only held her nose and turned away her face; +even when Spot went through the most ridiculous antics, pulling his +little brother Whitey all about the sty by his tail, she expressed no +admiration. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if you really don't like them I suppose we had better go and see +the cows," said Madge rather impatiently. It is always disappointing, +and gives very unnecessary trouble, when visitors will not share one's +own tastes. Madge had relied on the pigs as an enormous attraction to +a town child, and she was proportionately irritated when the +entertainment failed. "I suppose you don't think cows dirty?" she +asked with elaborate politeness. +</P> + +<P> +No, Ann had no objection to cows. On the contrary, she knew a milkman +who kept some cows on the outskirts of the town, and she sometimes went +there and had a tumbler of new milk for a treat. To be sure she felt a +little timid when Madge pushed a cabbage into her hand, and told her to +feed a large red cow with particularly sharp horns. The children had a +habit of each adopting a cow and feeding it themselves when there were +any cabbages or pea-stalks to spare. Every cow, of course, had a name. +</P> + +<P> +"That red one is quite new. She only came on Saturday," observed John. +"So we haven't yet settled who she is to belong to, and that is why you +can feed her. But we are going to call her Spiteful, because she +shakes her head so crossly and has such very sharp horns." +</P> + +<P> +This was rather a formidable introduction to a cow, and it is not to be +wondered at that Ann soon incurred the scorn of the other children by +dropping her cabbage on the ground and retiring behind the railings. +She afterwards accused Spiteful of having tried to bite her. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if you don't care for feeding the animals perhaps you would like +to play in the hay-loft?" said Madge with calm patience. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes! That is just what I should like!" cried Ann eagerly. A loft +seemed to present fewer possibilities of danger than any of the other +places of amusement to which they had yet taken her. +</P> + +<P> +There was a little difficulty about climbing a ladder out of the yard. +Ann was awkward, and the red cashmere dress being rather long she +continually tripped over it. But when they had once safely reached the +loft they had a grand game of play among the great heaps of hay and +straw, scattering them untidily all over the neatly-swept floor in a +way that was certain to drive Barton almost wild whenever he discovered +it. +</P> + +<P> +The distant ringing of a large bell at last broke in upon the +children's shouts. +</P> + +<P> +"That is to call us," explained Madge. "They always ring it when we +are out in the fields and forget tea. But it can't be tea now because +we have had it. I expect Mrs. Winter wants to go home." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, whatever will Grandmama say when she sees my dress!" wailed Ann as +they emerged from the gloom of the loft into full daylight. "It was +new to go to London," she continued sadly; "and Mother said it would do +to wear on Sundays all through the year." +</P> + +<P> +The red cashmere had indeed suffered sadly. It bore greasy traces of +having been in contact with the pig-sty door all down its front, and +was also torn in more than one place. Mrs. Winter was very much +distressed by her grandchild's appearance when they returned to the +house, and scolded her somewhat severely for having behaved in a rough +and unmannerly fashion when out on a visit. Poor Ann burst into tears, +and was only partially comforted when Miss Thompson took her upstairs +and kindly stitched together the worst of the rents so that she might +not look absolutely ragged on her way home. +</P> + +<P> +When the little pony cart drove away from the door Madge returned +rather thoughtfully to the schoolroom with the tortoise-shell cat in +her arms. +</P> + +<P> +"It seems a curious thing," she said, "that people are not always happy +when you mean them to be. I thought Ann would like the same things as +we do, and after all she has gone away almost crying, and hasn't +enjoyed herself a bit." +</P> + +<P> +"Another time," answered Miss Thompson, "when you really wish to give +your guests pleasure, you had better consult their tastes instead of +your own. If you had only considered for a moment, it was not probable +that a town child would be as familiar with animals as you are; and it +was also easy to see that Ann had been dressed in her best clothes for +the afternoon and was afraid of hurting them." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps so," said Madge. "But I always think it's rather stupid of +people who don't like the same things as we do, don't you?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AN END OF HIDING. +</H4> + +<P> +At the earliest opportunity on the following day Madge, Betty, and John +returned to the loft to finish their interrupted game. They were three +cavaliers hiding from Cromwell's soldiers, and really a better place of +concealment could not have been found than the loft, where by simply +closing a door they were in almost complete darkness. Madge, as +captain, neglected no opportunity of ensuring the safety of her +followers. She made them crouch down behind the straw, and lie so +still that even the most sharp-sighted Roundheads would scarcely have +suspected their existence. +</P> + +<P> +"I will steal out to keep watch," she whispered, creeping on her hands +and knees towards the closed door. "Posted by the crack of the hinges +I can survey the whole country, and watch the march of the rebel troops +without being seen. Then when— Oh!" +</P> + +<P> +The door suddenly flew open in her face, almost knocking her over. A +head appeared at the top of the ladder. It was Lewis Brand's! +</P> + +<P> +If the children had really been discovered by Cromwell's soldiers they +could hardly have been more frightened. Lewis had time to step off the +ladder and come into the loft before they recovered themselves +sufficiently to speak. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't seem overjoyed to see a friend?" he remarked sneeringly. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, do go away!" cried Betty nervously. "Somebody will see you! I +know they will!" +</P> + +<P> +"It's very kind of you to be so anxious on my account, but I think I +can take care of myself," said Lewis with a disagreeable laugh. "You +thought you had all got away from me, did you? Pretty sort of friends, +I call you! All going off one day without saying a word, and never +coming back." +</P> + +<P> +"After all, we are not obliged to play with you!" exclaimed Madge with +some spirit. +</P> + +<P> +"Aren't you indeed? We shall soon see!" replied Lewis. "I'm not at +all sure that you can get away from me! I sat on the wall and watched +you come down here after dinner, then I seized my opportunity when +nobody was about, and ran across the fields to join you. It was worth +seeing how frightened you all were when I quietly stepped in at the +door! And wherever you go to play I shall turn up in just the same +way. You see if I don't!" +</P> + +<P> +"What nonsense! We can play in the garden if we like!" said Madge +defiantly. +</P> + +<P> +"So you can! And find me hiding in the potting-shed and behind the +cucumber-frames," replied Lewis. +</P> + +<P> +Betty began to cry. It was not very brave of her, but then she had +been rejoicing so much at getting rid of Lewis and his mysteries, and +was so horribly disappointed when they all returned. +</P> + +<P> +"I won't have you coming back here to tease us all!" cried Madge +angrily. "I am sorry we ever spoke to you. It was wrong of us, and I +heartily wish we hadn't. If you go on—" +</P> + +<P> +"Mind, you promised faithfully not to tell anybody about me," +interrupted Lewis. "If you say a single word about my coming over the +wall you will have told a lie." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's the worst of it," admitted Madge. "And yet it seems just +as untruthful to meet you and pretend we are only playing by ourselves. +Either way it's wrong." +</P> + +<P> +"Very likely," said Lewis carelessly. "That's your affair. It's too +late to draw back now." +</P> + +<P> +There was a silence, during which the three Wests heartily repented +their naughty folly in having secretly made such an undesirable +acquaintance. +</P> + +<P> +Presently there was a heavy footstep in the yard below. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" whispered Lewis, in a very different voice to the +bullying accents in which he had just been speaking. +</P> + +<P> +"It is Barton driving the cows into the yard to be milked," replied +Madge softly. "He always does it about this time." +</P> + +<P> +"But how am I to get down the ladder to go home if he is standing at +the bottom?" inquired Lewis nervously. +</P> + +<P> +"I never thought of that! He will be in the yard for the next hour," +answered Madge. "Of course we don't mind passing him, because we are +allowed to play up here; only he doesn't like us making the hay as +untidy as it is now. But I'm sure you can't get down without being +seen." +</P> + +<P> +"You won't all run away and leave me caught like a rat in a trap, will +you?" begged Lewis, almost whimpering with fright. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it likely?" replied Madge in her finest tone of scorn. "Stay +quiet," she added with contemptuous kindness, "and we will get you out +of it somehow." +</P> + +<P> +It is in moments of peril that a true leader shines most. While Lewis +lay cowering behind the straw, and the twins waited expectantly for +some suggestion, Madge calmly looked round the loft and originated a +plan. "I know how you can get away," she said, after some moments of +earnest thought. "There is that little door at the back of the loft, +it does not look out into the yard but out upon the hay-ricks, in fact +that is where they put the hay up into the loft. If you get down that +side Barton can't possibly see you while he is milking the cows in the +yard." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's a capital idea! I'll go at once!" cried Lewis. "Not that +I am really afraid of your old man or anybody," he added, with a return +of his customary boastful manner. "Only I don't want to get you all +into trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"You have become very brave all of a sudden," said Madge, who by this +time heartily despised him for his mixture of bragging and cowardice. +"It's fortunate you are not afraid of anything," she added rather +maliciously, "because you see there is no ladder outside this door, so +you will have to drop down to the ground as best you can." +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't very far, I suppose?" asked Lewis anxiously. But when the +loft door was at last opened—rather a difficult job to accomplish +quietly, as the hinges were rusty and would creak,—he declared that he +could not possibly get down without a ladder. +</P> + +<P> +"But you must!" exclaimed Madge impatiently. "It's your only chance of +getting away without being seen." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be hurt! I know I shall!" moaned Lewis, as he drew back with +a shiver from the open door. +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't so very far," said Betty encouragingly. "Not higher than a +room, I think." +</P> + +<P> +Still Lewis hung back. "Oh, dear Madge," he whined, "couldn't you +manage to carry the ladder round from the yard to the door at the back?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if you can't possibly get down without it I will try!" said +Madge desperately. "Betty and John must come with me, as the ladder is +so long I can't carry it alone. I am afraid Barton will make a fuss +when he sees us moving it, though." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no, he won't! I dare say he won't notice you," asserted Lewis, +only intent on his own safety, and not caring in the least what risks +other people ran on his account. +</P> + +<P> +But in the excitement of the moment the children had raised their +voices rather loudly, and Barton heard them as he milked the cows in +the yard below. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, you young ladies and Master John, you are breaking that straw all +to pieces, I'll be bound!" he shouted. "I'll be up and see what you +are about directly I've done with this cow, that I will! Tossing the +hay all over the floor, when it was only put tidy the other day!" +</P> + +<P> +"Will he come up really?" whispered Lewis, white with terror. "Yes? +Oh, help me to get away! Help me!" +</P> + +<P> +"I will try," said Madge, once more taking the lead; "but you must do +as I tell you. Now if you had a rope to hold on to do you think you +could get down to the ground?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I think I could. But where is the rope? Please be quick!" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course we can't get a rope here!" answered Madge sharply. She was +losing all patience with this coward, who only thought of his own +comfort and safety. However, she had pledged herself to do her best +for him, so she continued: "We will tie all our pocket-handkerchiefs +together. They will reach a good way towards the ground." +</P> + +<P> +This really seemed an excellent idea, although when it came to be +worked out John could not make any contribution, having left his +handkerchief in the pocket of another coat. The knots also took up a +terrible amount of material, so that the completed rope was not a very +long affair. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think it is strong?" asked Lewis nervously. "And that you can +hold my weight?" +</P> + +<P> +"No fear of that!" Madge squatted down by the door, Betty held her +firmly by the waist, and John tugged at the back. "Now we are ready," +they said. +</P> + +<P> +There was really no excuse for any further delay. Lewis desperately +seized the end of the knotted handkerchiefs and stood for a moment +irresolute on the edge of the wall. Then suddenly, thinking he heard +Barton coming behind him, he sprang forward with such a jerk that the +handkerchiefs slipped through his fingers and he fell heavily to the +ground. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that is his own fault, not ours!" exclaimed Madge. "We held the +rope tight enough, and if he chose to jump in that silly way nobody +could help it!" Her indignation, however, gave way to fear, as Lewis +continued to lie motionless on the ground. "Is he hurt, or only +shamming?" she said. "Lewis! Lewis! get up and run home before anyone +sees you!" Even this appeal produced no effect on the prostrate +figure, and the children became seriously alarmed. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think he can be pretending," observed Betty; "he would be +afraid to lie there so near the yard. Besides, he is in such a funny +position." +</P> + +<P> +"I must go down and see what is the matter," said Madge decidedly. +"No, I sha'n't try the handkerchiefs, we have had enough of them, and I +don't think you two really are strong enough to hold me up." Without +waiting to discuss the matter any further she climbed down the ladder +and ran through the yard. +</P> + +<P> +"Hullo, Miss Madge, where are you off to?" cried old Barton from the +corner of the cow-house. "Up to some mischief again, I can see by the +pace you are running? Whatever have you been doing now, I wonder?" +</P> + +<P> +Madge rushed on without answering, and disappeared round the end of the +buildings. Lewis was still lying in a sort of crumpled-up heap when +she reached him. He did not attempt to rise or even speak when she +pulled him by the arm. "I am afraid he must be badly hurt!" she cried +anxiously to Betty and John, who were staring with white frightened +faces from the open door of the loft above. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-199"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-199.jpg" ALT="LEWIS WAS STILL LYING IN A SORT OF CRUMPLED-UP HEAP" BORDER="2" WIDTH="406" HEIGHT="646"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 406px"> +LEWIS WAS STILL LYING IN A SORT OF CRUMPLED-UP HEAP +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"What shall you do?" they asked. "Will he get better? Can we help?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's something too bad for us. I shall call Barton to look at him," +replied Madge. There were exclamations of astonishment from the twins. +"Yes, it's no good trying to keep it a secret about Lewis any longer," +she said gravely. "Of course we shall be scolded, but that can't be +helped." +</P> + +<P> +When Barton came he took a very grave view of the case. "Seems as if +the young gentleman were mortal bad," he said. "Better run up to the +house and call someone at once. It's a question if he ever walks home +again, wherever he comes from!" +</P> + +<P> +"Does Barton mean he will die?" asked John in an awestruck whisper as +the three children ran off for help. Nobody cared to be left behind +with Barton by the side of that still figure on the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no! Barton only said that to try and frighten us," answered Madge +with a would-be hopeful air. But in her heart fear that Lewis was +already dead so overcame all other considerations that she rushed into +the house calling for help without a moment's thought of the blame she +was about to incur. +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately Captain West was at home that afternoon. He understood at +once that somebody was hurt while doing something in the loft, and +naturally concluded that it was old Barton, whose business it was to +carry down the hay when wanted. +</P> + +<P> +"Did he slip on the ladder?" inquired Captain West as he hurried back +with the children. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no! getting out of that little square door at the back of the loft. +You see, he was sliding down our handkerchiefs and they slipped—" +</P> + +<P> +"Barton sliding down your handkerchiefs?" repeated Captain West in a +tone of great astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"No, of course not!" laughed Madge rather hysterically. "It was +Lewis—that's to say, a boy who came over the wall—when we were in the +Eagle's Nest, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know in the least what you are talking about," said Captain +West; "but I can see he is badly hurt," he added as they came in sight +of Lewis lying just as he fell, for old Barton had been afraid of +trying to move him alone. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," began Captain West after a short examination of the +injured boy, "you, Betty, run back to the house and ask your mother to +send for the doctor. Don't frighten her more than you can help. John, +go and fetch the gardener as quickly as possible; we must get this poor +boy carried home and properly attended to. Now, Madge," he added when +the twins had started on their errands, "collect yourself, please, and +speak the truth. Where does this boy come from?" +</P> + +<P> +"From Mrs. Howard's, over the wall," answered Madge quietly, though she +could not help trembling with excitement. "He lives with her and is +very cruelly treated, so we began to talk one day when we were in the +Eagle's Nest, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"That will do for the present," interrupted Captain West. "Now I don't +want any of you here any more. Go off to the schoolroom and stay there +till bed-time, unless I send for you." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +EXPLANATIONS. +</H4> + +<P> +After so much excitement it seemed intolerably dull to sit quietly hour +after hour in the schoolroom without knowing what was going on. Even +Miss Thompson could not attend to them, for she was sitting with their +mother, who happened to be unwell in bed. The children had time to +talk over and imagine every kind of terrible conclusion to the accident +before their father was ready to come and see them. +</P> + +<P> +"Will he get better?" Madge inquired in a trembling voice as soon as +the door opened. +</P> + +<P> +"Get better? Yes, I should hope so in every way," answered Captain +West, sitting down and taking the twins gently on his knees, while +Madge hung over the back of his chair. "It's a bad accident though," +he continued. "A broken leg and some injury to the head. He only +regained consciousness just before I left Mrs. Howard's." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what were they doing with him? I hope they won't lock him into +the cellar now he is ill!" cried Betty compassionately. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear child! What are you thinking about? Do we usually lock +people in cellars when they are ill?" laughed her father. "No, he was +in a remarkably nice bedroom, with a hospital nurse and Dr. Brown in +attendance on him when I left." +</P> + +<P> +Betty felt greatly relieved. It seemed impossible to believe that much +cruelty would take place in the presence of Dr. Brown, who always +ordered her black-currant tea when she had a cough, and told Nurse to +put as little mustard as possible in the poultices. +</P> + +<P> +"But why should you expect that boy to be ill-treated at home?" +inquired Captain West. "From what I hear about him I should think it +is much more likely he has been spoilt!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! it isn't his real home," explained Betty, "and that Mrs. Howard is +a terrible person." +</P> + +<P> +She was going to add that the old lady had the reputation of being a +witch, but the accusation seemed too absurd to be urged in broad +daylight in the school-room. So she only mentioned a few of Lewis's +tales about Mrs. Howard's cruelty to him. +</P> + +<P> +Captain West listened for a minute and then fairly burst out laughing. +"Do you really mean that you believed all that?" he said. "You +seriously thought boys were stolen, and shut up in dark cellars, and +all the rest of it?" +</P> + +<P> +The children hung their heads, suddenly feeling rather ashamed of the +ease with which they had been imposed upon, for they could see that +their father did not believe a word of the horrors. +</P> + +<P> +"But other people beside Lewis Brand have told us that Mrs. Howard is +very dreadful and mysterious," observed Madge, who did not at all like +finding herself quite in the wrong. "When Mrs. Bunn is weeding the +garden she sometimes tells us what people in the village say—" +</P> + +<P> +"She would be better employed pulling up groundsel!" interrupted +Captain West. "But what does she tell you about starving boys in +cellars full of black-beetles?" +</P> + +<P> +Madge was bound to admit that she had never heard this particular +accusation against Mrs. Howard from anybody except Lewis. +</P> + +<P> +"But people say she is mad and never will see strangers. And we have +looked at her over the wall, so we know something about it," she +persisted. +</P> + +<P> +"And you saw a very delicate-looking old lady tottering along and +nodding her head? Just so. Now listen to me. Many years ago poor +Mrs. Howard had a very serious illness, which left her with some +disease of the nerves so that she cannot keep her head still for a +moment. Ever since then she has shut herself up and avoided seeing +strangers, as she is very shy about her infirmity being noticed. And I +must say," concluded Captain West, "that I am vexed to think my +children should have tried to pry into what did not in the least +concern them." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry we looked at her, if that is the reason she nodded so +funnily to the cows," said Madge. "But were not any of the stories +Lewis told us true? About the cellars, and the jailer with the gray +beard?" +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot tell you anything definite about Mrs. Howard's cellars, +except that, judging by the size of the house, they must be very +small," answered Captain West. "But this I know for a fact. The boy +Lewis Brand is an orphan with no money of his own, and Mrs. Howard +being an old friend of his parents generously offered to adopt him and +bring him up. Unfortunately, owing to his mother's long illness, Lewis +was very much neglected as a child, and got into such bad habits that +he has been nothing but an anxiety to his kind friend from the first. +He has already been expelled from two schools, and Mrs. Howard is at +present trying to educate him at home with a tutor—that gentleman with +the gray beard you saw." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I never heard of such a horrid story-telling boy!" exclaimed +Madge impetuously. "And so ungrateful too! But why should he have +told such dreadful untruths about Mrs. Howard?" +</P> + +<P> +"To frighten you, I expect," replied Captain West. "The reason they +would not keep him at school was because he would tease and frighten +the younger boys. He seems a born bully." +</P> + +<P> +"And a great coward into the bargain!" added Madge. "You should have +seen how frightened—" +</P> + +<P> +"I dare say!" interrupted her father. "The two things generally go +together. His only excuse is that he was badly trained when young. +However, you will probably admit that in future it will be wiser to let +us choose your friends for you?" +</P> + +<P> +The children had no answer to make. They were thoroughly ashamed of +themselves. When their father left the room they began to discuss the +subject in all its bearings. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want to abuse Lewis as he is ill," said Madge. "That would be +mean. But I must tell you both something very suspicious that +happened. When I was standing by him just after he fell from the loft +I happened to step on something hard. I stooped to see what it was, +picked it up, and here it is!" +</P> + +<P> +"One of my marbles!" cried John. "One of those I lost out of the +treasure-house! I am quite sure it is, because of the funny red mark I +painted myself on the side." +</P> + +<P> +"You did it with my new paints," chimed in Betty. +</P> + +<P> +"But how did the marble come there?" asked John, much bewildered, but +holding tightly on to his newly-recovered treasure for fear it should +again disappear. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, of course I can't tell for certain," said Madge. "I can only +guess. But it seems as if it must have fallen out of Lewis's pocket." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you think he took our things out of the treasure-hole?" cried +Betty. "He never could have been so wicked as to steal them, and then +come pretending he was so sorry for our loss and wondering where they +had gone!" +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps he didn't actually mean to steal them, only to tease us," +suggested Madge. "And I feel sure now that he took the rope-ladder," +she continued. "You know he pretended at the time that he couldn't get +up the wall without it; but that was only to deceive us. He had those +iron railings for ladders, though he said nothing about them until +later." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Madge!" exclaimed the twins. They could think of nothing else to +say. The contemplation of such deliberate perfidy was too +overpowering. The more they recalled Lewis's dark hints and malicious +suggestions about other people, the more disgusted they felt with him, +and the more vexed with themselves for having been so completely +deceived. "We might have known there was something wrong when he made +us promise not to say anything about him!" they said. "Never again +will we have a secret friend!" +</P> + +<P> +Captain West went several times to see Lewis during his long illness, +and did his best to make the unfortunate boy understand the reason why +he was an unfit companion for other children. At first Lewis seemed to +regard his untruths and deceptions merely in the light of very clever +jokes; but gradually some faint sense of shame appeared to steal over +him, though whether on account of his faults or only because they had +been discovered, Captain West could not very well make out. +</P> + +<P> +"What will become of Lewis Brand?" asked the children one day when +their father had just returned from visiting him. +</P> + +<P> +"Directly he is well enough to walk he is going to live with a +gentleman who has great experience with boys, and who will do his best +to counteract the faults that you all find so shameful in Lewis," said +Captain West. "But in justice to the poor boy I must add one thing. +He was much neglected as a little child, and had none of the advantages +of an affectionate and careful training. Now, in proportion to his +opportunities, perhaps he did not behave worse than certain children +who, with no excuses at all, tried to deceive—" +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean us?" interrupted Madge, with a very red face. She did not +at all appreciate being compared in any way with Lewis, for whose +conduct she felt great contempt. And yet there was a certain element +of truth in her father's words that could not be ignored. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we will say no more about that," continued Captain West +cheerfully. "I think after what has happened I can trust you all not +to embark again on secret friendships with strangers?" +</P> + +<P> +"No! Indeed we will not!" cried the three children. And they kept +their resolution. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eagle's Nest, by S. E. Cartwright + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EAGLE'S NEST *** + +***** This file should be named 32971-h.htm or 32971-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/9/7/32971/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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E. Cartwright + +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: The Eagle's Nest + +Author: S. E. Cartwright + +Illustrator: William Rainey + +Release Date: June 25, 2010 [EBook #32971] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EAGLE'S NEST *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + + +[Frontispiece: "LIE STILL," WHISPERED LEWIS, "SHE IS COMING THIS WAY!"] + + + + + +The Eagle's Nest + + +BY + +S. E. CARTWRIGHT + +Author of "Tommy the Adventurous" + + + + +_Illustrated by William Rainey, R.I._ + + + + +BLACKIE & SON LIMITED + +LONDON AND GLASGOW + +1899 + + + + + BLACKIE & SON LIMITED + 50 Old Bailey, London + 17 Stanhope Street, Glasgow + BLACKIE & SON (INDIA) LIMITED + Warwick House, Fort Street, Bombay + BLACKIE & SON (CANADA) LIMITED + 1118 Bay Street, Toronto + + + +Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Chap. + + I. A WASP IN THE SCHOOLROOM + II. UNDER THE LABURNUM-TREE + III. THE EAGLE'S NEST + IV. A ROPE-LADDER + V. THE BOY WHO MOUNTED IT + VI. A VICTIM + VII. JACK AND JILL + VIII. AN EARLY CHASE + IX. AN ALARMING JUMP + X. THE TRESPASSER + XI. CERTAIN LITTLE GARDENS + XII. A NEW LADDER + XIII. THE BROWN BAG + XIV. KEEPING SHOP + XV. A CUSTOMER + XVI. IMPRISONED IN A PARLOUR + XVII. IN AN EMPTY HOUSE + XVIII. THE RETURN AFTER SHOPPING + XIX. AN INTERESTING DITCH + XX. DISPUTES + XXI. OLD GAMES + XXII. THE VISITORS + XXIII. AN END OF HIDING + XXIV. EXPLANATIONS + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"LIE STILL," WHISPERED LEWIS, "SHE IS COMING THIS WAY!" . . . _Frontis._ + +A TALL, THIN MAN WAS CAREFULLY EXAMINING JACK + +LEWIS WAS STILL LYING IN A SORT OF CRUMPLED-UP HEAP + + + + +THE EAGLE'S NEST + + +CHAPTER I + +A WASP IN THE SCHOOLROOM + +One bright May morning, Madge, Betty, and John were a little more +inattentive than usual over their lessons. Miss Thompson was very +patient. She knew that warm spring days were full of distracting +interests. The first wasp of the season managed to get into the +schoolroom and buzz ostentatiously on the window-pane in the middle of +a history lesson. There was a long pause of expectation on the part of +the three children. Surely even a grown-up person could not be so +utterly uninterested as to allow a queen-wasp to escape alive? + +"What was the chief event of the reign of Henry the Eighth?" continued +Miss Thompson, quite unmoved by the display of suppressed excitement +around her. There was no answer, so she repeated the question a little +louder. + +"May I kill it, or would you rather do it yourself?" said Madge +eagerly. The three children had now shut their books and given up all +pretence of interest in anything except the wasp, which was trying +harder than ever to buzz right through the pane of glass. + +"Really nobody would suppose that you were twelve years old!" said Miss +Thompson, in a vain effort to make her eldest pupil ashamed of herself. +"Now then, open your history and see what was the most important event, +if you can't remember." + +"But it'll get away if you don't squash it!" shrieked John and Betty. +They were twins, and perhaps for that reason always spoke together. + +"Do leave the poor creature alone!" said Miss Thompson imploringly. +"It cannot hurt you if you sit still and attend to your lessons." + +"That's not what we are afraid of!" cried Madge; "it's the fruit! +Don't you know a queen-wasp has millions of children before the summer +is over, and we shan't have any fruit at all if you don't kill it!" + +"No strawberries! No peaches! No nothing!" echoed the twins with +growing excitement. "And it will be all your fault! But of course you +don't care, as you never eat fruit. Papa won't like it though. He +always kills--" + +"My dears, please don't make such a silly fuss about nothing," +interrupted Miss Thompson, rising with considerable dignity from her +seat. The children watched her with the most intense interest; but +when, instead of crushing the intruding wasp, she merely tried to brush +it out of the open window with her handkerchief, they broke out into +shouts of disapproval. If the poor lady had let loose some peculiarly +savage wild beast on society she could not have been more severely +condemned by public opinion. And the worst of it was, that the wasp +would not go! She clung to the handkerchief, and when it was shaken at +the open window suddenly transferred herself to the sleeve of her +deliverer's dress. + +Even Miss Thompson's calmness gave way under this trial. She started +back with a slight scream. The children were at her side in a moment, +beating and slapping at her arm, until they had inflicted almost as +much injury as a sting. + +"It's fallen on the floor!" shrieked Madge. "No! it's up again! It's +back on the window! Where's the squasher?" + +There was one well-established way of killing wasps in the schoolroom +at Beechgrove. This was with the heavy brass top of an old-fashioned +ink-bottle. Its size and shape were all that could be desired, and it +was familiarly alluded to as "the squasher". Even Miss Thompson when +in a hurry sometimes forgot to describe it as the top of an ink-bottle, +though she usually corrected herself afterwards. + +At the present moment both Betty and John rushed to the table, and +began to fight vigorously for the possession of the much-coveted +instrument of destruction. + +"Bring it quickly!" screamed Madge, who did not dare leave the window +for fear of losing sight of her prey. "Bring it here, I say! You +aren't going to squash it, you little sillies! I'm the eldest, so it's +my place!" + +"You unfair thing! You squashed the last, so it's my turn!" shouted +John. And while he turned to hurl defiance at his elder sister, Betty +seized the opportunity to twitch the object of strife out of his hand +and run off with it. + +Something perilously like a free-fight was in progress, when Miss +Thompson recovered her self-possession and sternly ordered the children +to return to their seats. + +"And the wasp?" they cried. "It will get away, and make nests, and we +shall be stung, and have no fruit, and--" + +"I will kill it myself," interrupted Miss Thompson, who now saw that +this was the only way to restore quiet. + +"But why should you?" pleaded Madge. "You don't like squashing wasps, +and we do." + +"That's just the reason I am going to do it myself," said Miss Thompson +resolutely. "Now go back to the table and find out the place in your +books." + +"You are very unkind. Yes, very unkind," grumbled the twins; but they +did not dare to flatly disobey, any more than Madge, who left the +window scowling horribly, and expressing an audible hope that everybody +who liked wasps should be stung by wasps. + +It was particularly annoying that Miss Thompson took no notice of this +amiable speech, but after crushing the wasp with as little interest as +she would have buttoned a glove, returned quietly to her seat, and +inquired: + +"What was the most important event in the reign of Henry the Eighth?" +precisely as if nothing had happened. + +"Oh, I know the answer to that!" exclaimed John scornfully. "I've +known that since I was a baby!" + +"Well then, why do you require me to repeat the question so many +times?" very naturally observed Miss Thompson. "Do give me a sensible +answer, and then I can pass on to something that you do not know so +well." + +"Oh, of course, it was about all his wives having their heads cut off--" + +"Not all!" interrupted Betty. "Just let me say them! Catherine of +Arragon was divorced, Anne Boleyn had--" + +"Stop!" cried Miss Thompson. "You are both wrong." + +"No! Really I am sure it's right!" exclaimed Betty. "Isn't it, Madge? +You know you saw the place where her head was chopped off that time you +went to London with Aunt Mabel. Nobody was allowed to walk on it, and +there were railings all round; and the policeman said one night in the +year her ghost--" + +"Really this has nothing at all to do with your lesson," said Miss +Thompson, resolutely cutting short what threatened to be a very long +story. "I never doubted that Anne Boleyn was beheaded," she continued. +"Only, as it happens, my question has nothing to do with Henry the +Eighth's wives. Other events of much greater importance happened +during his reign, though you seem to have forgotten them. The +Reformation, for instance." + +"Oh, you meant that sort of thing, did you?" said John, every spark of +interest dying out of his voice. It might be possible to remember a +few facts about axes and blocks, but church councils and acts of +parliament he felt to be altogether beneath his notice. So he simply +gave up even the pretence of attending, and began to stare out of the +window at the gardener mowing the lawn. "Once, twice, three times," he +counted, in a loud whisper, as the man passed the window with the +mowing-machine. + +"Draw down the blind, John," said Miss Thompson. + +There was a chorus of reproaches from all the children. They +particularly disliked this punishment, which was only inflicted on rare +occasions when they had been unusually inattentive. + +"Draw down the blind at once," repeated Miss Thompson. + +"I always feel so gloomy when the blind is down," lamented Madge in a +very mournful tone. "I know I can't do my lessons if the sun is all +shut out." + +"My dear, they couldn't have been done worse this morning if you had +been shut up in the dark," replied Miss Thompson, trying to close the +discussion by again taking up the history-book. + +But by this time John had wandered to the window, and was carefully +inspecting the dead wasp. Not content with looking, he must needs take +it up to count how many legs it had. "One, two, three, four." John +was very fond of counting, especially at lesson-times. But there was +one important item that he left out of his calculations--the sting! + +"Oh! oh! It hurts! it hurts!" shouted the little boy, as he hopped +about the room nursing his thumb. + +"You silly child! If you had only been obedient and done what I told +you, instead of playing with the wasp," began Miss Thompson. Then she +remembered that it really was a waste of breath pointing out a moral to +a boy who was shouting and sobbing, so that he could not hear a word +she said. "You had better go to the nursery," she added, "and have +something put on your hand. No, you need not do any more lessons +before dinner. You can go out into the garden, and your sisters will +join you when they have finished." + +John was out of the schoolroom door almost before she had done +speaking. When once in the passage his cries stopped suddenly. He +knew better than to wake the baby out of its mid-day sleep. So on +tiptoe, with carefully suppressed sobs, he entered the nursery, and +replied in whispers to Nurse's anxious inquiries after his injuries. +John had been her favourite charge until the recent arrival of a baby +brother. Now she was fickle enough to prefer the baby, or at least to +behave as if she did. Still, she lavished much compassion in dumb-show +on John's swollen thumb, and wrapped it in a blue bag, until he became +so interested in the process that he quite forgot it was hurting. But +presently Baby stirred in his sleep, and Nurse being anxious to attend +to him, advised John to run out and play in the garden. + +It was not strictly speaking kind, but at the same time it was very +natural conduct, that John should stand close outside the schoolroom +window making derisive faces at his two sisters, who were being +reluctantly introduced to the leading facts of English history. Betty +first noticed him, and broke into a loud giggle. Miss Thompson looked +up. + +"If you are well enough to stand there grimacing in the sun, you are +well enough to come in and finish your lessons," was all she said. +John promptly fled out of sight round the corner. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +UNDER THE LABURNUM-TREE. + +Within a few yards of the schoolroom window, but just out of sight, +stood a large laburnum-tree. Behind it was a very substantial +bay-bush. The two were planted at a corner of the house, with the +intention probably of cutting off a view of the kitchen windows from +the front. But the children had elevated them into a far higher +position than that of a mere screen. The laburnum-tree represented +their parliament-house. In it, or under it, as the case might be, they +played most of their games, told most of their stories, originated most +of their schemes. + +It was to this refuge that John fled when threatened with lessons. It +was so conveniently near the schoolroom, that he could easily hear +through the open window when lessons were over; for since he had gone +out Miss Thompson had not punished the girls by making them sit behind +a closed window and drawn blind. Besides, Madge and Betty were sure to +join him under the laburnum-tree directly they were released. In the +meantime John enjoyed the unwonted luxury of a choice of seats. + +There was only one drawback to the laburnum. It was really such a nice +tree that one hardly likes to mention this one fault, but if the +children could have suggested any sort of improvement, it would have +been a little more sitting accommodation in the boughs. Try as they +would they could never, all three, get up in it at once. And John was +usually the one left out. This was the way it happened. Madge, being +two years older than the twins, and much larger, naturally always +seized the highest and most commodious place. Then Betty, lightly +observing, "Ladies before gentlemen," would creep into a narrow little +fork between two branches at her sister's feet. And all that remained +for John was a yard of slippery polished stem, on which nothing but a +fly could have sat. + +John grumbled--it was one of the things he did best, according to his +sisters. "Practice makes perfect," Betty used to say, alluding to this +habit of his. She was fond of proverbs, and introduced them into her +conversation with more aptness than consideration for the feelings of +others. But really about this matter of seats it did seem a little +hard on John to have always to crouch in the bay-bush, while his +sisters looked down on him from their lofty thrones,--even Betty's +boots on a level with his head. Of course, they daily pointed out to +him that the crushed bay leaves gave out a delicious smell. This was +quite true, but it in no way removed the original grievance. One may +have too much even of bay leaves. + +However, this morning for about half an hour John had undisturbed +possession of the laburnum-tree. He began by trying Madge's seat, but +his legs being several inches shorter than hers dangled most +uncomfortably, instead of reaching the bough below. In order to steady +himself he had to hold on with one hand, which was terribly +humiliating. Madge, who could sit there in the most unconcerned +manner, plaiting rushes or carving a stick, would be sure to laugh at +him if she came out and noticed his difficulty. He hastily slipped +down into Betty's seat. + +Now it so happened that the twins were not at all alike in appearance. +John was a fine handsome boy, Betty rather a thin, under-sized girl; +consequently the fork between the laburnum branches into which she +fitted exactly would not admit her brother at all. Except for the +glory of the thing, it was far safer and more comfortable down among +the bay leaves. John was so seldom out in the garden without his +sisters that he had never before had a quiet opportunity for making +this discovery. He was still thinking it over with puzzled +astonishment, when there was a loud sound of slamming doors, and Betty +ran out of the house, dangling her straw hat from her hand by a +worn-out bit of elastic. + +"Madge kept in?" inquired John anxiously. + +"Oh no! It's her turn to put away the books and desks, that's all." + +This was a relief, for though the twins were supposed to be +romantically devoted to each other, they were both in reality rather +dependent upon Madge, whose superior size, age, and experience made her +the undisputed leader in all their games. John and Betty waited +impatiently, listening to the series of bangs which accompanied their +sister's rather abrupt restoration of order in the schoolroom. At last +there were three crashes louder than all the former sounds. + +"Hurrah! There go the desks!" shouted John. "That's the last thing +always. She'll be here in a minute!" + +In point of fact Madge joined them almost immediately. "I've thought +of something," she said, directly she came within shouting distance. + +There was some excitement at this announcement, for when Madge solemnly +observed that she had thought of something, it always meant that an +unusually interesting plan was about to be unfolded. They all climbed +into their customary seats to await further developments. As Betty was +nearest the laburnum-tree she scrambled up first, so that Madge had +presently to crawl right over her, even planting a pair of very +substantial and dusty boots in her younger sister's lap; but this was +by no means a sufficiently uncommon event to call for any remonstrance. +As for John, he squatted down among the bay leaves much more +contentedly than usual. He had just found out that those lofty seats +up among the golden-chains, as the children called the laburnum +blossom, were not half as comfortable as they looked. + +"This is what I have been thinking," began Madge, when she had settled +herself, not kicking Betty's head more than twice in the process. "We +want some hiding-place where no one can find us." + +"Yes! yes!" shouted the twins. + +"Some place in a tree," continued Madge. + +The applause became louder than ever. Climbing trees was the favourite +amusement of all the children, and no game found favour for long which +did not include something of the kind. + +"A tree like this, will it be?" inquired Betty. + +"Of course not," replied Madge. She had her own idea, and could not +help feeling rather irritated with the younger ones for not entering +into it without any explanations. "This is hardly like a real tree," +she continued; "more like a garden-seat, you know. If we fell out of +it, I don't believe we should be hurt a bit." + +This statement was felt by the assembled company to be quite true, +though perhaps a little ungrateful, seeing how very much use they made +of the laburnum. + +"Now, I should like a tree which would be a real fortress," continued +Madge. "A regular place of refuge--" + +"What is a refuge?" interrupted John. + +"Why, a place of safety, of course! Where one can hide from the enemy +and--" + +"What enemy?" again interrupted John. + +"Oh, don't be so tiresome!" broke in Betty, who always understood +things a little quicker than her brother--or if not, pretended she did. +"Can't you fancy an enemy? Men in armour, or lions, or Nurse when she +wants us to be put to bed." + +John did not answer, being a little sulky. Of course he could imagine +enemies just as well as his sisters; worse ones perhaps, with longer +spears and sharper teeth! And he did not like being considered silly. + +"What I think," continued Madge, who was accustomed to talk through +interruptions, so that she hardly noticed them; "what I think is that +we ought to make a kind of house up in a big tree, so high that no +grown-up people can possibly climb to it, and if we tumbled out we +should break our legs." + +"I am afraid none of the garden trees will do," said Betty +thoughtfully, as she pondered over the required qualifications. + +"Did I say it was to be in the garden?" snapped out Madge. "It will be +in the fields--the farthest part of the fields. And," she added, +leaning forward and whispering mysteriously, "I know the tree." + +"Oh, which is it? Where is it?" shouted the twins. John's sulks at +once gave place to his curiosity. + +"It's the beech-tree by the wall at the end of the Pig's Field," +announced Madge. "I have examined it, and it will do exactly." + +"You do have such good plans!" murmured Betty admiringly. Indeed, an +elder sister who can work out a project of this sort in her head +without saying a word to anyone, is a member of the family of whom one +may feel justly proud. + +"But I hope there's a place for me in this grand tree of yours," +observed John, in the accent of complaint that was rather habitual to +him. "Because, if I've got to sit on the ground as I do here, and the +enemy comes, it won't be very nice for me; though of course you two +will be all right, so you won't care!" and he crushed the bay leaves +viciously under his feet until the air became quite aromatic. + +"If you would only listen to me instead of grumbling you would hear my +whole plan," observed Madge, very reasonably. "We shall not sit on +branches as we have always done before, we will build a house by +putting sticks for a floor. A sort of huge nest, with lots of room for +us all. Of course, if we build it ourselves, we can make it just as +large or as small as we like." + +The audience was positively struck dumb by the magnificent ingenuity of +this new idea. The clanging sound of a large bell at last broke the +silence. + +"Oh, dear! There is dinner in five minutes!" sighed Betty, wriggling +out of her narrow seat. "And I upset the ink-bottle over my hands, so +that they will take longer to wash than usual, and there will be no +time to hear the rest of your plan now, because I promised to bring +Miss Thompson in a bunch of golden-chains." And she began pulling down +the lowest boughs of the laburnum by swinging upon them with all her +weight. + +"All right!" said Madge good-naturedly; "I'll help." Climbing down to +the ground, she began to tear large sprays of golden blossom off the +boughs lowered by Betty's weight. "There, I should think that's +enough!" she said, when her two hands were full to overflowing. "Now +we had better run in, or we shall be late and lose our punctuality +marks! But first I will tell you both one more thing. I have even +thought of a name for this house in the tree. The Eagle's Nest. What +do you say to that?" But the twins' admiration and enthusiasm for +their elder sister could not find a vent in mere words. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE EAGLE'S NEST. + +A good name is half the battle. That the Eagle's Nest was going to be +a magnificent success all the children felt at once. Fortunately it +was Saturday, and there were no lessons to be done after dinner, so +they had a whole long afternoon in which to lay the foundations of +their new house. + +When Captain West married and left the navy, many years before our +story begins, he had bought Beechgrove and the little farm attached to +the house. So his children had no lack of fields and outhouses in +which to play, directly they were old enough for Nurse to trust them +out of her sight. The only rule that they were bound to observe was: +Never to go off their father's property. This was not often felt to be +an oppressive regulation, for the dozen fields of which the farm +consisted contained untold treasures, in the way of hedges rich in +birds' nests, and green slimy ponds alive with newts and tadpoles. The +fact was, that the children had never yet found any day long enough to +explore the fields to their entire satisfaction. + +But there was one corner of the Beechgrove farm which seemed more +mysteriously interesting than all the rest. In the first place, it was +at an immense distance from the house; a grown-up person on a hot day +would very likely have taken nearly a quarter of an hour to walk there. +The children, of course, took much longer; they never went straight +anywhere, and even if they started to run they forgot half-way where +they were going, and wandered off in several directions, after passing +objects of interest, before they remembered. So, excepting on long +summer afternoons, they very seldom got as far as this particular +corner, where the beech-trees grew in such abundance as to give their +name to the whole place. + +There was another reason as well as its remoteness from civilization +which made the children regard this corner with a peculiarly awe-struck +interest. On the other side of the high wall which bounded the farm at +this end lived an old lady, about whom most extraordinary stories were +told. She was undoubtedly eccentric and fond of seclusion, as she had +spent a large sum of money on fencing her little property entirely +round with a stone wall about ten feet high. Also, she never went for +walks; and it was said that tradesmen's carts were not admitted into +the garden, but had to wait outside on the road while the old +housekeeper carried all they brought through a door in the wall, which +she carefully closed behind her. Nobody but the clergyman and the +doctor had been admitted to see Mrs. Howard for years; and they were +neither of them gossips, so the neighbourhood did not learn much after +their visits. Some people said that the old lady was mad; others that +she had committed some terrible crime for which she had been sentenced +to imprisonment for life, but that being very rich, she had been +allowed to escape this disgrace on condition of paying a huge fine and +promising never to go outside those gloomy high walls. + +The children firmly believed all the different stories they had been +told by successive nursery-maids, and even a legend started by the old +weeding-woman, to the effect that Mrs. Howard belonged to a very high +family living in London, and that having gone mad she took advantage of +her position to shoot at the Queen as she was driving through Hyde +Park. The story broke off at this point, which was so unsatisfactory +that the children teased Mrs. Bunn to try and remember more, until, +being in a hurry to get on with her weeding, she hazarded a suggestion +that perhaps the poor lady was so mad that she forgot to load the +pistol. As the Queen continued to live and reign, this really seemed +very probable. + +Of course the little Wests could have asked their parents about Mrs. +Howard, and found out from them something more nearly approaching the +truth. But on the whole they very much preferred being at liberty to +believe all sorts of wonderful and terrible reports. It is such hard +work to satisfy one's natural craving for romantic adventure when one +is carefully brought up in a well-guarded nursery and schoolroom, that +it would be mere stupid ingratitude not to get all the excitement one +could out of a mysterious neighbour. + +After this explanation, it can be better understood how very bold and +thrilling a proposal Madge made when she suggested that the Eagle's +Nest should be built in a beech-tree that actually overhung the +boundary wall. + +"How are we to begin? What shall we do first?" inquired the twins, as +with business-like rapidity the three children started off across the +fields immediately after their dinner. For once none of them lingered +to pick buttercups, or even hunt the pigs. + +"First we make the floor," said Madge, who was in a very good humour at +being so undoubtedly leader of the expedition. "Until that is made we +have nothing to stand on while we are putting up the roof." + +This was unquestionably true; besides, everybody felt that though a +very fairly satisfactory nest could be imagined open to the sky, some +sort of floor was an absolute necessity in a tree-house. + +"But where shall we get the boards and nails from?" asked John, +thinking of the neat planks he had so often counted in the nursery. + +"Boards and nails!" laughed Madge. "Do you think it's going to be +exactly like the stupid sort of houses we are used to? Perhaps you +expect to see a brown carpet with red spots, like the one in the +schoolroom?" + +"Of course not! Don't be so silly!" cried John angrily. But all the +same, it must be confessed he could not imagine a house very unlike +Beechgrove. + +"You see, this will be more of a nest," interposed Betty; "so it ought +to be made of sticks." + +"That's it! Follow me and I will show you where to get some." And +Madge set off running across the field, closely pursued by the two +others. + +It was not very difficult to guess where the sticks were to be found. +Every winter the wind had a delightful way of blowing down some large +boughs on the farm, and these used to be cut up and stacked together +until wanted for various purposes. The children regarded these +windfalls as expressly designed for their convenience and amusement. +They climbed on the heavier logs, which were piled into temptingly +irregular mountains several feet high; and of the smaller sticks they +made every kind of defensive weapon. + +Madge led the way straight to one of these wood-piles. After much +study she chose several small branches, and all three children, +producing knives out of their pockets, set to work hacking off +unnecessary twigs. The twigs being extremely tough and the knives not +at all sharp, this process took a long time, and the afternoon seemed +to be going by without their even coming in sight of Eagle's Nest. + +"It's really no good trying to tidy up these sticks here!" Madge cried +at last in despair. "Let us each carry as many branches as we can to +the Eagle's Nest, and we can trim them into shape there when we see +exactly what we want." + +This seemed a particularly good idea, as all their hands were aching +after sawing away for so long with their blunt knives at the hard wood. +So a procession set out, each child dragging a branch along the ground. +By doing it that way they could move good-sized branches which would +afterwards cut up into several sticks. + +"Oh, Madge, it's perfect! It's quite perfect!" cried the twins some +time later, when, hot and panting, they at last dropped their burdens +beneath the great beech-tree by the wall. + +"I really think it's pretty good," replied Madge modestly. She felt +that as she had invented this plan herself it would not be good manners +for her to admire it too freely. "You see those two boughs poking out +like great arms over the field? The sticks must be long enough to +stretch from one to the other, and the Eagle's Nest when it is built +will be between them." + +"Oh, why did we never think of it before!" exclaimed Betty, rolling on +the ground in an ecstasy of admiration. + +"Well, you know we don't often come into this corner of the field to +look about," Madge reminded her; "it's so far from the house. And +besides," she added frankly, "I used to be rather afraid of coming here +without Nurse when I was smaller, because of Mrs. Howard." + +A shade of anxiety passed over the younger children's faces. They had +forgotten all about that mysterious old lady behind the wall, with her +terrible character for madness and crime. Yet she was possibly lurking +within a few yards of them, even listening to what they were saying. + +"Do you think," began John seriously, "are you sure, that it's quite +safe here?" + +"Quite safe," asserted Madge decidedly. "If Mrs. Howard tried to come +an inch this side of the wall she would be a trespasser, and we could +send a policeman after her." + +An elder sister who has mastered the law of trespass to this extent is +really an invaluable possession. John's mind was quite set at rest, +and with a sigh of relief he again pulled out his knife and began +hacking away at a branch. + +"I dare say you are both wondering how we are going to get up to the +Eagle's Nest," said Madge. "Now I will show you." + +She went to the wall against which the beech-tree was growing, and +deliberately put her toe into a deep crack between the stones where the +mortar had fallen out. The others watched with the greatest +excitement, while, partly supported by inequalities on the trunk of the +tree, and partly taking advantage of projecting stones in the wall, she +slowly climbed up until she was on a level with the destined +foundations of the Eagle's Nest. + +"Now hand me up a branch," she cried, "and I will lay the first stone +of our house!" + +"But I thought you said it was to be all sticks?" objected John. + +"Do try and not be stupid!" exclaimed Betty rather sharply, as she +wrestled with a branch far beyond her strength to lift single-handed. +"One always talks of laying the first stone, you know, whatever the +place is built of. At least I never heard of laying the first brick! +And please help me to lift up the end of this branch, I can't push it +high enough, and it will get entangled in my hair and knock off my hat." + +The twins struggled unsuccessfully to lift the heavy branch high enough +for Madge to reach. She stooped forward as far as she dared, almost +losing her balance indeed, in her effort to get hold of this refractory +foundation-stone. "If you two were only a little taller!" she +exclaimed reproachfully. + +Betty looked down abashed. She was short for her age, and knew it. +Quite an inch more in the wrong than John. But she had ideas. + +"If we knotted all our handkerchiefs together and tied them to one end +of the branch, you could pull it up easily," she suggested. + +In ten minutes more the first stick, or stone, of the Eagle's Nest was +laid amidst shouts of congratulation and rejoicing. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A ROPE-LADDER. + +Building even the most simple sort of house is a very great work. A +nest ought to be begun and finished in less than a week--at least year +after year birds accomplish something of the sort without our ever +thinking them particularly clever or industrious. But the Eagle's Nest +at Beechgrove was terribly incomplete, even after a fortnight's labour +had been expended on it. + +"It doesn't look as if it would ever be finished," said John +mournfully, "and yet we have worked so hard." + +His spirits were apt to give way when anything went wrong either at +lessons or play, and the first sign of depression was that he sat still +and did nothing. + +"You see, making the steps up the wall took a very long time," said +Betty, who was vigorously sawing away at some twigs with a knife that +had lately lost the little edge it ever boasted. "But they are very +good steps," she added proudly. + +By scratching patiently with sharp stones and long-suffering knives, +the children had managed to remove a good deal of mortar from cracks +about a foot apart all up the wall, so now there was no difficulty in +finding a sufficient resting-place for their feet. This was much +lighter work than dragging heavy branches across the field from the +wood-pile, and had consequently been more popular with everybody. But +at last Madge had been obliged to remind her little band of labourers +that even the best sort of staircase, if it led nowhere, was not very +serviceable. So then they began to drag branches again, and very weary +work they found it. And now at the end of a fortnight there were only +five rough misshapen logs pulled up into the right place, with a great +many torn pocket-handkerchiefs to show what a hard struggle it had been +to lift them from the ground. No wonder John was becoming +faint-hearted. + +"You talked about a house big enough to hold several people, with a +nice roof in case it rained," he said reproachfully. + +Madge represented that it so seldom rained in June they could easily +wait for their roof a little longer. "One can put that on at any +time," she urged. "There is a good bough above, and we could spread an +old shawl over it like a tent, or we might make a sort of wren's nest +with sticks all up the sides and top, and crawl in through a hole. +That would be very cozy, only I am afraid it would take a good many +sticks, and you none of you like getting sticks." + +"No, I don't," said John stoutly. "I've dragged enough of those old +things across the field, and I won't be bothered with them any more. +And it's no good talking about making it like a wren's nest--silly +little birds that never fight or anything! What do eagles want with +those sort of stuffy little houses?" + +When John embarked on a thoroughly unreasonable grumble, it was no good +arguing with him or interrupting him until he stopped from sheer loss +of breath. So while he went on fault-finding, Madge was making up her +mind to a great resolve. When at last he came to an end, she spoke out +so decidedly that the twins were compelled to listen to her. + +"Do you want to make the Eagle's Nest a great success--much the nicest +thing we have ever done, or do you want to give it up altogether?" she +inquired sternly. + +"Not give it up! Of course, not give it up!" cried the two younger +ones. + +"Very well. I'm glad you said that. It would be a very cowardly and +stupid thing to give it up when we have gone so far, but you can do +just as you like." + +"I never wanted to give it up," began John, in an injured tone; "only I +don't want--" + +"Well, if we are going on with it, I have quite settled what we will +do," interrupted Madge briskly. "We will work away as hard as we can +at it all the afternoon, and then whatever state it is in when the +tea-bell rings we will declare it finished for the present, and begin +to use it to play in. Of course, we can improve it as much as we like +after, but we won't go on working any more just at present." + +This suggestion met with general approval, for though the children had +not at first minded the hard work of dragging branches from the +wood-stack, now that much the same thing had been going on for a +fortnight, they were getting rather tired of it and beginning to want a +change. But after Madge's sensible proposal they worked away with all +their first energy for the next two hours, and by the time the distant +sounds of the tea-bell were heard across the fields, a very nice little +platform had been built in the tree. + +"I don't know what anybody could want better!" cried Madge, clapping +her hands in high glee. "We will open it on Monday afternoon." + +"It looks pretty open now without any walls or ceiling," observed John, +who was always a little contradictory. + +"Of course I mean open it as the Prince of Wales opens a hospital," +Madge said with dignity. + +"I know that well enough! You needn't always think I'm so stupid!" +growled John. + +This kind of conversation took place several times a day, but seldom +ended in a real quarrel unless the children were rather tired or cross. +To-day they were fortunately all in capital spirits at having finished +their great work. + +It seemed long to wait until Monday afternoon. But at last the time +passed, and they were all standing together under the great beech-tree, +with Madge explaining how the opening ceremony was to be performed. + +"We will ascend the grand staircase," she said, "and standing in the +assembly-room, the president (that's me, you know) will declare the +buildings to be solemnly opened for public use." + +This certainly sounded very well, though nobody knew exactly what it +meant. The fact was that Madge repeated certain sentences she had read +in newspapers, without troubling very much about the meaning. + +"And when you've done that what shall we do?" inquired John. + +"Well, if you can't think of anything to play when you have got into +the Eagle's Nest you had better stay in the nursery and play with +Baby," said Madge scornfully. + +"Let us begin to ascend directly, and then we shall have more time for +playing," interposed Betty, intent on keeping the peace. + +"The president leads the way, of course!" exclaimed Madge, planting her +toe in one of the niches of the wall. "I suppose both of you are +obliged to use all the steps," she added carelessly. "I am so tall +that I can stretch two at a time." + +"So can I!" chimed in John; "it's only Betty who can't reach. Just get +out of the way and I'll show you what I can do." + +He immediately lifted his foot to the level of his chin, grabbed wildly +at a projecting stone far above his head, missed it, and fell heavily +on his back in a tuft of sting-nettles. + +There was a good deal of confusion. Both the girls very kindly tried +to help their brother up, and were naturally rather indignant when he +hit out wildly at them, under the mistaken impression that they had +pushed him down. Then they all stung their hands, and there was a long +argument about who ought to have cleared the sting-nettles away from +under the tree. But the simple idea of making up for past neglect by +doing it now did not occur to any of them. + +At last Madge recalled them all to their senses by declaring that she +saw old Barton, the farm-man, in the distance, carrying the milk-pails. +Though he was two fields off there could be no mistake, because he kept +the pails so brightly polished that they glittered like diamonds in the +sun. And he never started to milk the cows until the stable clock had +struck four, so his appearance was a positive proof that the afternoon +was passing rapidly by. + +"I say, it's nearly tea-time! And I thought we had only just finished +dinner! I do believe holiday afternoons are much shorter than others!" +exclaimed John. + +He was so overcome by this discovery that he allowed Madge to mount the +grand staircase without interruption. But she did not avail herself of +the rare chance of making a dignified welcoming speech to the younger +ones as they climbed up behind her, for at that moment she was seized +by a new idea of such importance that she was almost choked with +anxiety to impart it at once to the others. + +"This building is open!" she shouted impatiently. "And come on +quickly, you two! I want to tell--" + +"That's not the way people open things!" interrupted John. "It takes a +much longer time than that. You ought to say its name, and make a +speech about what it will be used for. Oughtn't she, Betty?" + +Betty said nothing. She made a general rule of backing up her elder +sister in family disputes, and yet she could not help feeling that in +this case John had a just cause of complaint. The ceremony had been +very disappointing. + +"Very well then," said Madge, seeing that it was no use to fight +against public opinion, "I suppose I must do it all over again. +Although I have something to say that you can't even imagine." + +"I don't believe there is such a thing," said John stolidly. "I can +imagine anything a girl can, I know that." + +Old as she was, Madge nearly cried with impatience. "If you are going +to contradict and argue," she began, "it's no good--" + +"We will be quiet! We will really!" interrupted Betty, who, on the +whole, had a peace-loving disposition. + +"Very well then," said Madge, recovering herself a little, but still +speaking with rather terrific dignity. "I declare this Eagle's Nest +open. It has been erected regardless of trouble and expense by--by--" + +"The young eagles," suggested Betty. + +"Yes, by the young eagles," continued Madge, "for the use and amusement +of--of--" + +"The young eagles," again suggested Betty. + +"Of course! Amusement of the young eagles," repeated Madge rather +inattentively, for she was thinking of something else. "And we hope +they will enjoy it! And I think that's all. Now I'll tell you my last +plan!" + +"All right!" muttered John, settling himself with a contented grunt +upon the sticks. Now that the new building had been properly opened, +his mind was at rest. + +"Well, this is what I think," began Madge. "It's rather absurd for us +to have a grand staircase up to our place of refuge. What we want is a +ladder that we can pull up after us so that the enemy can't follow!" + +"What a splendid idea!" said Betty admiringly. "But I am afraid Barton +would never allow us to take his ladders out of the barn. He is always +dreadfully cross if we only take them out to look at a bird's nest, and +he finds they have gone. And he would be sure to see us carrying them +across the fields." + +"Yes, but you see I have thought of all that!" replied Madge with a +smile of superior wisdom. "I told you I had a good idea, and I have, +though John did not believe it! What do you say to a rope-ladder?" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE BOY WHO MOUNTED IT. + +It is just possible that there comes a time of life when the heart does +not beat responsively at the bare suggestion of a rope-ladder. Then a +desert island will have lost its charm, and wild beasts be no longer a +source of terror or interest. Betty and John had, fortunately for +them, not yet reached this miserable epoch. At their sister's last +words they shouted and danced about on the uneven sticks until they +were in imminent danger of falling out of the Eagle's Nest much faster +than they climbed in. + +"I thought you would consider it a good idea," said Madge modestly. + +"Rather! I should think so! It's the awfullest, jolliest notion! It +is! it is!" cried the twins alternately. At that moment they felt that +nobody ever had ideas quite as good as Madge's. + +But presently John, as usual, saw an objection to the scheme. + +"I'm afraid string won't be strong enough," he began gloomily. "It +might bear Betty's weight, but it certainly won't ours." He was at +least two inches taller, and several pounds heavier than his twin +sister, and was never tired of drawing attention to the fact. + +"Do you think we are heavier than those great bundles of hay that +Barton carries on his back when he is going to feed the cows in the +winter?" inquired Madge. + +John looked rather puzzled by this mysterious question, but Betty +interposed hastily: "Oh, no! They must be much heavier than us! Why, +Barton can sometimes hardly load them on his back and stoops almost +double as he walks. And I know he can carry two of us, because one day +when John and I were sitting on the pig-sty wall he came and just +lifted us off one under each arm, and carried us all the way back to +the garden as easily as possible." + +"It wasn't because we were sitting on the pigsty wall that he lifted us +off," observed John. "We are allowed to sit there as much as we +like--at least you aren't, because it dirties your frocks, but I am. +It was because you were throwing stones at the little pigs and he +thought you would hurt them." + +"It wasn't stones!" cried Betty indignantly. "It was little bits of +moss I picked off the walls, because they had nothing green to +eat--only--" + +"Oh, children! Don't be so silly! Wrangling on about things that +don't matter in the least!" interrupted Madge in her most sensible +manner. "We all agree about the only thing of any consequence," she +continued. "The ropes that go round the bundles of hay would be strong +enough to bear us. And I know where to get them! They are coiled up +behind the manger in the cow-house, and Barton has not used them lately +as the cows are not having hay in the fields now." + +After this speech the children naturally lost very little time in +running to the cow-house. There, lying in a dark corner, were several +coils of rope of unequal length, but all most reassuringly thick. They +chose out two pieces that seemed as if they had been made on purpose to +form the sides of a rope-ladder, and carried them off in triumph to the +Eagle's Nest, feeling like a successful party of marauding barons in +the middle ages. Just as they had hidden the rope in a fork of the +beech-tree the bell for tea rang, and work was over for that afternoon. +In warm weather, when the children strayed far from the house, Mrs. +West had a large bell rung outside the door at meal-times, so there was +really no excuse for not coming in. However, even with this +precaution, Miss Thompson had so frequently to wait that she had lately +made a rule to the effect that a quarter of an hour after the right +time for tea to begin the cake and jam should be sent out of the room, +and only bread and butter left. The children had been conspicuously +more inclined to punctuality since this rule was made. + +Everything connected with the Eagle's Nest took much more time and +labour than was ever expected. It sounds an easy thing enough to make +a rope-ladder when once the materials have been collected. But even +with Barton's ropes, and Nurse's best ball of string, which John had +quietly brought away in his pocket, it was no simple matter. After +many days spent in faithfully following out all the directions given +for the manufacture of rope-ladders in various books of adventures, the +children produced something up which an intrepid traveller might +possibly have crawled in preference to being eaten by a very hungry +lion. With great pride they tied the upper ends of the two ropes +firmly to a bough just above the Eagle's Nest. That part of the job +was very effectually done. The children could be trusted to tie secure +knots, they had such constant practice. + +"Hurrah! Finished at last!" cried Madge, giving the ropes a severe +jerk to test their firmness. "And now, who shall be the first to mount +up our new ladder?" + +"Let me!" cried a strange voice. + +The children started so violently that they almost fell out of the +Eagle's Nest. They looked all round in bewilderment, and at last, +directly under the beech-tree, on the other side of the wall, they saw +a boy watching them intently. + +"If you will drop the end of the ladder down this way I know I can +climb up," he said. "I've been looking at you for a long time, only +you were so busy you didn't notice me. And I want to get up and have a +look at that place you have built in the tree." + +Betty and John turned to Madge and remained silent. The occasion was +so strange that they gladly yielded to their elder sister the privilege +of deciding what was to be done. But for once even the masterful Madge +had some difficulty in making up her mind. There were so many things +to be considered before taking any decisive action. + +Of course it would be delightful to exhibit all their inventions and +contrivances to a stranger, a boy who was apparently of an exact age to +take an intelligent interest in such matters. But then, on the other +hand, they had never been given permission to speak to this boy, and +perhaps it was not the right thing to do. + +"Still, I don't remember that we have ever been forbidden to talk to +strangers, have we?" said Madge aloud. She was very anxious to be +provided with an excuse for inviting this new boy to join the party. + +"No, I don't think we have ever actually been told not to speak to +people we don't know," said Betty thoughtfully. "But then, you know, +Mama and Miss Thompson would never think of our meeting a stranger in +the fields, and of course we don't go on the roads by ourselves." + +This was perfectly true, but it did not suit Madge at all. + +"I don't know what people think," she said impatiently; "only what they +say. And if we have never been forbidden to speak to a stranger, I +expect there is no harm in it. We are forbidden things fast enough if +they are wrong. Sometimes it seems as if there would be hardly +anything left that we are allowed to do!" She spoke rather recklessly, +having half made up her mind to do something that she knew perfectly +well was not right, and hoping by talking very loud and fast to stifle +the voice of her conscience. + +"You are keeping me a precious long time waiting!" called out the boy +from below. "You don't mean to say you are such a set of babies that +you are afraid to let down the ladder for me without first running back +to the nursery to ask permission?" + +At this taunt Madge became very red. "I've got nothing to do with the +nursery, and I'm not afraid of anybody!" she exclaimed. These bold +statements were not only silly but untrue; however, she did not stop to +think of that in her overwhelming hurry to convince this stranger that +she was not a little child, as he seemed to think, but a big girl with +a will of her own. "And just to show you that I needn't trouble about +anybody's permission, I invite you to join us up here," she added. + +"That's right! You are a good sort, I can see!" returned the boy. +"Drop down that old ladder of yours, and I will be with you in a couple +of seconds! Now, look sharp, you two little ones. Lend a hand with +the rope, can't you! What's the good of staring at me like two stuffed +owls?" + +To say the truth, Betty and John were both rather frightened by Madge's +daring behaviour. They were by no means better children than she was, +but they seldom ventured to be naughty on such a large scale as this. +When Madge's pride was once roused she never stopped to think of +consequences; but it is only fair to add, that being the eldest she +generally same in for the largest share of punishment if they all did +wrong together. + +"Is he really coming up the ladder to play with us?" muttered Betty +rather breathlessly in her sister's ear. "Do you think we shall be +allowed--" + +"Here, you parcel of babies, get out of the way!" interrupted the boy. +"You've got nothing to do with it. Just chuck me down the rope," he +added to Madge, "and if the babies don't like it they can run home and +play in the nursery. We don't want them interfering with us! Rather +not!" + +Madge could not resist this flattering appeal. She did so enjoy being +treated as a person of some importance, and not classed with the little +ones. "Here goes!" she cried defiantly, and taking hold of the +rope-ladder she dropped the end of it over the wall. + +There was an anxious struggle. The strange boy appeared very active, +for though one or two of the short sticks that formed the rungs of the +ladder slipped (for it was almost impossible to tie them securely to +the rope sides), yet he clung on with hands and feet like a monkey. +When he came within reach Madge stooped down and stretched out her hand +to him. + +"Welcome to Eagle's Nest!" she said proudly, as she pulled him up to +her side in the tree. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A VICTIM. + +"So this is what you call Eagle's Nest?" cried the new-comer. "What a +rum place!" + +"It's a fortress," observed Madge with considerable dignity, for she +did not quite like the want of respect with which he was criticising +their great achievement. "It is only accessible by a rope-ladder and +one other--" She stopped suddenly, thinking that after all it might +not be wise to confide all their secrets to a stranger until he proved +himself worthy of confidence. + +"Oh, you needn't trouble to tell me," replied the boy; "I shall find it +out quickly enough. I find out everything. I found you out playing up +in this tree, though you couldn't see me." + +"We did not know there were any children on the other side of the wall, +so we didn't look particularly," explained Madge. "We thought an old +lady lived--" + +"Old Mother Howard you mean?" interrupted the boy. "Yes, she lives +there right enough. And a rum old woman she is too!" + +"Is she your mother, then?" asked John, rather puzzled by this speech. + +"Rather not! I should jolly well like to see her dare to be my +mother!" said the boy indignantly. "I'm an orphan, and she says she is +some relation and has a right to bring me up. But I'll tell you +something,"--he lowered his voice mysteriously, and the others crept a +little nearer to him,--"it's my belief she is only trying to get all my +money!" + +"How dreadful!" exclaimed Madge. "I didn't know that people really did +that sort of thing nowadays." + +"Oh, don't they just!" said the boy, seemingly delighted by the +impression his words had produced. "I'll just tell you how she has +treated me. My father was a very rich man and I am his only child, so +of course I ought to be rich, oughtn't I? Well, I hardly ever have any +pocket-money at all!" + +"We have threepence a week," said Betty with justifiable pride. But a +moment later she was sorry that she had appeared to boast of their +superior good fortune. + +"Threepence a week! Do you indeed? But I dare say you have everything +you want directly you ask for it?" observed the boy very dolefully. +"What should you say if you had been left an orphan at the mercy of a +cruel guardian, who sent you first to a school where they starved you, +then to a school where they beat you, and then here where they do both?" + +"Do you mean that Mrs. Howard starves and beats you?" inquired Madge, +horrified by these disclosures. + +"Oh, rather! Dry bread for dinner, and if you won't eat it you are +locked up in the cellar until you do. It's quite dark, and the black +beetles crawl over you. Ugh! Have you ever had a black beetle walk +across your face?" + +"No!" exclaimed Madge; "I've never touched one. Cook says she +sometimes sees them on the kitchen floor at night, but of course we are +in bed then." + +"Well, think of being shut up in a perfectly dark cellar--" + +"Is it underground?" interrupted John. + +"Jolly well underground I should say!" continued the boy. "Fifty steps +down, and an iron door at the top and the bottom of the stairs, so that +however much you shouted nobody could possibly hear you. And nothing +but slimy black earth to lie upon." + +"How do you know it's black if you are in the dark?" asked Betty, so +deeply interested in this terrible tale that she wished to understand +every detail. + +"I tell you I know it is black!" said the boy sharply. "Black, and +covered with pools of dirty water. And there are toads all about. If +you don't believe me, though, I won't tell you any more about it." + +"Oh, I do believe you! It wasn't that at all," said Betty. "But what +a dreadful woman Mrs. Howard must be! Jane says the village people +think she is quite mad." + +"And who is Jane?" + +"She is our nurse-maid. But everybody thinks the same. Very likely +Father and Mother do, only they never talk about Mrs. Howard to us." + +"I dare say she is mad," said the boy. "I can tell you enough things +about her to make your hair stand on end, although I have only been +here a week." + +"But how did you come here, and what is your name? And how old are +you?" asked Madge. + +"My name is Lewis Brand, and I was fourteen last Christmas." + +"Then you are two years older than me!" cried Madge, this announcement +putting everything else out of her head. "I had no idea you were so +old as that. And you have been at school?" + +"Two schools, and now I have been sent to prison here." + +"I shall go to school soon," interposed John, who was rather ashamed of +his want of experience before this big boy. John had been kept at home +a little longer than would otherwise have been the case, because his +mother had a romantic idea that the twins were inseparable. It had +lately become apparent, however, that John and Betty were most +affectionate when they did not see too much of each other; and since a +baby-boy had lately appeared in the nursery, Captain West had felt that +his eldest son could be very well spared to go to school. + +"Ah, school is bad enough!" said Lewis gloomily. "You wait till you +get there! You'll just jolly well wish you were home again! But," he +broke off suddenly, "do let us begin to play. Talking all the +afternoon is dull work." + +It was wonderful how soon the victim of Mrs. Howard's cruelties +recovered his spirits when they once started a game. He established +himself as chief of a tribe of wild Indians, with the modest title +"Bravest of the Brave". And he led his warriors to victory with such +shrill battle-cries that the veriest coward would have felt compelled +to follow him. The absence of enemies was the chief want that +afternoon. They had to pretend that some iron railings on the other +side of the field were an army advancing towards them in the distance. + +"But it is much more fun when the enemy is alive, so that he runs away +and we can hurt him," explained Madge. "Next time we will try to drive +the pigs up to this end of the field when we are coming here. They +make capital enemies, they scream so beautifully while they are running +away." + +It seemed to be taken for granted by everybody that in future Lewis +would often join the three Wests in their games. + +"And I'm sure Mama won't mind your coming to play with us when she +hears how cruelly you are treated at home," observed Betty. + +"You don't mean to say you were going to tell anybody that you met me +here!" cried Lewis excitedly. "Now, that's just like a girl! They +never can keep the least bit of a secret. If you say a single word +about me to anybody at all I shall never be able to come here any more. +And very likely something dreadful will happen to me." + +"But Mama would not tell Mrs. Howard if I asked her not. Besides, she +doesn't even know her," argued Betty, who was rather frightened at the +prospect of keeping such a very large secret for an indefinite period. + +"I tell you I shall be put in that dark cellar, and fed--" Lewis +suddenly broke off, and whispered in a tone of real terror, "Lie down +flat! Keep still! There she is!" + +All four children happened to be on the Eagle's Nest at the moment, +having just returned from a most violent raid against the Iron-Railing +tribe, which, however, did not seem in any hurry to avenge its wrongs +by pursuing the enemy back to his stronghold. At Lewis's words they +all crouched down on the sticks, making themselves as small as +possible. And they looked in the direction to which he silently +pointed. + +From the height of the Eagle's Nest it was possible to see over the +boundary wall into Mrs. Howard's domain. It is a fact, however, that +until to-day the children had found this view exceedingly uneventful. +At the bottom of the wall there was a small orchard, beyond that a +glimpse could be caught of an old-fashioned garden and the end of a +brick house. It was all very ordinary and homely-looking, not at all +like the surroundings one naturally expects to find associated with +deeds of wrong and cruelty. But since the children had heard of the +fearful cellar beneath that innocent brick house, they shuddered as +they glanced towards it. And to-day for the first time they saw +someone moving about the garden. + +"Lie still," whispered Lewis, "as still as death! She is coming this +way!" + +Full of mingled terror and curiosity, Madge, Betty, and John lay +motionless, hardly moving an eyelid. It was Lewis who fidgeted +decidedly the most, in spite of his having been the one to give the +order for silence. And presently through a gate from the garden came +an old lady. She was dressed all in gray--gown, shawl, and bonnet, and +most delicately clean and neat she looked. In her hand she carried a +nosegay of white flowers, and a few paces behind her solemnly stalked a +large black cat. + +There were only two remarkable things about this old lady's +appearance--always excepting her extreme air of daintiness. One was +the smallness of her size, the other her funny trick of nodding her +head continually. The latter seemed as much a habit with her as +breathing; she nodded at the buttercups and daisies beneath her feet, +and she nodded at the two sleek cows, who stopped chewing the cud for a +moment to gaze back with blinking, white-lashed eyes. She even nodded +more than once towards the beech-tree, until Madge made sure that they +were discovered, and began to prepare a fine speech, defying Mrs. +Howard to trespass one inch on Captain West's land. But after all +there was no opportunity for delivering this timely warning, as the old +lady glided slowly on through the orchard, and having gently inspected +(and nodded to) every individual apple-tree, she returned to the garden +and disappeared round a corner of the house, closely followed by the +black cat. + +"So that's Mrs. Howard!" exclaimed Madge, stretching her cramped limbs +after the effort of remaining still so long. "She doesn't look as if +she could hurt you very much. Why, I don't believe she is as tall as I +am!" + +"Perhaps not," replied Lewis. "But I never said she shut me up +herself, did I? She keeps a sort of jailer to do that. And she stands +and grins on the top step while he is hurling me into the cellar below. +You should see her grin!" + +"But she looks so gentle," objected Betty. + +"I'll tell you the reason of that. It's to deceive people and get them +into her clutches," said Lewis. "Now I must be off, or they will +half-murder me if they find out where I have been. I'll try and come +another day if I can give old Mother Howard the slip." And seizing the +rope-ladder, which had been hidden among the branches, he again dropped +it over the wall. Climbing down the ladder was a much quicker matter +than climbing up, and in a couple of minutes he was safely running +across the orchard towards the brick house. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +JACK AND JILL. + +When Lewis Brand had disappeared from sight, the three children left in +the Eagle's Nest could scarcely believe that since dinner-time so many +curious things had happened. A strange boy, of whose existence they +were not aware two hours before, had been playing with them just as if +they had known each other all their lives. He had, moreover, told them +his history, which was quite as wonderful as many fairy stories. And +they had seen the mysterious Mrs. Howard. + +These extraordinary new experiences had the effect of quite throwing +the rope-ladder into the background, and they actually forgot all about +its existence, and descended by the wall in the old way at the warning +sound of the tea-bell. John was the first to notice this omission. + +"Oughtn't we to climb up again and come down by the ladder?" he said. + +"Oh no, bother the ladder!" replied Madge, so curtly that the others +stared at her in surprise. + +"But the ladder was your idea, your very own idea. And I thought you +were so proud of it!" observed Betty in a bewildered voice. + +"Oh yes, so I was!" cried Madge impatiently. "But don't you see, so +many new things have happened that they have nearly put the old things +out of my head. The ladder is quite safe up there twisted round the +bough. Barton will never think of looking in the tree even if he does +miss it, but it's my belief he doesn't count the ropes all through the +summer. Now let us hurry back or there will be a fuss about our +keeping tea waiting, and we sha'n't be allowed to go so far away in the +fields. You know Miss Thompson once threatened not to let us out of +sight of the schoolroom window if we so often came in late." + +On the way home Madge impressed upon the other two the necessity of not +boasting of their adventure. + +"Mayn't we even say that we have seen Mrs. Howard? Not even tell +Jane?" they asked. + +"Certainly not," said Madge sternly. "It is not our own secret, +remember. It is Lewis's. And we have promised him to say nothing +about it, so of course we mustn't." + +When the case was put that way it certainly sounded right to hold one's +tongue. And yet a little time before it had seemed equally right to go +home and confess that they had taken the unusual step of talking to a +stranger. The younger ones couldn't help feeling that this was very +confusing. Besides, it was disappointing to be forbidden to tell Jane +that they now knew more about Mrs. Howard even than she did. + +They would have discussed the subject all the way home if the sight of +Captain West coming to meet them across the fields had not given an +entirely new turn to their thoughts. As soon as they came near enough +to hear what he said he shouted out: + +"Come along quickly! I have been looking for you ever since I came +back from Churchbury. There is a surprise for you!" + +There was nothing the children liked better than being with their +father. He was away a great part of every day attending Magistrates' +meetings, Boards of Guardians, and other useful county work. When he +came home late in the afternoon, Madge, Betty, and John made such a +rush for him that Mrs. West often complained that she could not get any +attention until the children had gone to bed. It was no use her trying +to talk, she said, every word was drowned by the three loud voices that +insisted upon being heard and answered. + +At the bare mention of a surprise the children set off running. They +knew of old that their father's surprises usually meant a new toy or +something good to eat. As they rushed up to him he quietly stepped on +one side, and they all three rolled over in a heap. + +"That was a fine escape for me," laughed Captain West. "If I hadn't +been on the look-out you would have knocked me over too, I suppose. +No, I will not be pawed by six dirty hands! There's nothing in my +pocket, I tell you!" + +"But you said there was a surprise!" panted John, who had not been able +to run quite as fast as his sisters, and consequently had fallen on the +top of the heap and was the first to rise. + +"Quite true! But all surprises aren't made of chocolate, and don't +live in my pocket as you seem to think," replied Captain West. "This +one came from America. Now guess what it is?" + +"But we can't!" shouted three despairing voices. "Oh, please tell us! +Do tell us!" + +"Nonsense! A little thinking strengthens the mind," said Captain West +calmly. "You all learn geography. Now what comes from America?" + +"Christopher Columbus!" screamed Betty, who was in such a hurry to +answer first that she had not listened very attentively to the question. + +"Very well. I promise that if he comes you shall have him all to +yourself," observed her father. + +"Oh, I didn't mean that! Let me try again!" cried the little girl, who +had just discovered from the laughter of the others that she had said +something rather foolish. + +"No, no! You have had your turn, and if you didn't listen I can't help +it. What do you say, Madge?" + +"Corn, cotton, india-rubber--" + +"Oh, stop! That will do. I don't want the whole geography-book from +end to end. What do you say, John?" + +"I say the same as the others," replied John, who did not take the +trouble to think on his own account, and fancied this statement must be +safe. + +"What!" cried Captain West, pretending to be much alarmed at the news; +"you really think Christopher Columbus and all the products of North +and South America have come as a little surprise to us? This is very +overpowering. Before proceeding any further in my investigations I +shall certainly require some tea to strengthen me;" and he started off +walking rapidly towards the house. + +"Papa! That's too bad! We can't eat any tea until we know what it +is!" they all shouted. + +"I am sorry for that," said Captain West coolly; "because I happen to +be very hungry, as I only had a biscuit for lunch at Churchbury. It +will be rather dull work watching me, I am afraid." + +At this moment Mrs. West appeared at the drawing-room window, holding +up a cup as a signal to her husband that his tea was ready. He hurried +towards her immediately, telling the children that he should be ready +in a quarter of an hour. So there was nothing for it but to wash their +hands and run to the schoolroom, where they arrived just in time to +save the jam, which was in the very act of being carried out of the +room. And after all, in spite of their excitement, they contrived to +make a very good tea, for it was a long time since dinner, and they had +hardly been still for a moment. + +Mrs. West was not very strong, so that she had to spend a great deal of +the day on the sofa, and could seldom join in the children's out-door +amusements. But this surprise from America was so exceptionally +interesting that she declared she must come out and see it; so, with a +shawl carefully tied round her, she accompanied her husband and +children to the stables after tea. + +"Take care!" cried Captain West, with his hand on the latch of one of +the stable doors; "take care it doesn't jump out!" + +"Is it alive? Can it run? Will it bite?" asked the children in +astonishment. + +But before they had time to say more the door was opened, and they +caught sight of two most graceful little goats shrinking timidly into a +corner. + +"Are they for us?" inquired Madge, in a wondering tone of voice; for, +so far, they had never owned anything larger than a pet rabbit, and the +idea of having these beautiful goats for their own seemed almost too +good to be true. + +"They are absolutely your property," said Captain West. "I have +nothing to do with them at all, except that I suppose I shall have the +honour of paying for what they eat and break." + +"Oh, Papa! They look much too dainty to break anything with their tiny +little hoofs," said Madge reproachfully. "And I can see they will eat +very little. But how do you think we had better divide two between +three of us?" + +"There are several ways," replied her father. "You might have the +heads, Betty the bodies, and John the tails." + +But this suggestion did not give entire satisfaction. + +"If Madge wanted to feed her heads in the stable just when I had my +bodies out walking on the road, how should we manage?" asked Betty. + +"That is indeed a difficult question to decide," said Captain West +thoughtfully. "I see that it is a much more difficult matter to keep +goats than I had ever imagined. Perhaps after all it would be safer to +send them back to America?" + +"Oh, no! But I see you don't mean it!" cried Madge. "You are only +joking." + +"I don't know about that," said her father. "It isn't a very joking +matter. One of my old friends who has been lately travelling about +America just writes to say that he has brought back a charming pair of +little goats, and as he can't keep them in his London house he is +sending them as a present to my children. He might have consulted me +first, I think, especially as the goats arrived a few hours after the +letter." + +"Oh, but you wouldn't have stopped them? They are such darlings!" +cried Madge. "They won't give any trouble, and they will draw a little +cart." + +"Well, they look rather wild for that kind of work at present," +observed Captain West; "but I dare say they will grow tamer. And as +they are here I suppose I must make the best of them, as I do of wasps +and rats." + +"How can you compare them to such nasty things?" demanded Madge +indignantly. "Although I know you only do it to tease us! And now we +must think of names. That is always so hard, because we can never +quite agree about names. The white mice all died before we could make +up our minds what to call them." + +"Then I am thankful to say the poor goats will be saved from that +fate," said her father. "My friend expressly says that they have +names. They are called Jack and Jill!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +AN EARLY CHASE. + +The excitement of the goats' arrival quite put all thoughts of Lewis +Brand and his wonderful story out of the children's heads. Fortunately +the evenings were light and long, for there was a great deal to be done +before the two pets could be considered safely housed for the night. +Captain West objected to their remaining any longer in the stables as +he could not spare the room, so there was a great discussion about +where they could be shut up for the night. At last it was decided that +a railed-off corner of the cow-house, where calves generally lived, +would be very suitable, and in the daytime, of course, they could be +loose in the fields with the other animals. As they seemed rather +wild, it was safer to shut them up at night for fear of their wandering +away. So the children were at last persuaded to leave them for the +night, with a plentiful supply of fresh grass, in case they should wake +and feel hungry. + +"What a lot of things have happened to-day!" exclaimed Betty when she +and Madge were both in bed, and Jane had left the room with her usual +piece of good advice to them to go to sleep at once. Two children +occupying beds in the same room were not very likely to take such a +sensible piece of advice, and in point of fact Madge and Betty often +talked away merrily for a long time. "Sometimes it seems as if nothing +happened for weeks, and to-day there are so many things I can hardly +remember them all," continued Betty. "Doesn't it seem a long time +since we let down the rope-ladder and that boy climbed into the Eagle's +Nest?" + +"Yes. But do be quiet, I want to go to sleep," said Madge rather +crossly. She had been feeling so much happier since she had quite +forgotten Lewis Brand and the difficulties connected with him, that she +was not at all grateful for having the whole affair brought back to her +mind again. + +But Betty could not leave the subject alone. "Do you think Lewis is a +nice boy?" she inquired. "I didn't like him at first, because he has +such a white face and hardly any eyebrows!" + +"What a silly reason for not liking a person," said Madge. "As if they +could help their eyebrows!" + +"I know it's silly," returned Betty humbly. "But don't you find it +very difficult to like people when they have nasty faces?" + +"I never think about their faces," said Madge in a superior way. "If +they are jolly I like them soon enough, however ugly they are!" + +"Oh, so do I!" exclaimed Betty, now rather ashamed of her criticisms as +she found that Madge considered them silly. "At first I thought he was +going to be rather proud and stuck-up because he was so much older than +we are, but afterwards he seemed very nice when we began to play. I +wonder if we shall ever see him again?" + +"I'm sure I don't know! Let us go to sleep now, I'm tired of talking;" +and Madge burrowed so deeply under the bed-clothes that it was quite +impossible to carry on any sort of conversation with her. + +Perhaps it was because Madge went to sleep rather early that evening +that she was enabled to wake proportionately early the following +morning. It was fairly light and fine, though not sunny. She got out +of bed and went to the window. Madge invariably looked out of the +window the first thing in the morning, but to-day she was rewarded by +seeing something that had never met her eyes before. + +On the lawn, directly in front of the house, was a large flower-bed, +containing many roses of different colours. They were Mrs. West's +favourite flowers, and even when she could not go out, she enjoyed +seeing them from the drawing-room window. In the middle of this +flower-bed now stood Jack and Jill, cropping off and devouring dozens +of rose-buds with evident relish. + +Madge rubbed her eyes and looked again. It was no dream, and there was +no possibility of a mistake. She had seen the goats safely shut into +the calves' house the night before, and here they were loose and +walking about the garden. She could not understand in the least how it +had happened; but nevertheless it was a fact. And, moreover, they were +eating her mother's favourite roses as fast as they could. She tapped +gently on the window-pane, but the goats took absolutely no notice. At +this rate there would not be a rose left by the time the gardener came +to work. + +A great idea occurred to Madge. We know that she was rather +independent, as befitted the eldest of a family, and decidedly fond of +managing things her own way. So it presently came about that she +decided not to let the roses be eaten, and not to disturb anybody else, +but to drive Jack and Jill out of the garden all by herself. Perhaps +it seemed rather unkind not to wake Betty, who was sleeping quietly in +her little bed in the other corner of the room. However, she looked so +comfortable that it was almost a pity to disturb her, and after all she +was two years younger than Madge, and could not reasonably expect to do +exactly the same things as her elder sister. She would be very full of +reproaches when she woke up, but Madge resolved to risk a little +sisterly abuse sooner than permit anyone to share the glory of her +exploit. + +It really does not take very long to dress if one omits all ornamental +additions, and dispenses with everything in the shape of a bath! Jack +and Jill had not time to do more than taste the succulent young shoots +of half a dozen rose-trees before Madge had crept downstairs and +quietly opened the front-door. Then with a half-suppressed shout of +battle she rushed towards them, waving a walking-stick which she had +the presence of mind to snatch up in passing through the hall. The +goats both gave a guilty start at the first sound, and then crossed the +lawn in a series of most amazing bounds. Madge afterwards compared +them to gigantic grasshoppers; and, indeed, as she panted hopelessly +behind them, she would scarcely have felt surprised if one of her +nimble pets had, with a higher leap than usual, suddenly perched on the +bough of a tree or the roof of a house! + +Madge had often laughed at her father's little terrier, Snap, for +chasing the sparrows up and down the lawn in the vain hope of some day +catching them, but she soon began to realize that she had started on +quite as hopeless an enterprise herself. However rapidly she ran along +the paths, however stealthily she stalked behind the bushes, Jack and +Jill proved quicker and more artful. When, with untold trouble, she +had driven them into a corner, and was advancing with outstretched +hands to grasp their pert little horns, they would just toss their +heads, and without any apparent effort skip right over her shoulder and +be off half across the garden almost before she could turn round. + +"I do believe I shall have to go back and fetch Betty after all," +muttered Madge, when this sort of thing had gone on so long that she +was fairly tired out. "Not that she can run half as fast as I can, her +legs are so short! But she could help. I really can't be expected to +do all the work by myself!" + +Madge was getting tired, and consequently cross. So, rather funnily, +she was beginning to feel it quite a grievance that nobody had come out +to help her to drive the goats, forgetting that it was entirely her own +wish to undertake the job alone. As she somewhat sullenly walked +towards the house, she prepared several severe speeches to be addressed +to Betty on the selfishness of lying in bed and leaving her sister to +do all the work. But just as she was getting into a state of +considerable indignation, out of the open front-door walked her father. + +Captain West had evidently dressed in a hurry like his daughter. In +point of fact he had been suddenly wakened by one of Madge's +involuntary cries, for though she had every intention of being very +quiet, she could not altogether suppress an occasional shout when the +goats were unusually irritating. He had started up and looked into the +passage. All seemed quiet, but a gleam of light in the hall below +showed him that the front-door was open. Between three and four +o'clock in the morning this was a fairly peculiar circumstance. So, +returning to his room he hastily slipped on the first clothes he came +across and proceeded downstairs, to find out who was about at that +early hour. + +"Hullo, Madge! What on earth are you doing?" he exclaimed, as he +suddenly found himself face to face with his eldest daughter. + +Madge explained the whole story in rather a confused, disjointed sort +of way. It was not at all the triumphal return to the house that she +had planned. If things had gone as she intended she would easily have +caught Jack and Jill; they would have come to eat a little grass out of +her hand, and then she would gently but firmly have led them back to +the calves' house. Here she would have secured the door more skilfully +than her elders had done the previous evening, so that there would have +been no further possibility of escape for the prisoners. And then she +would have strolled quietly back to the house, and explained to an +admiring audience at breakfast-time what precautions she had taken for +the safety of the garden while the more negligent members of the family +slept. It was certainly very disappointing to be treated by her father +as a naughty child instead of a heroine, and scolded for her stupidity +in running out on the wet grass in thin shoes. + +"But I couldn't expect it to be wet in the summer," replied Madge, who +would seldom admit that she was in the wrong without an argument. + +"Don't talk nonsense!" said Captain West severely. He would play with +the children all day, and readily forgive them any damage they did +through carelessness, but he never could stand their trying to argue +that wrong was right. "You know as much about dew as I do," he +continued; "and I have put on thick boots while you have been running +about for an hour in dripping wet shoes." + +It was quite impossible to deny this, for Madge's feet presented a most +miserable appearance. She had been running through the shrubberies, +where the long wet grass reached up to her knees, and her kid shoes +were also scratched and muddy. + +"If I go in and put on thick boots may I come out again and help you to +drive the goats?" inquired Madge anxiously. + +Seeing how very wet she was, Captain West did not dare grant this +request, but ordered her straight back to bed. With many a grumble +Madge returned to her room and threw all her clothes in a heap on the +floor. Then she slowly climbed into bed, protesting to herself that +she should be sure to lie awake until it was time to get up, in spite +of which resolve she fell asleep in about two minutes. + +Whether Jack and Jill thought that Captain West did not look like a +person to be trifled with, or whether they were really getting a little +tired of their prolonged frolic, it is impossible to say. At all +events, soon after he appeared they allowed themselves to be quietly +driven to the end of the garden and out through the door into the +farmyard, where they remained until Barton came to milk the cows in the +morning. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +AN ALARMING JUMP. + +"I'll tell you what it is, children," said Captain West briskly as he +entered the dining-room rather late for breakfast, "if these pets of +yours are going to keep me trotting about the garden at night I shall +lose my excellent character for punctuality in the morning. Why, here +is Madge coming down late too, and looking very displeased with the +world. I don't know if Jack and Jill are responsible for her frowns as +well as my lateness; if so, they have a good deal upon their +consciences!" + +The fact of the matter was, that poor Madge was labouring under a +grievance. In the morning she and Betty usually tried who should get +down earliest to breakfast, and to-day, as might have been expected, +Madge's shoes had shrunk up so uncomfortably after their wetting that +she could not get them on without a great deal of rough handling. And +then, to make matters worse, Nurse had declared that they were still +damp, and made her take them off again to be put in front of the fire +and thoroughly dried. Of course Betty was downstairs and half through +a basin of bread-and-milk before Madge appeared, with a very gloomy +countenance. + +However, Captain West could not abide melancholy faces around the +table, and he began to make such outrageous suggestions about a fitting +punishment for the goats who had disturbed his night's rest, that at +last even Madge was compelled to relax into a smile. + +"Oh, don't pretend you will shave them, Papa! I don't believe anybody +could make them stand still enough to be shaved," she said. "And as +for harnessing them to the brougham, you know they are so small they +would slip through the horses' great collars. But it would be very +nice to have a tiny cart that they really could draw," she added +wistfully. + +"I think the first thing is to accustom your steeds to come when they +are called," replied Captain West. "It will be very awkward if, +whenever you want to go for a drive, you have to chase them up hill and +down dale for an hour before you can catch them." + +Acting on this suggestion, the children spent all their spare moments +during the next day or two in trying to make friends with the goats. +They were so successful, that at last Jack would consent to be led +about by a bit of string tied to one of his horns, almost as quietly as +a little dog. Jill remained shy to the last, and in spite of being +perpetually offered the most tempting bits of carrot, could never +summon up sufficient courage to eat anything out of the children's +hands. + +"Now that Jack is so tame he shall join in all our games," said Madge. +So the children led him about everywhere with them in the garden and +fields. But they never dared let go the string, or he would be off, +running and leaping into the most extraordinary places before they +could come up with him again. + +Poor Barton was much perplexed where to shut up the two goats at night. +The cow-house was a perfect failure; Jack and Jill stayed in it just as +long as they liked, and not a moment longer. Unless all the doors and +windows were shut, which was very stuffy in hot weather, there was no +keeping them in an instant after they had decided to take a walk. And +if they got out, they were not content to stay in the fields, but +always found their way into the garden, where they cropped off the most +cherished shrubs and flowers. + +At last Barton hit on the plan of putting them into an empty pig-sty +for the night and spreading a piece of old netting over the opening. +This was very successful for a time. + +When Jack was sufficiently tamed to be led about it occurred to the +children that they might now introduce him to the Eagle's Nest. They +had rather neglected their fortress of late, having had so much +occupation at home with the goats; in fact they had not visited the +beech-tree for nearly a week, not since the eventful day when they had +seen Mrs. Howard and made acquaintance with Lewis Brand. In the new +interest of training Jack and Jill everything else had been forgotten. +But as they came near the Eagle's Nest all their old excitement in it +revived. + +"Will Jack have to walk up the grand staircase or the rope-ladder?" +inquired John. "Or shall we have to lift him?" + +"We can't stretch high enough to do that," observed Betty. + +It was left to Madge as usual to decide this important question. She +gave it as her opinion that with a little help from behind Jack could +mount the grand staircase. "I will go up first," she said, "and pull +at his horns. Then I can let down the rope-ladder for you two." + +"I thought we left the rope-ladder coiled round that bough just above +the Eagle's Nest," remarked Betty, "but I can't see it there now." + +"Little Blind Eyes! Of course it must be there. I twisted it round +the branch rather tightly, on purpose that it shouldn't show from +below!" cried Madge rather impatiently, for she was leading Jack by a +piece of string, and as he continually hung back to nibble bits of +grass that looked especially tempting, it required a great deal of +waiting about and coaxing to get along at all. + +"I can't see it there now," repeated Betty obstinately. + +"Oh, don't go on staring up at that old rope-ladder!" exclaimed Madge, +"You just hold Jack at the bottom of the tree while I climb the grand +staircase. And then, when I am ready to pull his horns, both push him +from behind as hard as you can." + +Whether Jack was more active even than they had credited him with +being, or whether the twins pushed harder than had been expected, will +never be known. At all events, long before Madge was firmly seated on +the Eagle's Nest there was a terrific scramble, and the goat bounded +past her almost knocking her out of the tree. In the struggle not to +fall she very naturally dropped the leading-string and clung with both +hands to a bough. Jack took advantage of his opportunity. Without +pausing more than a second on the Eagle's Nest he skipped lightly on to +the top of the boundary wall, and from there took a tremendous jump +right into Mrs. Howard's orchard. + +"He's gone!" shrieked Madge. "Oh, what shall we do!" + +Quite overcome by this unforeseen calamity, the children actually +forgot to quarrel among themselves about who was responsible for the +accident. They all crouched down on the sticks composing the Eagle's +Nest, and watched almost in silence the scene that was going on down in +the orchard. At first Jack appeared frantic with delight at having +regained his freedom and discovered a new playground. He scampered +round and round the orchard, kicking up his heels, and disturbing +horribly the placid old cows who were standing half asleep in the +shade, chewing the cud and slowly whisking their tails to drive the +flies off their sleek backs. But after a time it seemed as if Jack +began to feel rather strange amidst his new surroundings. He left off +frisking, and wandered restlessly about the orchard as if searching for +some way to get out. Once or twice he looked up at the wall and +bleated rather piteously. + +"He wants to get back," said Betty. "Do you think he can possibly jump +up the wall again?" She spoke almost in a whisper, having an +uncomfortable feeling that if Mrs. Howard heard strange voices she +might appear as suddenly as she had done on the last occasion. + +"It's too high and straight even for Jack," replied Madge sadly. "You +know the trunk of the tree helped him on this side, and, besides, you +and John were both pushing him from behind." + +"I've thought of a way," cried Betty. "Only I'm not quite sure whether +I should dare to do it. I would, if you promised to come with me. It +is for two of us to go down the rope-ladder into the orchard and try to +catch Jack, and then--" + +"Push him up the wall again, you mean?" interrupted Madge eagerly. +"Yes, we'll do it! It's the only way we can get Jack back." + +"But won't it be trespassing to go into Mrs. Howard's field?" inquired +John. + +This suggestion rather damped the spirits of the party. They knew that +if you were caught trespassing, very terrible though ill-defined things +might happen. When Barton found that village boys had been walking +over the farm, searching for birds' nests and trampling down the mowing +grass, he always said they had better not let him catch them +trespassing or they would never forget it. He never condescended to +explain exactly what punishment awaited them; but it sounded rather +like imprisonment for life, with hard labour. So the little Wests grew +up with a wholesome terror of being found trespassing, believing that +such an offence might lead to something much more severe than the +scolding at home, which was all the punishment they received for +ordinary acts of mischief. + +"Perhaps it would not count as trespassing if we stood on the +rope-ladder," said Betty hopefully. "And Jack might come to us if we +called him. Anyhow, we could climb up again quickly if we saw Mrs. +Howard coming, and she could never say that we had been exactly on her +land." + +"I tell you what," said Madge after a moment's thought, "I shall go +down the rope-ladder after Jack even if I have to run into the middle +of the field to catch him. And if it's trespassing I can't help it. +You two can sit in the Eagle's Nest and warn me if you see any danger. +I would rather do it all by myself." + +When Madge spoke in that decided kind of way, the younger ones knew +that she had made up her mind. And they were justly proud of her +bravery and energy. But an unexpected obstacle prevented Madge from +carrying her heroic design into execution. When they began to search +for the rope-ladder it was not there! + +No doubt Madge had been perfectly correct in saying that she had left +it safely coiled round a branch, the last time they played at the +Eagle's Nest. Only Betty had been equally right as she crossed the +field in saying that she could not see it there to-day. The children +would probably have noticed its disappearance much sooner if they had +not been so absorbed in watching Jack. There seemed really nothing +left to be done; for even Madge with all her length of limb and daring +courage could not get up or down a wall ten feet high without any help. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE TRESPASSER. + +"Look! look!" exclaimed Betty suddenly, in a hoarse whisper. She +pointed towards the orchard, and then crouched down behind a branch, +trying to look even smaller than nature had made her. The others +followed her example, until they were not much more conspicuous than +three young squirrels. But though the children scarcely dared breathe +in their anxiety to remain hidden, six eager eyes were strained towards +a certain point in the orchard. + +A tall, thin man, with a gray beard, was standing not many yards from +Jack, carefully examining him through an eye-glass. How the man got +there nobody knew; possibly he rose up from the earth or fell down from +the sky; more probably he walked out of Mrs. Howard's garden gate while +the children were hunting for their rope-ladder. At any rate he seemed +immensely surprised at Jack's presence in the orchard. + +[Illustration: A TALL, THIN MAN WAS CAREFULLY EXAMINING JACK] + +The gray-bearded man stood irresolute for some time, as if unable to +make up his mind exactly how to treat the intruder. At last he walked +away towards the house, shouting to someone in the garden to come to +his assistance. Presently in answer to his call a boy ran across the +field. Even in the distance the children recognized that it was Lewis +Brand, and they became if possible more interested in the proceedings +than they were before. + +With considerable difficulty the gray-bearded man and Lewis hunted Jack +into a corner of the field, but just as they were about to catch the +goat he invariably sprang past them and escaped. Madge could hardly +keep from laughing aloud, because it was all so exactly what had +happened to her when she tried to drive Jack and Jill out of the garden. + +The Wests wondered a good deal if Lewis had any idea that the goat +belonged to them, and whether he noticed them crouching in the +beech-tree. For a long time he seemed absolutely unconscious of their +presence, but suddenly, when the gray-bearded man's back was turned, +Lewis looked towards the Eagle's Nest and unmistakably smiled. In a +moment Madge had replied by waving her pocket-handkerchief frantically +among the branches. + +Instead of replying in a friendly spirit to this signal, Lewis made the +most horrible grimace, put his finger to his lip, and turned away +resolutely. + +"We must keep very quiet. He is afraid of being seen," whispered +Madge, putting her handkerchief away. But she could not help feeling +rather mortified that Lewis had not trusted to her discretion only to +wave when his companion was looking the other way. She was not in the +habit of doing stupid things, and Lewis might have known it. + +After a great deal of running up and down, the gray-bearded man seemed +to consider it a hopeless task ever to catch Jack, so he changed his +plan and tried to drive the goat into a little shed in the corner of +the field. This was a much easier feat to accomplish, and in ten +minutes more Jack was safely imprisoned and the door shut. Then the +gray-bearded man, evidently much exhausted by his exertions, walked off +to the garden, fanning himself with his black felt hat as he went. +Lewis lingered behind his companion for one moment, and rapidly made a +mysterious series of signs. First he pointed at the door of the shed +where Jack was inclosed, then drew his hand across his own throat +several times. Lastly he shook his fist violently at the back of the +gray-bearded man as he followed him out of the field. + +"What did Lewis mean by making all those funny faces?" asked John, +when, the enemy being quite out of sight, the children dared once more +speak and move. + +"I don't know," said Madge. "It looked as if he were angry with that +man--" + +"No!" interrupted Betty. "It's worse than that! Lewis was trying to +show us that the gray-bearded man is going to hurt poor Jack. I +believe he has gone for a knife to cut his throat!" + +There was a horrified silence after these words, for the more the +children thought over them the more likely did it appear that Lewis's +signs had really contained some such terrible meaning. Madge as usual +was the first to come out with a heroic resolution. + +"If that terrible man comes back with a knife to murder Jack," she +said, "I shall jump off the wall and attack him with a stick. Very +likely I shall break both my legs, but I don't care. I can't leave +Jack to his fate." + +Betty and John listened with uneasy admiration. They were just as +sorry about Jack as Madge was; almost in tears at the idea of his +possible death. But they did not feel brave enough to jump off the +wall and risk breaking their legs. If it had been one leg between them +perhaps they might have faced it, but four legs were too many for even +brave twins to sacrifice. + +"Why do you think you will break them both if you jump?" asked Betty +anxiously, hoping against hope that there might be some miscalculation. + +"Because I know you can break one leg if you only fall five or six +feet, and this is double that height," replied Madge promptly. + +Such logical reasoning did not admit of a single ray of hope. + +"I don't think we are big enough to jump, then," said Betty modestly. +And for once John did not contradict her. + +However, for the second time that afternoon Madge was spared having to +carry out a heroic resolve. The gray-bearded man did not return, +either with or without a knife. It is true that Jack's voice could +occasionally be heard raised in distressed accents from the inside of +the shed. But unless his life was in imminent danger, even Madge did +not feel inclined to sacrifice her limbs. + +"After all, it was entirely his own fault jumping over the wall," she +remarked when they had waited a long time without anything happening. + +"And they don't seem to be going to kill him," observed Betty. + +"And it's long past tea-time," added John. + +This last consideration decided the children, and they returned to the +house without taking any further steps towards rescuing Jack. + +Nothing more was heard of the missing pet that evening. The children +did not say anything about his escape, and their father happened to be +staying out rather late, so that when he came home Barton had left +work. The old man had noticed that there was only one goat in the +field when he went to drive them in for the night, but he did not waste +much time hunting for Jack, having expressed his opinion from the first +that it would be a good job when those nasty creatures either ran away +or got sent off in disgrace! He did not like any pets, regarding them +as useless creatures who ate food, gave trouble, and repaid nothing. +If he had been allowed his way the children's tame rabbits and pigeons +would all have gone into pies. + +Of course there was a good deal of anxiety about Jack's fate among the +only three people at Beechgrove who knew all the facts of his +disappearance. As the hours passed by, and they actually went to bed +and got up again without hearing any news, they began to wonder if, +after all, they should never know what had become of him. When they +all went to the schoolroom, and lessons began as usual, this really +seemed rather probable. But in the middle of saying the English dates +there was a knock at the door. John noticed it first, not because his +hearing was particularly acute so much as on account of its being his +turn to say the next date--which he had forgotten. + +"Do attend, John!" said Miss Thompson. "Who came after Queen Anne? +You always forget!" + +"But there was a knock at the door, I am sure! Yes, there's another!" +And for once John proved to be in the right, for at that moment Captain +West entered the room. + +"I'm dreadfully sorry to interrupt," he said to Miss Thompson, "for I +can see by the children's faces that something very interesting is +going on--" + +"Oh, Papa!" interrupted Betty. "Why, it's only the English dates!" + +"Well, what can be more interesting?" But as nobody answered he +continued: "However, I haven't time to discuss the delights of your +various studies, I must leave that to you and Miss Thompson to settle +between you. All I want to say at present is, that you children must +really be careful and not get me into trouble with my neighbours. I +have just had a letter brought by Mrs. Howard's servant making +complaints. Now mind, I can't have any more of this trespassing on--" + +"We didn't step on Mrs. Howard's ground! Not one single inch!" +interrupted Madge. + +"I didn't ever suppose that you did, considering the height of the wall +you would be obliged to climb over to get there!" said Captain West. +"But there has been a trespasser on her land all the same, and I hold +you partly responsible for him." + +"Is it Jack?" gasped Madge. "What has she done with him? Oh, please +tell me!" + +"Why, sent him back, to be sure, with a polite note requesting me to +keep him under better control," answered Captain West. "It seems that +he got over the wall into her field somehow, and they shut him up for a +time. But he got loose before long, as usual, and in chasing him about +the garden some boy broke a cucumber-frame, and poor Jack got all the +blame for that as well as for destroying a row of early peas. So he +was sent back in sad disgrace." + +"Did Mrs. Howard try to kill him?" asked John solemnly. + +"Kill him? No!" laughed Captain West. "Did you think she wanted roast +kid for dinner? But how did he manage to jump over such a high wall, I +wonder? I suppose he did it while you were in the fields with him, as +you seem to know all about it?" + +"He jerked the string out of my hand and went off with it," said Madge. + +"And jumped the wall, I suppose?" added her father. "Well, it's a +tremendous height even for a goat, but one never can tell how high they +will go. However, I mustn't interrupt you any more at lesson-time." + +"This will teach Jack to look before he leaps," said Betty softly as +the door shut behind her father. She always enjoyed having the last +word, especially if she could twist it into a proverb. + +The children were much relieved at this happy conclusion to their +anxiety; but their delight was somewhat lessened when Captain West made +a rule that Jack and Jill were never to be let out of their pig-sty +unless he was at home to see that they did not get into mischief. The +poor goats did not at all approve of remaining prisoners so much of +their time; but really it seemed the only way of preventing them from +breaking bounds. The children did what they could to cheer their pets +in captivity by bringing them handfuls of cabbages and carrots at all +hours in the day, and Jack and Jill began to grow so fat that before +long it was to be hoped they would lose all taste for jumping. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +CERTAIN LITTLE GARDENS. + +It is wonderful how often grown-up people walk about the world with +their eyes shut. Captain West thought himself decidedly an observant +man. He was fond of his garden, and even worked in it for hours at a +time; but he never noticed that within his domain there were sundry +other little gardens, just as carefully tended, and exhibiting a much +greater ingenuity of arrangement than his own. For instance, there was +one within a few yards of the schoolroom window, just at the corner of +the house, under the laburnum-tree. Here Betty was working hard one +morning, when, having finished her lessons with unusual quickness, she +was allowed out of the schoolroom half an hour before the others. + +A more unpromising site for a garden it would have been difficult to +imagine. All that the ordinary world saw were two stone slabs, that +had something to do with lighting a cellar below the house. But the +children had long ago discovered, that one stone being several inches +higher than the other, water poured on it would rush like a miniature +cascade to the lower level. This was by no means the only possibility +of amusement that the stones afforded. A large crack ran down the +centre of each, and these when properly blocked with mud at either end +made two admirable lakes. There were other smaller cracks, in which +the children from time to time planted a daisy or a laburnum seed. +Once or twice they had been known to grow, which was distinctly +encouraging. + +This little pleasure-ground had lately suffered considerable neglect, +owing to the number of exciting events that had occurred. Besides, +when Madge was out of doors she liked larger and more energetic +amusements. But Betty was devoted to arranging her little garden in +new ways, and directly she found herself alone she began to work out a +scheme for beautifying it that she had long had in her head. The lakes +were carefully formed with some nice sticky handfuls of clay at either +end to keep in the water. This had often been done before, but it was +quite a new thing, and entirely Betty's own idea, to cover the mud +banks with glittering fragments of gravel, so that they looked like +rockeries. She also stuck bits of grass round the edges to do duty for +rushes, and very well they looked. But the most happy thought of all +was making imitation water-lilies out of nasturtium leaves. When that +was done, Betty stopped to admire her work with very natural pride. It +seemed almost as perfect as human skill could make it. + +At that moment up came John. He had finished his lessons before Madge, +who, it seemed, had got into difficulties over her sums, from which she +was not likely to emerge until dinner-time. John admired the new +arrangements exceedingly, and also contributed a suggestion to the +effect that there should be a fleet on the lake. + +"Yes, but one of our boats will fill up the whole lake," said Betty, +who did not quite appreciate having her own arrangements interfered +with by a new-comer. + +John made no direct answer, but dipping his hand deep into his pocket, +he drew out about a dozen nut-shells and deposited them on the stone. + +Betty examined the heap carefully. "There isn't a single kernel left, +not half a one!" she said in a tone of disappointment. "What's the +good of bringing those?" + +"Boats, don't you see?" explained John. And really the nut-shells, +such of them at least as were not too utterly smashed, made excellent +boats, in exact proportion to the size of the lake. When a little +extra excitement was required, Betty scraped away the mud that blocked +back the water on the upper stone, and a cataract rushed out, bearing +the whole fleet with it, and plunged recklessly into the depths of the +lower pool. + +Once they adjourned for a short time to another little garden that had +lately been planned out in the middle of a shrubbery. To approach it, +one had first to cross a broad flower-border that edged the shrubbery. +Theoretically the children always jumped this flower-bed, leaving no +trace of their footsteps, but in practice, as it was rather wide, they +usually alighted heavily in the middle of it. Many a broken geranium +and crushed heliotrope testified to their unsuccessful efforts, and +Captain West, having no clue to their proceedings, was often driven to +wonder what charm--except naughtiness--there could be about jumping on +the flower-beds. He had not penetrated into the middle of the +shrubbery for years; never since the laurels and hollies had grown into +a solid prickly barrier against the outer world. So he could not +possibly guess that somewhere out of sight a weakly bush had been +gradually choked to death by its more robust companions, and that the +children on one of their voyages of discovery had noticed this, and +decided that since the poor thing was nearly dead it would obviously be +more sensible to pull it up and make a garden in its place. Of course, +the ground was so full of the roots of trees that ordinary digging was +quite out of the question; a spade (even if Madge stepped on it with +both feet and all her weight) would not go in more than half an inch. +But in the end the children very satisfactorily scratched up the ground +for about a square yard with pointed sticks, and put in a row of +primroses upside down, because they had been told that if planted in +that position they would come up red. This experiment failed with the +greatest regularity year after year in whatever corner of the garden it +was tried. Yet both children and gardeners are such hopeful people, +that when the two are combined one may expect to see absolutely +impossible feats cheerfully embarked upon as often as the sun rises. + +Betty and John did not go to this charming retreat empty-handed. The +former had some plants torn up by the roots, the latter a half-filled +watering-pot. The fact was that several small things had been left +over after finishing the naval display, and it seemed a pity to waste +them. Water, for instance, was always valuable, because there was a +certain amount of difficulty about getting it. The gardener objected +to their drawing off much from his pump, which was apt to run dry in +hot weather, while if they went indoors to get a drop from a tap they +were at once set upon by innumerable people ordering them not to make +messes and wet their frocks. So when some water was left over from +flooding the lake, it was proposed not to throw it away, but to carry +it to the shrubbery garden, where there were several languishing +plants. There was the inevitable little struggle for possession of the +watering-pot; but Betty was not unreasonable, so she gave it up when +John pointed out that she had the undivided enjoyment of it while he +was at lessons. And in its place she carried two or three very +drooping nasturtium plants, that had unfortunately come up by the roots +while she was picking their leaves. They would do very well to plant +in the shrubbery, where the sun could never manage to pierce the screen +of overhanging boughs even at mid-day. All gardeners know that a hot +sun has a very disastrous effect on newly-moved plants, especially if +their roots are mostly torn off. + +"I'll hold the watering-pot while you jump over the geranium-bed," said +Betty. "You know we broke two last week, and Papa said if he caught--" + +"Nonsense! It's only you girls with your skirts who break things," +interrupted John, clutching his watering-pot tighter than ever, for he +strongly suspected his sister of intending to wile it away from him. +He jumped, the watering-pot was heavy, and the weight all on one side. +Consequently he fell, and his fall was unusually disastrous, being +marked by more than the ordinary number of crushed geraniums and +scattered earth. Of course the water was all upset, principally into +his boots: and Betty threw away her nasturtiums in disgust, for it was +quite useless to plant them dry, and they had both been warned off the +pump and the tap that very morning. There might easily have been some +rather bitter reproaches at this point, but fortunately Madge was sent +out to summon them to dinner. + +"I want you to do something for me this afternoon," she said to Betty +and John as they returned to the house. "Miss Thompson is going to +take me to Churchbury shopping, and I think Lewis will be expecting me +at the Eagle's Nest. I said something about it yesterday before I knew +that I was going shopping." + +"But why can't John and I go and talk to him?" answered Betty. "We +aren't all going shopping." + +"You don't think he will care to talk to little things like you?" +laughed Madge. "Why, he is two years older than me even; but, of +course, that isn't much. I only want you to tell him why I haven't +come, and that we shall have the usual afternoon holiday on Saturday. +Then you can come straight back, for I am sure he won't stop with you." + +Since the day that Jack jumped over the wall Lewis had talked to the +children several times, standing close under the tree, and keeping an +anxious eye in the direction of Mrs. Howard's house all the while. Of +course he could not climb up to play with them since the rope-ladder so +mysteriously disappeared. There had been no explanation of that +strange disappearance. At first the children feared that Barton had +found their hiding-place, and recovered his missing property; but they +soon made up their minds that this could not be the case, when the old +man continued to meet them every day without any signs of anger. For +when Barton suspected that they had been in mischief, he did not +hesitate to scold them severely himself, and also complain to their +father. They often got into trouble this way when he found them +hunting the pigs too vigorously, or playing tricks with the milk-pails. +He would certainly have made a great fuss about their borrowing his +ropes without leave, and knotting them all over. So, as he said +nothing, it was pretty certain that he knew nothing. + +But though Lewis Brand was now completely cut off from the Eagle's +Nest, being on a lower level by about a dozen feet than the children +who were sitting in it, he contrived to tell them a wonderful number of +stories about himself and the bad treatment which he suffered, speaking +all the while in a loud whisper that was very impressive. In this way +they heard, among other curious facts, that the gray-bearded man was +the jailer of whose cruelties Lewis had already told them. The +children were surprised at this, for the gray-bearded man had not +looked either very powerful or very savage. But they accepted from +Lewis the explanation that he was a hypocrite. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A NEW LADDER. + +John and Betty started rather unwillingly on their task. It seemed +sadly dull to walk across several fields under a burning sun merely to +deliver a message for Madge, while she was enjoying an afternoon among +the Churchbury shops. Of course they were at perfect liberty to stay +playing in the Eagle's Nest as long as they liked. But somehow they +did not care to linger there by themselves. Without Madge's +substantial protection the shade of the spreading beech-trees seemed +more gloomy, and the distance from the house greater, even than usual. +Besides, when Madge was not present to remind them of the laws of +trespass, they could not help feeling as if Mrs. Howard might pounce +upon them at any moment and drag them over the wall to her darkest +cellars. So they only intended just to give their message to Lewis if +he appeared, and then to hurry back to those little gardens of which +they were so fond, where there was always something to be done, and no +fear of being kidnapped. + +However, everything turned out as differently as possible to what they +had expected. No sooner had they climbed on to the Eagle's Nest than +they heard a low whistle, and looking down saw Lewis gliding along on +his side of the wall with the stealthy tread of an Indian on an enemy's +trail. He was a thin boy, with a white face, and always looked over +his shoulder as if he expected some foe to be coming up behind him. + +"Madge can't come. She had to go to Churchbury shopping. She told us +to tell you," said Betty, leaning down from her perch and speaking as +low as she could. The children at Beechgrove shouted so much when they +were at home, that it was always a great effort to them to lower their +voices. Lewis, on the contrary, had the art of carrying on a long +conversation all in whispers, it seemed natural to him. + +"All right! Never mind. We can do just as well without her," was the +unexpected answer. + +Betty looked puzzled. "Shall I give her any message from you about +Saturday?" Betty said, preparing to leave the Eagle's Nest. + +"What are you in such a hurry to be off for?" cried Lewis, rather +louder than usual. "Aren't you going to stop and talk?" + +"But Madge isn't here, and--" + +"Oh, bother Madge!" interrupted Lewis. "You and John aren't her +slaves, are you? Can't we have a bit of fun by ourselves for once, +without having her interfering and trying to manage everything? I +often wonder you two stand it! I know I wouldn't!" + +"But I thought you and Madge were such friends!" said Betty, much +bewildered by the strangeness of this declaration. + +"She thinks you don't care to speak to us. Only to her, because she is +older," chimed in John. + +"Well, that's just where she makes a mistake," said Lewis roughly. "I +can't abide girls who think they are so grand, and are always ordering +other people about! Why, to hear her talk of this Eagle's Nest one +would believe she made it all herself, and I daresay you and John +worked just as hard as she did." + +Now until this moment it had never struck Betty and John as strange +that Madge should take the lead in everything. She was the oldest, +biggest, and strongest of the three; and if she usually had her own way +about everything, it had only seemed natural to the others that this +should be so. Besides, she took all the trouble of making plans for +them, and they really had much more fun under her guidance than they +would have had alone. So it was quite a new view to them that they +were oppressed, but when it had once been put into their heads they +began to think that perhaps they had something to complain of after all. + +"Now you won't be such silly sneaks as to go and tell Madge everything +I have been saying?" observed Lewis rather anxiously when he noticed +what a serious impression his words were making. "If you are such +babies as that I shall never speak to you again. And I have not been +saying any harm either, you know." He was beginning to fear, from the +twins' solemn faces, that they would go home and repeat his words to +Madge. "Only I have always thought you two looked such jolly little +things, if your sister would give you a chance of being spoken to, or +played with," he added. + +All this was excessively flattering coming from a big boy of fourteen, +and after some more remarks of the sort Betty and John began to feel +that they were very fine people, who had always, rather unjustly, been +kept in the background by their elder sister. For the first time in +their lives they looked upon Madge as a tyrant. + +"I should like to come up there and play with you," continued Lewis. +"Only the wall is rather too high for me to climb now that the ladder +has gone. Oh, I have a good idea! Capital! The very thing! Why +didn't we think of it before, I wonder?" + +"What is it?" cried the twins. "What have you thought of?" + +Lewis did not answer, but turned away and ran quickly to the shed where +Jack had been shut up. Presently he came out again, dragging some iron +railings, which with considerable trouble he got as far as the +overhanging boughs of the beech-tree. + +"There's a ladder for you!" he exclaimed proudly, as he propped the +railings against the wall. + +"It's splendid! Quite splendid!" shouted the twins, forgetting in +their excitement how near they were to the terrible house with the +cellar. + +"Hush! Hush!" whispered Lewis. "If you make such a noise we shall be +caught, and all our fun stopped. And it's not quite perfect either. +Not high enough. See!" + +In point of fact the top bar of the railings was only five feet from +the ground, so that it did not reach more than half-way up the wall. +It was very nice as far as it went, but more of it was badly wanted. +However, Lewis was not easily discouraged. He returned to the shed, +where there were several more railings, and dragged out another. "They +are dreadfully heavy," he said; "but I don't care. I shall go on +fetching them until I get enough to reach the top of the wall. I know +there are a heap of them in the shed. They are kept there when they +are not being used to divide the field." + +"Take care you don't tumble! Oh, that's beautiful! I do wish we could +help you!" cried the twins, looking on in the highest admiration while +Lewis slowly pushed and pulled one railing on the top of another +against the wall. Then he tied them together with some bits of string +out of his pocket, and proceeded to mount. It was not a very steady +ladder, but with the wall to lean against there was small fear of +falling, and when near the top of it Lewis could reach the hands that +were eagerly stretched out to help him. In another moment he was +sitting on the Eagle's Nest. + +"This is a goodish sort of tree," he remarked, looking round with a +patronizing air. "Very easy to climb, of course--" + +"Oh, but I can go much higher than these boughs by the wall!" +interrupted Betty. "So high that my feet are where your head is now." + +"That's not much," said Lewis scornfully. "Girls never can climb much. +They just flop about, and catch their frocks in all the branches, and +get giddy, and cry to be helped down again!" + +Betty flushed hotly. "You are talking nonsense!" she shrieked. "Silly +nonsense! I can climb much higher than John; and as for crying--" + +Her remarks were promptly cut short by a hand being roughly pressed +over her mouth. "Hold your tongue!" whispered Lewis. "Unless you wish +old Mother Howard and her slave-drivers to be after us!" + +At this terrible threat Betty looked nervously towards the brick house. +But there was nothing to be seen in that direction except the quiet old +cows in the orchard below. She was so reassured by seeing them chewing +the cud, as if nothing dreadful could possibly happen, that she +regained sufficient courage to remark defiantly that after all Mrs. +Howard did not seem a very formidable person. + +"That shows all you know about it!" replied Lewis. "I can tell you a +very different tale. If you two will promise faithfully not to say a +single word of what I tell you to anybody--not to Madge, or your nurse, +or anybody,--then I will tell you something that nobody else knows. +Only it's a secret, you must remember,--a dead secret." + +This was very solemn work. Betty and John glanced at each other, both +longing to know the secret, and yet a little afraid of the conditions +that had been imposed. + +"Mightn't we just tell Madge if she promises not to repeat it?" Betty +ventured to say. + +"Certainly not! We don't want Madge poking her interfering nose into +everything, do we?" replied Lewis rudely. "Just make up your minds +whether you want to hear a most terrible and extraordinary thing, or +not, for I can't wait much longer. But if I don't tell you to-day I +sha'n't breathe a word of it another time, so it's no good teasing me +again." + +This last remark decided Betty. She was very curious by nature, and +could not bear to miss any piece of news that promised to be +interesting. + +"I think I must hear the secret, although I would much rather tell +Madge about it," she said in a hesitating voice. "And if you don't +like to promise, John, you must go a little way off and stop your ears." + +But John was not equal to so much self-restraint. If Betty had +resisted the temptation of hearing the secret he would have done so +too, but he could not possibly let her enjoy the advantage of knowing +more than he did. "I promise not to tell," he grunted. + +"Ah, that's all very well!" exclaimed Lewis; "but I must see if you two +babies can keep a secret. Just put out your hands. Now I am going to +pinch your little fingers, and if you cry out it means that you can't +be trusted." And pinch he did, and very hard too, but the twins +bravely clenched their teeth and said nothing. + +When Lewis had teased them to his heart's content, he began his +wonderful tale by whispering in a mysterious voice: + +"Do you know what Mrs. Howard really is?" + +"An old lady," replied Betty very naturally. "Your aunt, perhaps? No? +But she looks rather like it, doesn't she?" + +"Ah! but she is something quite different really," said Lewis. And +after pausing a short time to heighten Betty's curiosity, he added: +"She is a witch!" + +The twins started back, hardly able to believe their ears. "But there +aren't any witches now!" they cried. "Besides, there aren't such +things really. They used to be burned, but Miss Thompson says most +likely they were only poor old women who couldn't hurt anybody." + +"I don't care a bit what Miss Thompson or anybody says," replied Lewis. +"Mrs. Howard is an old witch, you can tell that by the black cat that +follows her everywhere. That's a sure sign." + +Betty hardly knew what to say, for she had once seen a picture of a +witch, and there was undoubtedly a black cat crouching in the corner of +it. + +"You noticed the way she shook her head, I dare say?" continued Lewis, +who was delighted by the awestruck looks of his two companions. "Well, +she is muttering spells when she does that. She has the power to +destroy things if she says the right words. Any morning I may wake up +and find the house changed into a heap of dust, or perhaps be struck +dead myself." + +It seemed impossible that such things should be going on almost within +sight of Miss Thompson's schoolroom window. And yet, judging by the +gravity of Lewis's face, he was speaking in most sober earnest. John +and Betty pressed tighter together, and took hold of each other's hands. + +"I hope for your sakes that the old witch won't find out you've been +talking to me," continued Lewis solemnly. + +"Why what would she do?" Betty ventured to ask. + +"That would depend on what sort of a temper she happened to be in," was +the reassuring reply. + +And then Lewis proceeded to tell such terrible tales about Mrs. +Howard's power and malignity, that the poor twins longed to be safely +back at home, out of sight of that weird brick house, whose commonplace +walls concealed such dreadful deeds of cruelty. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE BROWN BAG. + +Madge was spending her afternoon in a still more stirring manner than +the twins. A shopping expedition to Churchbury was always an +excitement, and it was extraordinary how many little purchases seemed +absolutely necessary directly the children found out that one of them +was going to town. + +Madge was heavily laden with money. Five shillings and sevenpence, +mostly in coppers, take up a great deal of room. This sum represented +the joint property of Madge, Betty, and John. They collected it in a +tin money-box shaped like a small doll's house, with a slit in the roof +to drop in the pennies. Miss Thompson kept the key of the front-door, +and they had to apply to her for it before any money could be taken +out. They had made this rule themselves, because they found that +unless their money was locked up so that they could not get at it +without a little trouble, they used it as soon as it was given them. +To-day they had all three asked for the key, and opened the front-door +with pleasant anticipations of finding a fortune inside. They were +able to judge in some measure of the probable extent of their fortune +by the weight of the tin house. Luckily there was no space required +for sitting-rooms or stairs inside the house (which was in fact rather +a sham, being really nothing better than a box), so that it would hold +an almost unlimited quantity of money. Even five shillings and +sevenpence did not half fill it. + +Of course Madge could not take a tin house with chimneys in her pocket +to Churchbury on a shopping expedition, and she signally failed in an +attempt to squeeze the money into her purse. Betty and John offered +theirs in addition; but at this point she was met by a fresh +difficulty, no pocket will hold three purses unnaturally distended with +pennies. + +"I really do think I had better only take my share and leave you two +your own money to spend another day," Madge had observed rather +dolefully, for she had been looking forward with some pride to the +unusually substantial purchases that the possession of their united +fortunes would enable her to make. + +But John and Betty would not hear of this suggestion for a moment. +They were longing to spend their saved-up hoards of money, and as there +was no immediate prospect of their going to Churchbury themselves, they +had been counting on Madge returning in the evening laden with +interesting purchases. + +There was a short period of dismayed silence. Then Betty suddenly +broke out: "I know a way! Wait just a second!" + +She rushed excitedly off, and returned waving a neat bag of shiny brown +calico. + +"Why, that's what Nurse made for you to pack your best shoes in when +you went away on visits!" exclaimed Madge. + +"Yes, it was made out of a bit of lining that was left over from Mama's +last winter dress, and it has got a wreathing-string and everything," +replied Betty proudly. "It really seems as if Nurse had made it on +purpose for a money-bag." + +To make a long story short, the brown calico bag appeared so exactly +suited to hold the sum of five shillings and sevenpence (mostly in +pennies), that it would have been a stupid neglect of opportunities not +to use it. Madge quickly emptied the contents of the tin house into +their new resting-place, and then started for Churchbury with the +comfortable feeling of having practically boundless wealth at her +disposal. + +Now it happened that Miss Thompson had several errands of a peculiarly +uninteresting nature to do in the town, as Mrs. West had asked her to +buy a number of things for the household. Generally the children +enjoyed being inside any sort of shop, but after watching Miss Thompson +carefully select dusters and pantry-clothes, cotton, tape, and buttons, +for what appeared an interminable time, Madge sighed deeply. + +"If you are tired of sitting still you may go outside and look at the +shop windows," said Miss Thompson. "I have not nearly finished yet, +and it fidgets me to hear you sighing in such a despairing way." + +"It's only because I'm afraid of not having time to buy all the things +we want if we stay here so long," explained Madge. + +"Why, what do you want?" + +"Oh, Miss Thompson! You know we have five shillings and sevenpence to +spend!" cried Madge reproachfully. "And we all want a nice thing +apiece out of it, and one or two little extra things if there is money +enough." + +"And you have not yet decided on what you are going to buy, I suppose," +said Miss Thompson; "and are waiting to choose until you get into the +right sort of shop?" + +Madge admitted that this was the case. + +"But if I may go outside and walk up and down the street, I dare say I +shall find something in the windows by the time you are ready," she +added. + +Miss Thompson thought this rather a good plan, as she knew from past +experience what a very long time it always took the children to decide +on how to lay out their money to the best advantage. So after Madge +had been solemnly warned not to wander far, she was allowed to go out +in the street by herself for a few minutes. + +It was an exciting moment when the little girl found herself walking +sedately up the pavement alone. She had never been quite so +independent before in her life, and she hoped that the passers-by all +noticed there was not any grown-up person in charge of her. But they +were mostly too occupied to take any interest in this event. Possibly +there were so many little girls in Churchbury that the appearance of +one extra did not strike people as particularly remarkable. + +At any rate Madge herself felt all the importance of the occasion. She +walked soberly along with the heavy little brown bag hanging from her +wrist by its string. Secured in this way, there was no chance of her +forgetting its existence and leaving it on the counter of a shop. She +had done this once with a purse, and Miss Thompson had been obliged to +go back to most of the places where she had been shopping before she +could recover it for Madge. But a brown bag tied firmly round the +wrist of its owner really seemed safe from any sort of accident. + +Madge had no wish to wander far away, but unfortunately the dulness of +the large linen-draper's shop that she had just left seemed to pervade +its neighbours on either side; for about fifty yards there was nothing +to be seen but highly respectable and uninteresting tailors' and +shoemakers' establishments. Thus it came about that Madge walked +almost to the end of the street before she found a shop window that +held any objects of the kind for which she was looking. At last she +stopped in front of a small stationer's. There, arranged among the +piles of writing-paper and envelopes, were a quantity of little +ornaments and toys. + +Madge was growing rather old to care about regular playthings, and yet +she could not resist the charms of a tiny doll's dressing-table covered +with miniature hair-brushes and combs. She wondered how much it cost, +and whether Betty would want to share it with her. + +"John won't care for it, I suppose," she muttered to herself. "At +least he will think it grander to pretend that he doesn't like such a +girlish thing, though I dare say he will always be wanting to play with +it. After all, one can't choose things that will suit everybody, and I +know I could make such a dear little pin-cushion to stand on that +table, with very small pins stuck into it in a pattern. I've got a bit +of silk that would do exactly--Oh! What has happened? Oh, dear! oh, +dear!" + +Poor Madge! While thinking over the various ways in which she could +amuse herself with the doll's dressing-table, she had been excitedly +swinging the little brown bag up and down by the string. Five +shillings and sevenpence, mostly in pennies, is rather heavy; an +insecurely tied knot gave way, and the bag suddenly fell with a loud +clatter--not to the ground, that would have been a very bearable +misfortune, but through a grating in the pavement on which Madge +happened to be standing at the moment. + +It does not often fall to a person's lot to drop his whole fortune down +a grating into someone else's cellar. It seemed to Madge as if no such +terrible fate had ever overtaken a human being before. If the brown +bag had contained nothing but her own money, she would have preferred +leaving it where it fell, to making a fuss about recovering it. She +could not bear to be thought stupid, and yet it did not seem very +clever to have lost the bag of which she was professing to take so much +care. But as Betty's and John's money had also disappeared down the +dark grating, it seemed quite hopeless to hush the matter up. They +would naturally question her until they found out the truth, and then +loudly express their opinion of her selfishness if she had not made +every possible effort to recover their missing property. + +Madge looked despairingly down the street in the hope of seeing Miss +Thompson, but only an unceasing stream of strangers passed and repassed +the spot where she stood. Then she stooped down and peered through the +grating. It was so dark down below that she could not distinguish the +bag; only, of course, having seen it fall, and even heard the clatter +of some of the coins as they rolled out, she knew it must be there. +She did not like to leave the spot and go back to Miss Thompson. It +seemed as if the money would be more likely to disappear in her +absence; although she could not really take care of it by standing on +top of the grating, yet she felt as if she could. + +While hesitating what to do next, Madge happened to look through the +window of the stationer's shop, and saw an elderly woman sitting behind +the counter. She had spectacles on her nose, and such a very mild +appearance that Madge at last decided to go in and explain the whole +matter to her. If the woman would only let her run down to the cellar +and pick up the money, nobody at home need ever know anything about the +silly accident. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +KEEPING SHOP. + +"Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very +politely, as she entered the shop. "I am very sorry to trouble you, +but I won't be long." + +"What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking +that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for. "You must +excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last +winter my hearing has not been what it was before. It's very awkward +in the shop, as you may think. Many days I get one of my +grand-children, a little girl about your age, to come and help me, but +this week she has gone off to visit an aunt in London. Of course that +was a great treat for her, so I couldn't think of interfering with it, +and I am trying to do the best I can alone." + +Another time Madge would have been much interested in hearing all about +the little girl who helped her grandmother to keep shop; but now she +was in a great hurry to get her money back before Miss Thompson came to +look for her, so directly the old woman stopped speaking she began a +more detailed explanation of what she wanted, in a particularly clear +voice. + +"If it was only my own money I wouldn't interrupt you to look for it," +she said, "although it is five shillings and sevenpence. But it +belongs to the others as well, and, of course, they are expecting me to +choose all sorts of nice things in the shops. They will be so +disappointed if I don't get it back in time to buy something before we +have to start home. It seemed so safe in a brown money-bag, you know; +at least it was really Betty's shoe-bag, only she took them out and put +them in her drawer. I don't think Nurse knew she had done it. But +what I wanted to tell you was, that I believe I can find it in a minute +if you will only let me run down to your cellar." + +It is to be feared that the old woman understood even less than she +heard of this long speech. One sentence, however, reached her ears, +and to this she replied. + +"I haven't any cellar, miss," she said. + +"But--but--" Madge did not dare contradict her flatly. Yet there was +the grating in the pavement outside. "Please come to the door a +minute," she cried, "and I will show you what I mean, Mrs-- Oh, I am +so sorry! I don't know your name!" + +"My name is Mrs. Winter, and I've kept this shop ever since I became a +widow thirty years ago," said the old woman. Then pitying Madge's +blushes she continued: "It doesn't matter about not knowing my name, +miss. Don't give it another thought. Mrs. Winter is my name, as I +said, and it is certainly written above the door, but perhaps you +didn't notice it." + +"No, I didn't look there! That was very stupid indeed of me!" +exclaimed Madge, who had been rather afraid that the old woman might be +vexed at her name not being better known. "But I shall remember that +you are Mrs. Winter always now," she added. "And now please let me +show you where the brown bag dropped." + +"Ah, down there was it?" said Mrs. Winter, coming to the door. "You +will have a troublesome job to get in there, I am afraid. That cellar +belongs to the large house next door that's empty. The whole place is +shut up, and the man who keeps the key lives at the other side of the +town." + +"What shall I do? What shall I do?" repeated poor Madge, her spirits +quite giving way at this discouraging news. Up to that time she had +fancied that if she could once explain the state of the case to Mrs. +Winter all would be well. And now it turned out that after all Mrs. +Winter had no more power to get back the bag than Madge herself. Of +course at twelve years old one can't cry before strangers, but if Madge +had only been the same age as the twins, it is very certain that she +would have relieved herself by bursting into tears. Even as it was she +looked so miserable as to excite Mrs. Winter's compassion. + +"There! Don't you fret about your money, my dear," she said, patting +Madge kindly on the shoulder. "It will be all safe down that grating, +never fear! There are too many locked doors to the house for anybody +to run away with it, and the rats and spiders won't do it any harm. +And when the man who keeps the key comes to open the windows and air +the rooms a bit I'll try and catch him. He is generally here about +once or twice a week, and I'll see that you get back your money safe +enough." + +"It's very kind of you," said Madge dolefully; "but I am afraid it will +not be of much use unless I can get back the money this afternoon. You +see, we live in the country, and we hardly ever come to Churchbury; +only now and then for a great treat. And Betty and John are expecting +their toys this evening, or books, or chocolates. I was to choose +whatever I thought they would like best, and now I can't get anything." + +"Dear! dear!" exclaimed kind Mrs. Winter, in a tone of deep concern. +And then she proceeded to ask a great many questions about what had +happened. + +As Madge finished her sad story the old woman broke out into +lamentations. + +"If only I had someone to keep the shop for half an hour I would go +after the man myself and try to get the key, that I would," she said. +"But little Ann is away, and--" + +"Who is little Ann?" interrupted Madge. + +"Why, my grandchild to be sure!" rejoined Mrs. Winter. "And not so +little either, only that's a manner of speaking I got into when she was +a baby, and now I keep on forgetting that she has turned thirteen and +able to help me in the shop as well as any grown-up woman." + +"I shall be thirteen very soon myself," said Madge eagerly. "Don't you +think I could stay in the shop just as Ann does, while you go to find +the man with the key? Oh, please let me try! I'm sure I could manage +it if you are quick." + +Mrs. Winter hesitated. It is true that Madge was just as tall as her +own grand-daughter, but then Ann knew the ways of the shop; and it was +a very different thing leaving her in charge to confiding all one's +property to the care of a perfect stranger. Mrs. Winter, however, did +not feel any distrust of Madge, and quite believed the story about the +lost bag of money. She could see that it was not the invention of an +impostor, who wished to get an opportunity for pilfering little things +out of the shop. In fact, the more Mrs. Winter thought about the case +the more inclined she felt to help in the recovery of the brown bag. +She was one if those kindly people who naturally interest themselves in +their neighbours' affairs, and she felt strongly tempted to take a part +in the little adventure. + +"After all it's no great work to stand behind the counter and see that +the things are safe," said Mrs. Winter reflectively. + +"Oh, yes, I'm sure I could do that!" replied Madge. "But then if +anybody came to buy. They do sometimes, I suppose?" + +"Of course they do, or what would be the sense of calling it a shop," +said Mrs. Winter rather sharply. "You mustn't think because you caught +me just sitting down to knit for a few minutes this afternoon that +business is in any way slack. That's just my quiet time for an hour or +so then. But you wait till about tea-time, and there isn't standing +room for anyone in the shop many an evening. I know I could do with +another pair of hands easily! What with one wanting writing-paper, and +another pencils, and another a bottle of ink, it may be! And the +children running in with their pennies to ask for some of the little +things you may have noticed in the window; I always keep a lot of +knick-knacks for them." + +All this sounded very alarming. Even Madge began to doubt her own +capacity for standing behind the counter and awaiting such an +overpowering rush of business. However, she presently remembered that +Mrs. Winter had referred to the afternoon as being usually a very quiet +time, and certainly nothing could have looked more peaceful than the +old woman sitting quietly nodding over her knitting, and occasionally +flicking a speck of dust off the goods nearest her. Besides, on +careful consideration, the shop was so small that three or four +customers would have great difficulty in getting inside it at once, so +perhaps the crowd of which Mrs. Winter spoke was not really of such an +alarming size. At all events she wanted to get the brown bag back very +much, and it was worth risking something for its recovery. + +After a great deal of persuasion Mrs. Winter consented to put on her +bonnet and go in search of the man with the key. Up to the last moment +she poured out an unceasing flow of instructions to Madge how to behave +under every possible circumstance. "And if anybody should come while I +am away, which it's to be hoped they won't, you must just make a bit of +conversation about the weather or something till I come back," she +concluded. "That's what Ann does when I've stepped out for a moment, +and she doesn't know the price of a thing somebody inquires for. Why, +the child will chat away as cleverly as possible about the new electric +lights in the town, or the spring flower-show, or what not, and nobody +could ever guess that she is only filling up the time till I come back! +And that's what you must try and do." With these words Mrs. Winter +left the shop. + +It was a funny position for Madge, left all alone in charge of a shop. +If anybody had told her that it was going to happen she would have been +delighted at such an amusing prospect, and would certainly not have +been troubled by any modest doubts as to her power of selling like a +regular shop-woman. But now that the situation had actually come to +pass she felt unusually nervous, and very much hoped that her talents +would not be tested by any customer coming while she was alone. For +the first quarter of an hour she stood anxiously staring through the +glass at the passers-by, expecting each person to stop and come in at +the door. Nobody came, however, and in spite of Mrs. Winter's repeated +assurances of the popularity of her little shop, it seemed strangely +neglected that afternoon by the inhabitants of Churchbury. + +Madge gradually became calmer as she found that nothing was going to +happen, and with the comfortable reflection that Mrs. Winter must be +back before long she began to amuse herself by examining the contents +of the shop. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A CUSTOMER. + +It was really very interesting to be inside the counter instead of +outside, and in a position to examine everything carefully without any +interference. On the rare occasions when Madge, Betty, and John went +shopping, it always seemed to them as if no sooner had they caught a +glimpse of some especially fascinating book, picture, or toy, than they +were instantly hauled away to one of those dull linen-draper's +establishments in which grown-up people so mysteriously delight to +linger. As for examining anything closely, that was quite out of the +question when they went shopping with Miss Thompson. Ever since the +time when Betty had knocked two china ornaments off a shelf and broken +them to pieces while stretching out her hand to pick up a pepper-pot in +the shape of an owl, there had been a strict rule that the children +should touch nothing in shops. It was a dreadfully dull rule, because, +of course, nobody can look at things comfortably from a yard off and +without handling them at all. The prettiest doll loses most of its +interest if one cannot count how many petticoats there are under its +dress, and examine how much of its neck is made of wax, and where the +stuffing begins. And what can be duller than a mechanical mouse, +unless one can wind it up to run on the floor? + +Madge decided at once that under such very peculiar circumstances as +the present she need not keep to Miss Thompson's rule. After all it +would be simply ridiculous to be standing inside the counter and left +in charge of the shop without even daring to look at the things she was +supposed to be selling. So, to provide herself as it were with a good +excuse, she took up a duster that she found lying on a chair, and began +carefully to rub over all the interesting things. The piles of +envelopes and writing-paper Madge did not consider required much +dusting, but pen-wipers in the shape of pigs, and work-boxes covered +with shells arranged in patterns, clearly called for a great deal of +attention. + +Although Mrs. Winter was very particular about calling her shop a +stationer's, she really seemed to sell a little of everything. Madge +could see very well that it was just the kind of place where she would +be able to choose the sort of interesting things that Betty and John +expected. When she got her money back she would set seriously to work +to spend it at Mrs. Winter's before she met with any further +misadventures. + +"It isn't many people who have first kept a shop and then bought things +out of it all in one afternoon, I should think," she said aloud, as she +vigorously dusted a mug adorned with coloured portraits of the royal +family. + +At that moment there was a great push, and the door flew open. + +"How quick you have been!" began Madge; then she stopped suddenly and +almost dropped the mug. It was not Mrs. Winter who came in, but a girl +a few years older than herself, evidently a customer. + +"I want a fashion-paper," said the new-comer in a harsh voice. "One of +those with big coloured pictures of ladies in party-dresses and +ball-gowns. Something smart, you know. It's for myself--Miss Amelia +Block of Ivy Villa." + +Madge felt that she was expected to know the name, and that Miss Amelia +Block was, in her own estimation at least, a very important person. +Perhaps she was in the habit of buying fashion-papers at this shop. +She probably had copied her hat, which was very large and profusely +trimmed with pink ribbon, out of one of the coloured pictures of which +she seemed so fond. It was a pity, Madge thought, that her face, +instead of being pretty and smiling, as the ladies are always +represented in fashion-papers, was ugly and cross-looking. And a pair +of very dirty gray kid gloves, with most of their buttons off, did not +improve her appearance by any means. + +"I do hope she intends to buy some new gloves before she has any more +smart dresses or hats made," Madge could not help thinking. + +In the meantime Miss Block was walking slowly round, or to speak more +correctly, turning on her heels, in the middle of the tiny shop. "You +don't seem to have much choice of fashion-papers here," she said rudely. + +Madge did not reply, for the very excellent reason that she had not an +idea what fashion-papers Mrs. Winter kept. + +"Haven't you anything more stylish than this?" inquired Miss Block, +picking up an illustrated magazine off the counter, and pointing +contemptuously to the picture of two ladies in their best dresses on +the cover. "I'm going to several parties and bazaars," she explained, +"and, of course, I don't want to look a regular dowdy." + +"No, I see you don't," said Madge, staring at the enormous pink hat, +and then without intending it her eyes suddenly fell to the dirty gray +kid gloves. + +Miss Block evidently thought that the little girl was intentionally +trying to make her feel uncomfortable. She became very red, and +hurriedly hid her hands in the folds of her skirt. + +"If you will kindly give me what I asked for at once, instead of +standing there giggling at your betters, I'll be very much obliged to +you," she said, speaking even more disagreeably than before. + +Madge was quite taken aback by this address. She never had the least +intention of behaving rudely, although it was true that in the bottom +of her heart she did not at all admire Miss Block's appearance. Still, +she had not meant to show her feelings so plainly. While she stood +speechless, wondering how she could best beg her customer's pardon, +Miss Block burst out into a storm of abuse that would better have +befitted a neglected street child than such a very smartly dressed +young woman. + +"You just wait a bit till I see your grandmother!" she cried. "I'll +soon give her a bit of my mind for leaving such a vulgar chit of a +child in charge of her shop! It's my own fault I suppose for coming to +such a low place instead of going to the largest shops in the town, +which I might as well do. And in future I shall certainly go where I +shall be treated like a young lady! Mrs. Winter needn't look for my +patronage any more, I can tell you. She may think I am going to submit +quietly to being insulted by her pert little granddaughter, but she +will soon find out--" + +"Please, I am not Mrs. Winter's grandchild, so you need not say that!" +interrupted Madge, suddenly recovering the use of her voice. Her anger +at this undeserved abuse almost got the better of her shyness. "I've +got nothing to do with Mrs. Winter," she continued. "But it's a nice +shop and I won't hear it abused. I dare say there are heaps of +fashion-papers in it, only I don't know where to find them--" + +"If you aren't Mrs. Winter's grand-daughter, who are you then, I should +very much like to know?" said Miss Block, looking at Madge curiously +across the counter. + +"That's no business of yours," replied Madge, with more truth than +politeness. In point of fact she did not wish this very disagreeable +young person to find out her name. It seemed as if the adventure might +end rather sillily, and Madge was not at all anxious for her part in it +to be widely known. + +Miss Block did not appear daunted by the abrupt answer she had +received. On the contrary, she gave a curious smile when Madge +declined to tell her name, and nodded her head, repeating softly to +herself, "I thought so. Just as I thought." + +"What did you think?" said Madge at last, feeling intolerably irritated +at her customer's mysterious words and manners. + +"Well, it wouldn't require a very clever person to guess what you are!" +replied Miss Block triumphantly. She spoke as if she had just made +some great discovery that gave her infinite pleasure. + +"You don't really know who I am, do you?" said Madge with considerable +anxiety. + +"Well, I am generally considered as sharp as my neighbours, I believe!" +retorted Miss Block. "And I can make a pretty good guess! When I find +somebody in a shop who doesn't know where any of the things are kept, +although I see her pulling them all about as I come in; and when she +gets very frightened, and won't tell her name or how she got there, I +call that person a thief!" + +"A thief! You think I am a thief!" cried Madge, almost more astonished +than offended by such an extraordinary accusation. "Why, Mrs. Winter +herself told me to stay in the shop while she went off to find the man +who--" + +"Oh yes! A very fine story. I have heard of that kind of excuse +before!" interrupted Miss Block mockingly. "It's my belief you just +slipped in when poor old Mrs. Winter was out of the way for a minute, +and if I hadn't luckily caught you in the very act you would have been +off with your pockets crammed--" + +"How can you say such things!" cried Madge. "Why, I have money to pay +for everything I want, only it's dropped down the grating into the +cellar of the next house, as I was just going to tell you. And while +Mrs. Winter went to get the key I was making up my mind what I would +buy presently. And as I have five shillings and sevenpence to spend +(it's not all mine exactly, but nearly the same thing), you certainly +need not say that I wasn't going to pay!" + +"Now that's a very interesting story! So interesting that I'll give +you the chance of repeating it to a policeman, and we'll see what he +says to it," remarked Miss Block, at the same time moving towards the +street door as if to go out. + +Madge could hardly believe her ears. A policeman being called to +examine her just as if she were really a thief! It seemed impossible, +but Miss Block, with a most unpleasant smile, was actually turning the +door-handle, when she was suddenly seized round the waist by two strong +arms. + +"You sha'n't do it!" cried Madge hysterically. "You sha'n't do it, I +tell you!" + +She was a tall, strong girl for her age, and having sprung on Miss +Block from behind and taken her quite by surprise, she had no +difficulty in dragging her across the little shop. + +Miss Block uttered a series of frightened shrieks and tried to wrench +herself free, but though taller she was not nearly so active as Madge. +While struggling together the two girls pushed heavily against a door +at the back of the shop that led into Mrs. Winter's little +sitting-room. It burst open, and they both fell headlong on to a black +horse-hair sofa which occupied a prominent position in the room. Madge +recovered first from the shock of the fall, and darting back into the +shop slammed the door behind her, turning the key in the lock. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +IMPRISONED IN A PARLOUR + +On finding herself imprisoned in the little parlour Miss Block began to +scream. The noise she had been making before was nothing compared to +what she made now. One would never have supposed that the wearer of +such a magnificent pink hat could scream as loud as she did. Madge +looked anxiously at the faces of the passers-by in the street, but +apparently the sounds were considerably softened by coming through two +closed doors, at all events nobody took any notice of the turmoil. If +only no more customers came to the shop all might be well; but Madge +could not help feeling that she was running a great risk of getting +mixed up in a really serious affair. Without knowing much about the +law, she understood very well that it was exceedingly unusual conduct, +to say the least of it, first to knock a strange lady down, and then +shut her into somebody else's back parlour. Of course, Madge had +rolled over at the same time as her prisoner, and indeed hurt her own +elbow rather severely against the wooden framework of the sofa, so that +the two girls had really fared very equally. In spite of this Madge +felt convinced that Miss Block would describe herself in the future as +having been violently assaulted. It might even turn out that, quite +unintentionally, Madge had broken the law, and now deserved to be +seized by the policeman with whom Miss Block had threatened her a few +minutes previously. Then, the very idea of being a fit object for the +attention of a policeman seemed absurd; but now Madge could not feel +quite as consciously innocent as she would have wished. + +Until to-day it had never occurred to Madge that she could possibly +break the law except by trespassing on her neighbours' property. The +children were all terribly afraid of being caught doing that, because +old Barton had often told them warning stories of boys who had been +sent to prison for this offence. But now it seemed that it was much +easier to get into the clutches of the law than they had imagined. +Miss Block between her shrieks might be heard loudly requesting the +presence of a policeman, and it could hardly be expected that she would +go on much longer without attracting any attention. + +On the whole, Madge's best chance of safety seemed to be in trying to +make friends with her late adversary. She stood close to the parlour +door, and seizing an opportunity when Miss Block's shrieks became a +little fainter (probably owing to loss of breath), she put her mouth +close to the key-hole and shouted: + +"I am very sorry I was rough. Please listen, I have something to say." + +Miss Block did not answer, but she did what was still better, she +stopped screaming for a minute. + +"It was like this," continued Madge, still shouting through the +key-hole. "I dropped all our money, five shillings and sevenpence, you +know, down the grating in the pavement outside. And when I came and +told Mrs. Winter, she promised to fetch the man who kept the key of the +house if I would stay--" + +"I don't believe a word of it!" suddenly shrieked Miss Block from +behind the door. "I expect you rushed in and knocked the poor old +woman down like you did me! I shouldn't be a bit surprised to hear +that she was lying unconscious behind the counter at this very moment!" + +Madge was dreadfully disappointed by this fresh outbreak. She had +hoped, judging by Miss Block's momentary calm, that she was becoming +more reasonable, and that the door might soon be unlocked without there +being any danger of a policeman being summoned. But this last absurd +accusation of injuring Mrs. Winter was the worst of all. It would +clearly be extreme folly to release Miss Block while she was capable of +such malicious misrepresentations. + +"I can't let you out unless you promise solemnly on your word and +honour not to tell anybody silly stories about my stealing, or hurting +Mrs. Winter. As if I would do such a thing!" shouted Madge through the +key-hole. + +"Help! Fire! Murder! Thieves!" shrieked Miss Block in reply. + +"If you go on making that noise I won't unlock the door at all until +Mrs. Winter comes back," threatened Madge, rendered desperate by terror. + +"You won't let me out, won't you? Then I'll smash everything in this +room with the poker!" screamed Miss Block in a voice choking with rage. + +There was an ominous pause followed by a loud crash. + +"Oh, please don't break Mrs. Winter's things! Please don't!" implored +Madge. "It isn't her fault, you know, or mine either for the matter of +that! The whole thing is a mistake, just because you won't listen to +the true--" + +"I am going to wait exactly one minute," interrupted Miss Block, "and +at the end of that time if the door isn't opened I shall knock the +clock off the chimney-piece, and the glass shade that is over it too!" + +Poor Madge was almost wild with terror at this horrid threat. She +broke out into incoherent cries and entreaties for mercy, to which +there was no reply. Then she dashed to the street door in the hope of +seeing Mrs. Winter, but only an unceasing flow of strangers passed +along the pavement outside. + +"The minute is over!" screamed Miss Block. "Let me out at once or--" + +Madge was dreadfully afraid of a policeman, and felt that, very +shortly, the worst terror of her life would come to pass and she would +be dragged off to prison. Still, she could not let kind old Mrs. +Winter's best clock be broken on her account. She unlocked the parlour +door and flung it wide open. + +Out bounded Miss Block, her face scarlet with rage, the pink hat cocked +unbecomingly over one ear. "You miserable, impertinent, thieving +little wretch!" she stammered, literally sobbing with fury. "I'll soon +teach--" + +"My dear child! What has happened, and what are you doing?" +interrupted a calm voice. + +Unnoticed by the two angry girls the street door had opened, and there +stood Miss Thompson. When things came to be explained afterwards there +was nothing very strange about her arriving at that moment, but to +Madge her appearance seemed so opportune as to be little short of +miraculous. In point of fact Miss Thompson had left the linen-draper's +shortly before, and on looking up and down the street for her pupil had +seen her face peeping out of Mrs. Winter's door. Madge at the time had +been so occupied in watching for Mrs. Winter that she had no thoughts +to spare for anyone else, and never noticed Miss Thompson until she +heard her voice. + +Miss Block was not at the best of times a well-bred girl, and now, her +face distorted with passion she seemed ready, positively, to fly at +Madge. Anything like opposition or argument would have produced a +regular torrent of rude words and foolish accusations. But Miss +Thompson did not give her any chance of being insulting; she was so +calm herself, and so full of dignified apologies for Madge's behaviour, +that before long the angry girl left off sobbing hysterically and began +to listen to reason. + +When Miss Block had heard the whole story she felt distinctly +uncomfortable. Captain West was exceedingly well known in the +neighbourhood, and the last thing Miss Block would have wished to do +was to call his daughter a thief; but how could she guess that a +plainly-dressed little girl in a small shop belonged to anyone of +importance? Miss Block was sufficiently vulgar to have different +manners for different classes of society. It confused her very much to +find that she had treated Captain West's daughter as if she were Mrs. +Winter's grandchild, or even someone poorer. + +"Well, I'm very sorry for all that's happened," she said awkwardly. +"It's been a mistake, and I hope Captain West won't think any more +about it." Miss Thompson politely assured her that Captain West would +attach no importance to the unpleasant interview that had taken place +between his daughter and Miss Block, in fact that he would probably +never hear of it. + +"That's a good thing!" cried Miss Block, evidently much relieved by +this assurance. "Then I think I'll be going. And," she added, pausing +for a moment in the doorway, "there's not much fear of my coming here +again! I might have guessed something would happen in a low little +place like this! None of these vulgar poky shops for me in future!" + +Miss Thompson was about to speak rather sharply in defence of Mrs. +Winter, when Miss Block cut her short by flouncing noisily out of the +shop. + +There was a short silence, and then Miss Thompson said: "I need not +point out to you, Madge, the extreme vulgarity of that last remark?" + +"About the poky little shop, do you mean?" asked Madge shyly. + +"Yes, indeed. I doubt whether anybody has ever before behaved half so +rudely in this little house as the smartly-dressed girl who has just +gone out of it. I am glad to see, however, that she has not really +broken anything in the parlour, only knocked over a small table to try +and frighten you with the noise. But we won't talk of her any more." +And Miss Thompson shrugged her shoulders impatiently. + +Fortunately, at this point Mrs. Winter returned, bringing with her the +key of the empty house that she had actually persuaded the caretaker to +lend her. + +"I have promised faithfully to return it to him this evening, miss," +said the kind old woman. "He made some little difficulties at first +about letting it go out of his own hands, but being in the shoe-making +business he couldn't come himself till after work hours, and I told him +the young lady was in a sad way to be getting home again before +tea-time--" + +"I don't think the young lady is half as anxious to get home in good +time as I am!" laughed Miss Thompson. Then she thanked Mrs. Winter +heartily for the trouble she had taken to get back the children's +money. "And now that we have the key," she concluded, "it will soon be +recovered. I will stay in the shop, and if any customers come I will +ask them to wait a few minutes until Mrs. Winter returns." + +Madge was quite satisfied with this arrangement; she had had enough of +keeping shop for one afternoon. Besides, she was very anxious to see +the inside of the empty house. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +IN AN EMPTY HOUSE. + +It was with a certain air of importance that Mrs. Winter walked along +the pavement, closely followed by Madge. The friendly old woman always +took a great interest in her neighbours' affairs, and she thoroughly +enjoyed seeing the recovery of the lost money with her own eyes. When, +after about a dozen steps, the front-door of the adjoining house was +reached, Mrs. Winter smiled with conscious pride as she put the key +into the key-hole. It was a critical moment. If the children ever +recovered their lost money it would be entirely owing to her exertions. +Not many elderly women in Churchbury that afternoon were playing such +an exciting part. + +The street in which Mrs. Winter lived was an old one, and consequently +built without any regularity. It thus happened that next to Mrs. +Winter's tiny shop stood a substantial family dwelling-house, whose +cellars, as it has been said, took up rather more room on the pavement +than seemed rightly to belong to them. Since the death of the last +occupant some time before, the house had stood empty; only the +caretaker visited it occasionally to air the rooms. + +When Mrs. Winter pushed the heavy, creaking front-door open Madge +followed her into a roomy hall, out of which a handsome staircase led +to the upper part of the house. It was all very dignified and dreary. +When the door was shut the noise echoed all over the house. It was not +a very cheerful sound, especially heard in the sombre twilight caused +by windows with the blinds all drawn down. + +"We shall want a light for the cellar," observed Mrs. Winter. "The man +said I should find all that was required on the window-sill in the +hall--and here it is too!" she continued joyfully, holding up as she +spoke a box of matches and a short candle stuck in a bottle. + +Madge was exceedingly interested in this simple form of candlestick, +and asked permission to carry it, in spite of the grease trickling down +the bottle on to her fingers at every draught, as soon as the candle +was lighted. + +"It's a fine house. I've been over it many a time in old Doctor +Freeman's day," said Mrs. Winter thoughtfully. "But it isn't much to +see now since the sale, with all the furniture gone out of the rooms +and the carpets up. Besides, we have not the time to lose going over +it, or the lady will get tired of waiting for you." + +Madge always liked investigating unknown places and things, but still +she could not deny that Miss Thompson was awaiting her return rather +anxiously. And when Mrs. Winter, taking another key fully as large as +the first, proceeded to push open a heavy door and disclose a steep +flight of slippery stone steps leading downwards into the cellars, +Madge had the comfort of feeling that at all events she was seeing the +most interesting part of the house. The bedrooms, or even attics, +could not be as thrilling as that yawning chasm beneath her feet into +which she was now about to plunge. + +"Poor old Doctor Freeman set a great store on his collection of wine," +observed Mrs. Winter as she slowly went down the cellar steps, feeling +with her hands along the wall, for the bit of candle that Madge carried +in front gave a very insufficient light, and she was terribly afraid of +slipping. However, her nervousness did not prevent her from giving +Madge a long account of the sale that had taken place after Dr. +Freeman's death, and of the large sums of money that people gave for +his treasured collections of wine. + +"And to my thinking he would have been much wiser to drink it himself, +poor gentleman!" she concluded. "But each one knows what he likes +best, and if he preferred the look of the bottles to the taste of what +was in them--well, 'twas his own to do what he liked with!" + +Madge did not listen very attentively to Mrs. Winter's somewhat +rambling discourse. By this time they had reached the bottom step, and +another large key having been produced the last heavy door was opened +with a loud creak. To any young lady who had read as many fairy-tales +as Madge, the situation irresistibly suggested a subterranean cavern, +in which unlimited gold was stored away by thrifty dwarfs. + +"And there really is a lot of money there," thought Madge; "five +shillings and sevenpence might easily be called a heap of +treasure--with a little pretending. But I do wish Betty and John were +here to help to discover it! We should have so much more fun." + +Mrs. Winter was not a very satisfactory companion on an adventurous +expedition. She was kindness itself--nobody could have been more +good-natured,--but she did not seem quite to enter into the spirit of +the thing. The dark mysterious cavern remained to her nothing but Dr. +Freeman's empty wine-cellar; and it evidently never occurred to her for +a moment that there was anything to be gained by calling the candle-end +a torch! Life in the nursery and schoolroom at home had afforded Madge +comparatively few opportunities for real adventure; and when one +suddenly fell across her path it was tiresome to have an unappreciative +companion who took everything as a matter of course. + +Presently a trifling accident brought about a change in the situation. +At the farther end of the long cellar there was a very faint glimmer of +light coming through a grating overhead. + +"That's where your money dropped down," observed Mrs. Winter. "You are +sure to find it scattered on the ground under the grating." + +At this suggestion Madge very naturally ran forward, and the violent +draught coming from the opening above blew out the candle she carried +in her hand. + +Poor Mrs. Winter was greatly disturbed by suddenly finding herself in +the dark. Even by the light of the candle it had seemed hard work to +her coming down the steep steps, and how she was ever to get up them +again in total darkness she really did not know. Yet she would not +consent to let Madge go back to the hall where the matches had had been +left and light the candle, fearing that the little girl might set fire +to the house. + +"Then I may stay here in the dark by myself while you go, may I?" +pleaded Madge, who did not wish to waste a minute of her time in this +exciting place. + +"Yes, I suppose so," replied Mrs. Winter, rather wondering at the +little girl's taste, but too much occupied in the effort of feeling her +way to the stairs to pay much attention to anything else. Presently +she could be heard slowly mounting step by step, then the door at the +top of the stairs shut with a noisy clang behind her, and there was +silence. + +Madge was all alone in the dark. It was certainly delightfully +exciting, but not, strictly speaking, quite so enjoyable as she had +anticipated. The chief pleasure would be in afterwards describing to +Betty and John what had happened. In the meantime she would be very +brave, and Mrs. Winter might return at any moment with the candle. + +The worst of darkness and silence is, that they seem to increase every +moment. What is merely gloomy at first becomes almost intolerable as +time goes on. All sorts of horrid ideas came into Madge's head. Could +it be that Mrs. Winter had shut her in and gone home? Or fallen down +in a fit in the hall? Or that the cellar door had slammed with a +spring-lock and could not be got open again? None of these +suppositions would have seemed very probable in the light; but Madge +was becoming too frightened to form a clear judgment on the subject. +She longed to call out in the hopes of getting an answer from Mrs. +Winter, but dread of hearing her own voice echoing through the empty +house kept her silent. And from the same cause she remained standing +motionless on the spot where she had been left. The terror of stepping +on some strange soft object that would squeak or squash under her feet +was enough to keep her still. She thought of Lewis Brand's tales about +rats and toads in Mrs. Howard's cellar, and she wondered that he did +not go mad when shut up among them. + +As Madge was standing stiff with fright, and straining her ears to +catch a distant sound of footsteps that never seemed to come, she +suddenly remembered the grating at the farther end of the cellar. +"What a stupid creature I am!" she exclaimed joyfully, as, turning her +head, she again caught sight of the reassuring glimmer of light behind +her. It had been there all the time, while she was staring into the +darkness in the opposite direction. + +In another moment Madge was cautiously creeping towards the grating. +She could only go slowly pushing one foot before her in order to avoid +stepping heavily on some hidden horror; for the daylight struggling +through the tiny opening overhead only faintly lighted the ground +immediately below, leaving the rest of the cellar in total darkness. + +Even this feeble patch of twilight quite restored Madge's confidence. +She would reach it and feel about for the lost money, then if Mrs. +Winter did not speedily return she could no doubt find her way back up +the cellar steps without any help. When Madge was not frightened she +was just as sensible and energetic as a grown-up person. + +Hardly had she resolved on this most practical course, however, when +there was a wild scuffle round her legs, and something brushed past her +with glaring eyes--something that uttered confused sounds of rage as it +lurked in the darkness to spring out upon her. + +Poor Madge! She forgot her age, her dignity, and her character for +good common sense. She only remembered alarming stories about +hobgoblins and witches, and she began to scream. Luckily Mrs. Winter +had by this time found the box of matches, and very soon returned with +the candle. Then all at once the scene changed. The mysterious +haunted cavern again became nothing but a large cellar full of empty +shelves, hung with festoons of cobwebs. And the lurking monster turned +out to be a half-starved kitten, that must at some time have followed +the caretaker down the steps and got locked in. + +With trembling hands and a rather shamefaced expression Madge collected +the fallen coins, many of which had rolled out of the bag to some +distance. She could not bear to think that Mrs. Winter had heard her +screaming like a frightened baby. The annoyance of this recollection +prevented her from taking any interest in the poor kitten that Mrs. +Winter was gently coaxing towards her; and it was not until they were +again back in the little shop that Madge regained her customary good +spirits. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE RETURN AFTER SHOPPING. + +After all, there was very little time left for the important work of +choosing toys. Madge did her best to make up her mind in a hurry, +assisted by a good deal of judicious advice from Miss Thompson. But +that was not the way in which she enjoyed shopping. She liked to dwell +on every purchase, carefully calculating whether its merits justified +its price, and trying to imagine how it would look when the stuffing +came out of it, or the paint was rubbed off. When the money was not +all her own, and the toys not all for herself, as in the present +instance, it naturally much increased the difficulty of selection. +There were the tastes and needs of different people to be considered, +their various wants and wishes to be recalled. Madge was a most +conscientious shopper, and in the main a thoughtful elder sister. She +would have scorned to spend Betty's and John's money and not give them +full satisfaction. + +"My dear child," said Miss Thompson at last, "I have really waited as +long as I dare. We must go to the place where we left the carriage, +and start home. Your parents will think we have met with an accident." + +"Oh, please wait a minute! Just one minute!" begged Madge. "I haven't +half chosen yet. That's to say, I have put together a lot of things +that might do, but I want to look through them before I quite settle." + +"Perhaps I can help you to decide?" said Miss Thompson briskly. +"What's this? A whip and a boat for John? Surely that is exactly what +he had last time we went shopping?" + +"Yes; but he has broken the old whip, and he wants another boat," +explained Madge. "They have just put such a nice great tub of water in +the garden, because the pump has gone dry with the hot weather, and we +sail--" + +"Oh, that's all right!" interrupted Miss Thompson. "So long as you +know what you like and are satisfied. And Betty is to have this doll, +I suppose, and that trumpet? Isn't she getting rather old for a +trumpet?" + +"But she likes a trumpet better than anything, except a whistle," +explained Madge hurriedly. "We all like trumpets or anything that +makes a noise." + +"You are welcome to your noises so long as I hear nothing of them in +the schoolroom!" laughed Miss Thompson. "And you have chosen a knife +and a china tea-pot for yourself, I see. Well, now be quick and let +Mrs. Winter make up the bill." + +"But there was a lot of other little things I want to get!" cried +Madge. "I have not had time to think properly yet." + +Miss Thompson looked at her watch, and said that she would wait exactly +five minutes and no more. At the end of that period Madge with many +groans of regret was obliged to turn away from the counter, feeling +that if she only had all the time she wanted she would immediately put +back most of the things she had chosen and select fresh ones. Perhaps +it was just as well that she was rather hurried, for at this rate there +would have been no end to the shopping. + +Mrs. Winter parted from her customers with many invitations to them to +return and see how the poor half-starved kitten prospered under her +care. She had already put him to bed in a basket in the back-kitchen, +after giving him two whole saucers of milk, that he drank without +stopping. Altogether it seemed probable that he would find the shop a +much more agreeable residence than the cellar, where, judging by the +prominence of his ribs, he must have kept himself alive on a very +limited supply of mice and black-beetles. + +It was long past the usual time for schoolroom tea when Miss Thompson +and Madge returned home. The twins, it may be remembered, had been +climbing in the Eagle's Nest a good part of the afternoon, and were +consequently as hungry as people who have been playing for hours in the +open air have a right to be. They were waiting on the door-step when +the carriage drove up, and began at once to reproach Madge for being so +late, and to inquire what she had brought. + +"Come along," said Miss Thompson briskly. "Not a word is to be spoken +until Madge has taken off her hat and we are seated at the tea-table. +If we begin to embark on our adventures now, we shall never get any tea +to-night." + +The children grumbled, but they were forced to obey, as Miss Thompson +waited to see Madge walk upstairs before she took off her own jacket. +Long experience had taught her that if an exciting story was once +begun, even tea would be forgotten. + +At last, however, the delightful moment had arrived, when the children +were all seated round the table and at liberty to recount their +afternoon's occupations. Of course, Madge's adventures were altogether +so out of the common as to throw everything else into the shade. The +twins said nothing about their meeting with Lewis, and Madge never +thought of inquiring what they had been doing. They did not +intentionally conceal anything, but in the excitement of hearing about +the loss and recovery of the brown bag they completely forgot what, up +to that time, had been a great source of pride--namely, that they had +been associating on equal terms of friendship with a big school-boy. +Even when tea was over and Miss Thompson left them alone, they forgot +to tell Madge how they had spent the afternoon, in the interest of +looking at the new purchases. + +"Well, I suppose all's well that ends well," remarked Betty solemnly, +as she helped to unpack the brown paper parcels on the schoolroom +table. "Only it must have been very terrible in that cellar, +especially when you saw those flaming eyes in the dark! What colour +were they, green or yellow?" + +"Oh, I hardly remember! The colour of cats' eyes, I suppose!" replied +Madge rather impatiently. + +She did not much care to dwell upon that time in the cellar, when she +had mistaken the poor starved kitten for some sort of hobgoblin, and +screamed at it in a way that was most unworthy of her age and good +sense. To change the subject, she asked John how he liked the things +she had chosen for him. + +"The ship is all right," he said slowly, "and so is the whip. At least +it's not quite so big as the one I got last time, and it cost a penny +more, but still it will do. Only--" + +"Well, what's the matter?" interrupted Madge. "What have you got to +grumble at now, I should like to know?" + +She spoke sharply, for, with all her kindness, she could not bear to +have the younger ones finding fault with anything she did. So long as +they were duly grateful she would work hard to amuse them; but the +moment they began to criticise her conduct in any way there was trouble. + +"Do you think you could have chosen anything better yourself?" she said +scornfully. "You had better try next time if you think it's so easy!" + +"I didn't say the things were not nice things," observed John in his +quiet obstinate way. "I never meant that. Only I can't understand how +you spent our money. That's all." + +"Why it's as simple as A B C!" broke out Madge. "Just listen, you +little silly, and I'll tell you. I took five shillings and sevenpence, +didn't I?" + +"Of course you did! In the brown bag," answered Betty, although nobody +had spoken to her. + +John merely nodded his head to show that he was following the argument +up to this point. + +"And as the money belonged to us all we were all to share alike," +proceeded Madge rapidly. "So I got a ship and a doll and a knife, each +costing a shilling. And we had one apiece. That's three shillings. +Then the whip and the trumpet and the tea-pot cost sixpence each. That +comes to four shillings and sixpence. And the packets of sugar-plums, +and pipes for blowing soap-bubbles, come to tenpence. That makes five +shillings and four-pence. And--and--" + +"And that's all!" interrupted John. "But you took five shillings and +sevenpence in the brown bag, you know. I remember counting it; didn't +we, Betty?" + +"Oh, I'm well aware of that!" cried Madge impatiently. "If you will +only just keep quiet I can make it right in a moment. I must have +added up wrongly while you were chattering." And spreading all the +purchases out on the table she tried to count them more carefully over +again, repeating their prices as she did so. But it was no use. Try +as she might her accounts would not come perfectly right. There was +threepence missing, and Madge could not account for it at all. + +"It must have slipped out of the bag and be lying in a corner of that +cellar," said Betty with considerable reason. "Threepence is such a +very tiny bit of money you would never see it in the dark, or even by +the light of one candle." + +"Perhaps not. I suppose that is what has happened," admitted poor +Madge. She was ready to cry with mortification at having had the worst +of the argument with John, in spite of his being two years younger than +herself and very much her inferior in arithmetic. Besides, she knew +that if she had, as seemed most probable, left a threepenny piece on +the cellar floor, it was all owing to that annoying fit of nervousness +that had suddenly come over her in the dark. At the time that she +picked up the money she was still suffering from the fright caused by +the sudden appearance of the kitten, and no doubt had been too much +upset to notice very carefully what she was doing. But she did not +like to explain all this to the twins, who were in the habit of looking +upon her as the living embodiment of courage. So she merely laid the +blame on the dim light of the cellar. + +The consequence of this was, that when John next found himself alone +with Betty he began to grumble. + +"It's all very well for Madge to say she didn't see the threepenny +bit," he said, "but I think she ought to have stayed there looking +until she did see it. She can see things very well when she tries. I +don't believe she took any trouble about it, because it belonged to us." + +"But part of it belonged to her," objected Betty. + +"Only one part," said John persistently, "and two parts belonged to us. +So of course it was more ours than hers, and that's why she didn't +trouble to look for it." + +"Do you think so really?" said Betty in an irresolute tone. She had +great faith in Madge always acting for the best, but these new +arguments were rather disturbing. + +"I'll tell you what it is," continued John. "Madge thinks herself a +much grander person than we are, because she is a little older. And it +isn't fair. Lewis said he wouldn't be ordered about by her if he were +in my place, and I won't either. After all, she is only a girl!" + +After this remark the conversation became rather quarrelsome. Betty +objected to the expression, "only a girl", and retorted by some very +rude remarks about boys in general and her brother in particular. She +reminded him with unpleasant emphasis of how slow he was at climbing +trees compared with Madge, and she dwelt with more truth than +politeness on the fact that he had once grown giddy on the roof of the +cow-house, and had to be ignominiously helped down by his sisters. But +in the long run John's solid persistency got the best of it, and in +spite of Betty's wish to believe that Madge always acted for the best, +she was gradually talked over into thinking that there was some real +grievance in her elder sister always taking the lead. + +Whenever Lewis Brand had an opportunity of talking to the twins by +themselves he mischievously encouraged this idea, so that disagreements +among the children became a matter of everyday occurrence. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +AN INTERESTING DITCH. + +If a stranger had happened to meet Madge, Betty, and John one fine +Saturday afternoon a few weeks later in the summer, he would probably +have imagined that they were hurrying to the sea-side. It was +certainly an odd way to get there, across the fields and through a +grove of beech-trees; but where else could they be going, each carrying +a boat? + +They passed by the Eagle's Nest for once without even glancing up at +it, and walking a little farther along the field stopped by a deep +ditch. Now, even during the hottest summer weather this delightful +ditch seldom became completely dry. A tiny stream generally contrived +to trickle along the bottom, pushing its way in and out among the dead +leaves and sticks that the wind blew into its course. During the +winter months the ditch sometimes got blocked with this sort of +rubbish, and then the water being kept back very rapidly rose and +flooded over the field. However, old Barton was always on the look-out +for accidents, and on extra wet days generally marched out with a sack +over his shoulders to keep them comparatively dry, and cleared away the +drifts of dead leaves with his spade so that the stream should flow +freely. Of course, the children would have loved to accompany him on +these expeditions, but they always took place on such wet days that the +thing was not to be thought of seriously. + +But though the children were never allowed to help in moderating a +regular winter flood, they valued the ditch highly as a place where +they could always collect enough water to sail their boats in a +thoroughly satisfactory manner. They had done it so often that they +did not take very long time in setting to work. Betty and John going +down on their knees began to build the mud and dead leaves at the +bottom of the ditch into a great barrier across the narrowest part, +while Madge with a stick cleared the course of the stream from all +obstructions above. It was the way in which they made tiny ponds in +the cracks of the big stones under the laburnum-tree, only of course +this was hundreds of times larger. + +The water soon began to rise. It is most surprising what a lot of +water even a tiny stream contains if one can once prevent it from all +running away! When the ditch was about half-full, the children +launched their boats and made them go imaginary voyages from port to +port, carrying merchandise. + +"I will be London," said Madge, "and Betty can be Cardiff, and--" + +"I can choose for myself without your help!" interrupted John +peevishly. "I'll be Birmingham." + +"Oh, you choose very cleverly for yourself!" jeered Madge. "I wonder +how you can think of such difficult places!" + +"You think nobody can be clever except yourself, but you are finely +mistaken," rejoined John seriously; and he could not imagine why both +his sisters burst out laughing. "There isn't much joke that I can see +in that," he said. + +"The joke is about Birmingham, you know," explained Betty. "It isn't a +port." + +"Then it ought to be," said John decidedly. + +"Perhaps you had better write to the Queen and suggest that it should +be made into one," remarked Madge. But then, seeing that her brother +looked vexed at his mistake, she continued cheerfully: "I have thought +of a new and much better plan. We will not have real towns, but we +will call them after our own names--Madgebury, Bettybury, and Johnbury!" + +This idea gave very general satisfaction, and the game proceeded most +peacefully for some time. A vessel laden with acorns started from +Madgebury and went to Johnbury, crossing on the way another ship full +of horse-chestnuts. From Bettybury a small wooden doll set out on a +voyage of discovery into unknown regions, the owners carefully +superintending the course of their vessels and guiding them by long +strings. Once the strings got entangled and there was a terrific +shipwreck in Johnbury harbour, most of the cargo, consisting of +marbles, being lost in the mud at the bottom. After this collision it +was discovered that the sails of two of the vessels were injured, so +the ship-owners decided to retire for a short time to Eagle's Nest and +work at some necessary repairs. + +It was a warm afternoon, and the shade of the great spreading +beech-tree was particularly pleasant after an hour spent in the glaring +sun by the ditch. The children sat about in idle lounging attitudes, +mending their boats and talking in a leisurely fashion. + +"I wish I hadn't lost all those marbles," remarked John mournfully. "I +only found four, and I believe there were quite eight in the ship, only +the mud was so soft they sank out of sight at once. I squeezed it all +over with my hands to try and find them, but I couldn't." + +"I should think you will lose those four as well, if you try and carry +them in your pocket," said Madge. "Don't you remember what a big hole +you have in it, and how your knife dropped on the schoolroom floor this +morning when you were saying your lessons?" + +"But I must put them somewhere," answered John peevishly. "I can't +leave them behind, and I can't carry them in my hand when I am mending +my ship." + +"I've got a capital idea!" broke in Betty. "We will have a +treasure-house in the Eagle's Nest, and we can safely hide away the +things we don't want there. And I see just the place that will do!" +With an excited cry she scrambled up to a hole in the tree a few feet +above the platform of sticks on which they sat. "Isn't this the very +place?" she shouted. + +"The very place! The very place!" echoed John; and immediately the +three children began to empty out their pockets and decide what they +would leave in the Eagle's Nest storehouse. John's marbles and various +small articles belonging to the girls, such as pencils, both slate and +lead, a broken knife, and a doll's boot, were carefully stored away +packed in dock leaves. + +"We can leave them there all right," said Madge. "Even if it rains +they can't get wet in this beautiful hole. It's a regular out-of-door +cupboard, and I shall keep lots of my things here now that we have +found it." + +This plan was so incomparably more interesting than putting one's +possessions back tamely in the schoolroom or nursery, that the hole was +soon filled with oddly-shaped parcels tied up in leaves and twists of +grass. + +"That's done!" exclaimed Madge at last with a sigh of satisfaction, as +she covered the opening to the hole with an enormous bunch of elder +flowers, which she fondly hoped looked so natural that no passing enemy +would suspect they concealed a treasure-house. "Now shall we go back +and sail our boats or--Oh, look!" her voice rose to a shriek. And well +it might. + +Quite taken up with their present occupation, the children had entirely +forgotten the fact that they had left the ditch blocked, so that the +stream could not flow away as usual. The water had been rising for the +last hour or more, and all one end of the field was rapidly turning +into a swamp. Rivulets of water were finding their way in and out +among the rank tufts of long grass, and at this rate Eagle's Nest +itself would be surrounded by the evening. + +It was a moment of most intense excitement. There were hurried +consultations among the children, and even a daring suggestion that the +flood should be allowed to rise until they were left upon an +impregnable island. But a certain longing for tea, combined with a +wholesome dread of Barton, prevented this alarmingly bold scheme from +being carried out. + +"If we had only known what was going to happen and brought provisions +with us, what fun it would have been to stay here all night!" cried +Madge, who dearly loved an adventure. "I think if I had brought the +piece of bread that they put by the side of my plate at dinner, and +that I never eat, it would have been enough to keep me alive all night." + +"I should like sandwiches better," observed John. + +"Very likely!" rejoined Madge impatiently. "Honey and cream are very +nice too, and just what people always carry with them when they are out +all night in a forest!" + +"They would be very good, but much stickier than sandwiches," began +John, then stopped as both his sisters burst out laughing. "I don't +see anything funny," he said sulkily. "They are very sticky, you know +they are!" + +"We were laughing at your idea of having all sorts of nice things to +eat when you were escaping from the enemy," explained Betty. "It's a +time for hardships--" + +"I don't care to live on hardships," interrupted John. + +"Well, it doesn't matter, because I think we had better go home to tea +after all," observed Madge. "I don't really mind Barton complaining +about us much; and it would have been frightful fun to sit in the +Eagle's Nest and see everybody on the other side of the water scolding +and threatening us without being able to get at us. But I dare say +Mama would have been rather anxious about our staying out all night in +the damp." + +Though troublesome and thoughtless the children were really +affectionate, and this consideration weighed with them. They gave up +all idea of allowing the advancing torrent to cut them off from any +communication with the world. (When we talk of the torrent, it must be +understood that it might not have appeared quite worthy of the name to +grown-up people; but that is how the children managed to see it.) + +Having decided to resist the temptation of camping-out for a night, the +next question was how to avoid getting into serious trouble with +Barton, who would be dreadfully cross if he came in the morning and +found the field turned into a swamp. It was all very well for Madge to +talk defiantly about not minding if Barton scolded or not; but the fact +was that everybody, even Captain West, stood in respectful awe of the +old man's stern disapproval. + +"I do wish you children would not be so disobedient to me before +Barton. I can see he thinks you are spoilt, and it makes me feel so +dreadfully ashamed of myself!" Captain West would laughingly say; and +though, of course, this was only a joke, there can be little doubt that +Barton would have brought up a family very strictly if it had been left +to him. + +"We can't go home and leave it like this," said Madge, looking round +despairingly on the ever-widening circle of glistening wet that was +spreading through the grass. + +"If we took away the mud that we put across the ditch, would not the +stream run down the ditch again as usual?" suggested John. + +"Of course, we all know that! But who can get through the water to +clear it out?" cried Betty. + +There was an anxious pause. Then suddenly in a tone of solemn +resolution Madge announced that she was once more ready to take the +post of danger. + +"You will get your boots wet through, and catch cold," said Betty +nervously. + +Without replying to this remonstrance Madge climbed down from the +Eagle's Nest. It was the work of a moment to remove not only her boots +but also her stockings. Then she plunged into the soaking grass, the +water splashing up round her bare feet at every step. It was a wet +job, and a dirty one, but Madge accomplished it safely, and Barton +never guessed next day how near he had been to finding the meadow +flooded. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +DISPUTES. + +The treasure-house in Eagle's Nest did not turn out quite such a happy +idea as was anticipated. For a few days after causing the ditch to +overflow the children rather avoided that part of the fields. It +seemed prudent not to give Barton any occasion to connect them in his +mind with the extra muddiness of the corner between Eagle's Nest and +the ditch. But when nearly a week had passed by without any awkward +inquiries being made, and it was considered safe to return to their old +haunts, an unpleasant surprise awaited them. Some of their +carefully-stored-away possessions were missing! + +John's marbles could nowhere be found. This was a most unfortunate +fact; but when, after a hurried turning out of the contents of the +treasure-house, it became apparent that a pencil also belonging to John +was missing, there was a positive uproar. Betty had only lost an old +pocket-book with all the leaves torn out, and she was not even quite +sure that she had ever put it into the hole. Madge had lost nothing. + +"I do say it's a shame!" shouted John positively, dancing about on the +platform of the Eagle's Nest with rage. "It's a horrid shame! All my +things are lost, and--" + +"If you stamp so hard your foot will stick in the cracks of the floor, +like the dwarf in the fairy-story," interrupted Madge. + +"Oh, it's all very well to laugh! Laugh away!" shouted John. "That's +just like you! Put in all your own things safely enough, and left mine +out! And then you laugh. But I won't stand being bullied by a great +ugly thing--" Here his voice fortunately became choked with angry sobs. + +"What is the matter? What nonsense you are talking!" exclaimed Madge +impatiently. "All the things were put into the hole at the same time. +You saw me do it yourself, because I happened to be nearest to the +treasure-house." + +"And I believe I saw you pushing my things on one side to make room for +your own!" rejoined John. "And very likely you slily took some of mine +out and threw them away, so that the hole should not be too full." + +"Well, if you believe all that you must be a little idiot!" said Madge +scornfully; and Betty cried: "How can you say such things? Of course +she wouldn't!" + +"I think she would," asserted John, with irritating obstinacy. "She +thinks she can do as she likes with us and our things. Lewis often +says--" + +"So it is Lewis who has been putting all these stupid ideas into your +head?" interrupted Madge. "I could not think why you had become so +discontented and grumbling all of a sudden! Now I see what it is, and +I'll never speak to that sneak again!" + +"He is a very nice boy, very nice indeed," repeated John. "And I like +talking to him much better than playing with girls." + +"You are welcome to him, I'm sure!" exclaimed Madge tempestuously. "A +horrid sneak who used to be always laughing at you little ones to me, +and calling you silly babies! And then directly my back is turned for +an afternoon, he goes trying to set you against me. No, I don't want +him coming sucking up to me any more, that's certain!" And a good deal +more of the same sort; for when Madge was indignant, she had an +extraordinary flow of very forcible but inelegant language. "Now for +my part I'm going away from here directly," she concluded. "John will +stop and tell tales to his friend, I suppose. Betty can do as she +likes." + +Betty did not look as grateful as she might for this kind permission. +She was a peace-loving little person, and always particularly disliked +being called upon to take sides in family disputes. + +"Can't we all go away and play together just as we used to, before we +knew Lewis?" she said at last. "We really had more fun then than we +have now, because we were not always afraid that something would be +found out." + +"You are quite right!" answered Madge heartily. "We built this Eagle's +Nest to play in, didn't we? But now, instead of playing we are always +watching and waiting for Lewis, and when he comes we can't have any +fun, because if we make a noise somebody may catch us. It seems rather +a sneaking business altogether." + +Betty was quite of this opinion. If she had not been drawn on by her +elder sister's enthusiasm in the first instance, she would never have +done anything so boldly naughty as to make friends with a strange boy. +The constant fear of discovery had weighed heavily upon her, and on +more than one occasion lately she had trembled all over if anyone had +called her suddenly, thinking that the whole affair was discovered and +she was about to be blamed. "Yes, do let us play somewhere else. And +then perhaps Lewis will get tired of coming to look for us," she said +fervently. + +"At first I was sorry for him," continued Madge, "and I should be now, +only he is so mean. Of course I shall never betray him to anybody, and +get him punished for climbing over the wall. But I won't speak to him +after he has proved a sneak!" + +In the end Madge and Betty went off together to play elsewhere, while +John remained behind in the Eagle's Nest, saying that he should wait +there for his friend. But it was not very cheerful work sitting alone +on a bough in sight of that terrible red brick house, after the girls +had disappeared. He would gladly have climbed down and ran after them, +if he had not boasted so loudly of his preference for Lewis's society. +And when Lewis at last came he was not a very cheery companion. John +tried to feel flattered at being left alone with such a big boy, and to +get all the comfort he could out of his companion's abuse of girls in +general, and Madge in particular. But when Lewis began to tell long +dreary stories about the cruel doings that went on under Mrs. Howard's +roof, the small listener soon realized that the presence of a strong +and courageous elder sister would be very comforting indeed. He tried +to keep up his spirits by reflecting that there was no fear of his +being entrapped from the Beechgrove side of the wall. + +"Ah! Don't you make too sure of that," said Lewis. "The last boy Mrs. +Howard stole was bigger than you, I think." + +"Does she steal children, then?" cried John in terrified accents. "I +didn't know anybody could do that nowadays! Why don't the police stop +her?" + +"That's just the question! My belief is that she's more artful than a +whole army of police," answered Lewis. "I don't know how it's done of +course, but I expect that man with a gray beard wanders about the road +after dark and catches them as they are going home from school, perhaps +in the evening--" + +"Catches them? What does he catch?" interrupted John. + +"Why, catches boys about your size, of course! I've just said so, +haven't I? How stupid you are!" answered Lewis, speaking quite as +contemptuously as Madge in her most overbearing moods. "And then they +are locked into the cellars under the house.--Chained? Oh yes! hand +and foot. Gags in their mouths too, if they groan loudly enough to be +heard. I know the sound when I am awake at night. Mrs. Howard calls +it the wind in the chimneys, but I know better than that." + +"But what does she want boys for?" asked John in a trembling voice. + +"Nobody knows. Perhaps she sells them as slaves to the black people, +just as black people used to be sold to white. Perhaps she keeps them +prisoners for life in her cellars. Nobody knows." Lewis began to +whistle, and positively declined to give any further information. + +"I think I'll go home, it's getting rather late," said John presently. +"And very likely I sha'n't be able to come here to-morrow to meet you. +It doesn't seem quite safe to come every day if that dreadful man is +always on the look-out. Besides, I don't think I shall have much time +after lessons, some days we dig in our gardens." + +"You aren't afraid to come without your sisters, I suppose? It looks +remarkably like it," said Lewis disagreeably. + +"No! of course not!" cried John, as he hurriedly scrambled out of the +tree. + +In another moment he was in full flight home. It did not require much +persuasion on Betty's part that evening to convince him that, after +all, one's own brothers and sisters are much safer and pleasanter +companions than any chance strangers. + +"But," concluded Betty, "though Lewis talks so much about the dangers +he goes through I don't believe he is half as brave as Madge. See how +she plunged into that water the other day without hesitating an +instant, though it was very cold, for my hands were quite blue after +sailing my boat. It's so odd how water keeps cold even in the summer! +But I don't think Lewis could have done it. He made such a fuss when +he scratched his hand with a sharp stone in the wall one day. Of +course he is very brave about being shut up in those dreadful cellars; +only I don't think they can be quite so dreadful as he pretends, or +nobody could bear them." + +"Don't you think it is quite true about the cellars, then?" asked John, +eagerly grasping at a ray of hope. If the cellars were not dungeons +swarming with toads, then there might also be some mistake about little +boys being stolen and sold as slaves to black people. So he waited +anxiously for Betty's opinion on the subject. + +"Well, I suppose it is true that he is shut up in those dark places," +she replied thoughtfully; "because, you see, he can tell us all about +them; the slimy walls I mean, and the black pools of dirty water. Only +I don't believe he is quite as brave as he makes out. I dare say he +cries and screams when he is locked in." + +This answer did not do much to calm John's fears. After some natural +hesitation at owning himself in the wrong, he said shyly: + +"I don't think I care so very much about Lewis after all. He bullies +just as much as Madge, and doesn't play such amusing games either." + +"No, indeed he doesn't!" chimed in Betty eagerly. "It was much more +amusing before we knew him, and there was no hiding things and being +afraid of being found out. It doesn't seem right when we are trusted +to go out by ourselves--" + +"Oh, I don't know about that!" interrupted John. "I can't see any harm +in it, not for me at least, because I am a boy, and boys don't stop to +ask whether they may speak to people. I dare say you and Madge ought +not to have done it, as you are girls. But," he added, rather less +grandly, "I think I will play with you to-morrow instead of going to +talk to Lewis. That's to say, I will come if Madge won't be nasty and +disagreeable." + +"Of course she won't! I'll talk to her about it, and she will be right +enough when she hears you are not going to follow Lewis any more!" +cried Betty, rejoicing in the prospect of the good time coming when +they would once more all three play harmoniously together, without the +interference of any mischief-making stranger. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +OLD GAMES. + +It was many weeks since the children had started out in such high +spirits as they did on the following afternoon. As long as they were +secretly meeting Lewis, there was always a certain mystery about their +doings which, though at first very exciting, soon became oppressive. +They were in the main truthful, straightforward children, and when they +were tempted first to talk to Lewis, and then to promise secrecy about +having done so, they had not foreseen what an amount of concealment +this conduct would give rise to in the future. Often when chattering +about their doings before Miss Thompson or their parents, references to +Lewis and his wonderful tales nearly slipped out, and the subject had +to be awkwardly changed. Once or twice questions were asked to which +the children, though they avoided telling downright falsehoods in +reply, yet gave wilfully misleading answers. And they had been +sufficiently well brought-up for this course of little deceptions to +make them feel thoroughly uncomfortable. + +It was a real relief to have done with Lewis and all concealment, and +to be starting off boldly to play their old games, which, though a +little noisy and rough, were admittedly innocent. Sometimes they were +explorers discovering the source of the Nile; another day they would be +an eager party of adventurers hunting for gold in Australia. In either +case they carried long sticks and shouted the whole time. To-day, as +it happened, they were big-game hunters, looking out for giraffes, +elephants, and an occasional lion. They expected to find them behind +the hay-ricks or in the poultry-yard; failing those likely spots, they +would try the cow-house. + +"I hope my new rifle will act to-day," observed Madge, shouldering a +pea-stick with great dignity. "Last time I was out it missed fire, and +I lost a fine buck in the forest." + +This piece of information was received with perfect gravity by the +other children. The only way to enjoy games properly is to be quite +serious about them. + +"I have slain twenty wolves with this spear!" cried John suddenly. + +"But that's no reason why you should poke my eye out with it!" +exclaimed Betty, seizing the rough end of a long stick that was being +brandished close to her head. + +"Oh, I'm so sorry! Your cheek is bleeding. Let's look!" and John +proceeded to examine his handiwork with more apparent interest than +regret. + +"It's nothing! A miss is as good as a mile!" answered Betty +impatiently, as she scrubbed her cheek with a dirty handkerchief. It +was considered a great breach of etiquette to acknowledge that one was +hurt when playing a game. At lessons, on the contrary, a little fuss +about a scratch or bruise was allowable, because it took up time which +otherwise would have been devoted to study. + +"Hist! Go gently! We are tracking the wild boar to his lair!" +muttered Madge. "Conceal yourselves from view behind the brushwood and +creep after me." + +Now, a mere ordinary grown-up person would have been puzzled how to +carry out this order in a field where the grass was only about an inch +long. He would have looked in vain for any shelter behind which even +to hide his boots; he would in fact have been deplorably dense and +literal. The three children did not hesitate for a minute. They +slouched their hats forward over their faces, that being a concealment +behind which it was recognized that no wild boar would be likely to +penetrate; and they bent their knees into a fancied imitation of the +attitude of an Indian on the war-path. This was the established mode +of attacking a herd of wild animals. + +"Halt! They have caught sight of us! Make ready your weapons!" cried +Madge in a sort of suppressed shout. "They are preparing to charge! +Look out!" + +If the six black Berkshire pigs lying asleep in the sun under the wall +were really preparing to charge they dissembled their purpose +remarkably well. Half opening their tiny eyes they blinked lazily at +their assailants, and it was not until they had received several sharp +pokes from the long sticks that they would move from the spot where +they were lying. Even then they only tottered a few steps farther off, +and sank down again in a great heaving sleepy mass. + +"If we threw a few stones at them perhaps they would run?" suggested +John. + +"Better not," said Madge; "supposing Barton saw us he would be sure to +say we were hurting them." + +"I only meant small ones, of course," answered John; "but I dare say he +would make a fuss and tell Papa some long story, just as he did about +our hunting the cows when we were only trying to catch the calf. He +always thinks things are so much worse than they are really. But how +shall we move the pigs without stones?" + +Even Madge could not suggest a remedy for the pigs' excessive +drowsiness. Words, or rather shouts, seemed thrown away upon their +dull ears, and more active interference was impossible with Barton +hovering in the neighbourhood. The chase threatened to come to a +stand-still, when Betty burst into an agitated war-cry. + +"The enemy are upon us! No, I forgot! The elephants, I mean! They +are galloping towards us! We shall be overwhelmed!" + +She waved her stick defiantly as she screamed, in the spirit of one +prepared to perish sooner than surrender. + +This time the alarm had sufficient foundation in fact to be very +exciting. A young heifer, attracted by the noise, and probably +thinking that it had some connection with Barton and hay, set off +trotting across the field, followed at a discreet pace by all the +milking-cows. In the distance, with the help of a little imagination, +they made quite a formidable array. + +"We are outnumbered! There is no dishonour in flight!" shouted Madge +in the grand phrases gained from books, that were always employed on +these occasions. "Rush for the fort!" she continued. "The fort under +the oak-tree!" + +The children needed no further instructions. They had well-established +settlements under several of the trees, consisting of fallen branches +that had been chopped into logs and piled in a heap to remain there +until wanted. In a few minutes more they were defying elephants and +everything else from the summit of a log-pile fully five feet high, +their backs planted firmly against the solid trunk of the oak-tree. So +safe did they feel that it was annoying of the cows not to come on +faster, and they took it as nothing short of a direct insult when the +leading heifer, to whom they had all along alluded as a mad bull, gave +up the pursuit and began quietly to eat. + +"There's no spirit in anything, elephants or bulls! I never saw +anything like it!" said Madge in a tone of utter disgust. "If they +won't run away how can one hunt them?" + +"But what is that coming in and out of the farmyard doorway? It isn't +there always," said John, screwing up his eyes and trying to see across +the field in the blinding sunshine. + +"I think it's a dog! I am almost sure it is," observed Betty +nervously. "I do hope it is not a mad dog that has strayed in off the +road." + +"That's not very likely," laughed Madge. "There aren't many mad dogs +on the road, in fact I know people are obliged to keep them shut up at +home, or muzzled, or--" + +"Yes, I dare say that is the rule. But suppose this one had escaped +without anybody noticing him?" said Betty, who was very much afraid of +dogs; "and suppose he smelt us out, and followed us down here?" + +"Well, I should just pat him on the head," said Madge loftily. "You +can make friends with any dog if you aren't afraid of him." + +"I say!" exclaimed John suddenly. "It's that brute belonging to the +butcher, that bit the postman. He is wandering about the field, I can +see him quite plainly. The butcher must be in the yard talking to +Barton about buying the calf. I think we had better run back to the +house." Even the courageous Madge prepared to act on this suggestion. +They had been warned never to go near the butcher's dog, and it really +seemed almost beyond the bounds of sport to wait patiently until he +chose to bite them. + +"We will run for the house!" cried Madge, rather enjoying the +excitement. "Now, off!" + +As is often the case, Betty, being the most nervous and anxious to get +away, made a false start, her foot slipped between two logs of wood and +remained firmly jammed. "Oh stop! stop!" she cried, as the others, not +noticing her misfortune, were hurrying away across the field in the +direction of home. "I can't get out! Don't run away!" she wailed +frantically, twisting and tugging at her foot, but only succeeding in +hurting her ankle rather severely. + +The large dog, who had up to this time contented himself with sniffing +about at the top of the field near the yard where his master was +standing, being attracted by the noise now began prowling like a wolf +nearer and nearer to the oak-tree. Betty, looking up from an +ineffectual struggle to roll the logs farther apart, saw him half-way +across the field towards her, and gave a terrific scream. + +"What's that?" cried Madge, checking herself and looking back. "Why, +Betty has never come! What's the matter?" While speaking she had +turned and was rushing back towards her younger sister. + +"The dog is coming! Look! He is coming!" shrieked Betty, almost +frantic with fright. + +"I'll keep him off! Trust me!" gasped Madge, breathless with running, +as she posted herself in front of the logs, waving her stick like a +battle-axe. Her courage was undeniable, and fortunately her strength +was not put to any proof, as the butcher, hearing terrified cries, +stepped outside the yard and whistled to his dog. + +"There! it has turned round! It is running back to its master! Barton +is there, so he will take care that it doesn't follow us again. I dare +say it would not have bitten, though," said Madge soothingly, as Betty +sobbed on her shoulder. + +John came up at this moment, and they both tried to push the heavy logs +away, but could not move them an inch, even with all their strength. +At one time it really seemed as if Betty must remain there all night. + +"It's no use pulling any more," panted Madge, scarlet from her efforts. +"I shall run up to Papa's workshop and get his little axe. Then I can +chop away the log enough for her to get out." + +Possibly Betty was terrified by the prospect of having an axe wielded +by alarmingly energetic but unskilled hands too near her foot. At all +events she not only dried her tears at this suggestion, but twisted her +ankle so actively about that it slipped out of the crack as +mysteriously as it had gone in. There was no harm done, except various +bruises which had been chiefly caused by her efforts to escape. + +In spite of some natural disappointment at not having any occasion to +exhibit her powers as a woodcutter, Madge congratulated her sister +heartily on getting loose, and the three children returned towards the +house. Miss Thompson was looking for them in the garden. They ran up +to her, concluding that as usual they were late for tea and she had +come to remind them of it. + +"For once you are wrong," she said. "At least it is just tea-time, but +that was not why I was trying to find you. Now wash your hands, brush +your hair, and go to the schoolroom. There you will find three +visitors." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE VISITORS. + +The children were far quicker than usual in carrying out Miss +Thompson's directions and preparing themselves for tea. They were +exceedingly curious to see the visitors, who, contrary to all custom, +seemed to have been shown into the school-room instead of the +drawing-room. And yet they were also a little shy, so that there was +none of the usual crowding at the doorway in trying who should enter +first. The younger ones very contentedly stood aside and allowed Madge +to take the lead without a murmur. + +An elderly person, in a large black velvet bonnet, sat with her back to +the window, a very gaily-dressed little girl standing by her side. The +children looked vacantly from one to the other, wondering why they had +come. + +"Well, Madge!" exclaimed Miss Thompson, "how much longer are you going +to stand there before you speak to Mrs. Winter, who has come all the +way from Churchbury to bring you a present?" + +"Of course it's Mrs. Winter!" cried Madge, who had really been +completely mystified by the presence of the best black velvet bonnet, +so unlike the rather shabby straw hat in which Mrs. Winter had helped +to search for the missing brown bag. + +"And this is Mrs. Winter's grandchild," continued Miss Thompson. "Her +name is Ann--" + +"Is that Ann?" cried three excited voices; and the children pressed +eagerly forward to have a good look at the little girl who, though +scarcely older than themselves, was frequently left in charge of a real +shop. + +Ann was a large solid-looking girl of thirteen, in a red cashmere frock +that was hardly as bright as her plump cheeks. Her hair had evidently +been plaited very tightly overnight, so that it stood out in a frizzled +mass all round her head. The whole effect was very large and bright. + +"I have brought you a new pet," said Mrs. Winter addressing Madge; +"something you have seen before, but it looks rather different now." +She opened a large basket that was on the floor beside her, and lifted +out a pretty tortoise-shell cat. + +"What a love!" cried Madge. "Is it the kitten we found in the cellar? +But it looks quite big and fat now, only the colour is the same." + +"Ah, it's wonderful what care and good feeding will do for any animal!" +observed Mrs. Winter. "You remember how scared the poor creature was +at first? Well, now she is so tame that she will sit on my shoulder. +Just see." + +While the cat exhibited two or three little tricks, such as standing on +her hind legs to eat a bit of bread, Mrs. Winter explained that she had +always intended to make a present of the pretty creature to the young +lady who had been so frightened by her in the cellar. + +"So, this being early-closing day in the town, I borrowed Mrs. Smith's +pony-trap and drove out, bringing little Ann with me for company," she +said. + +"And Mrs. West wishes you to rest and have some tea before you return," +added Miss Thompson. "So let us all sit down at once, and Pussy shall +have a saucer to herself in the corner of the room." + +When tea was finished the children asked permission to show Ann their +gardens, and pick her a bunch of flowers before she returned to the +town. Mrs. Winter preferred sitting indoors in the shade, until her +grandchild was ready to start. + +It must be owned that as long as they were in the schoolroom Ann had +proved disappointingly dull. Instead of enlightening them on her +method of keeping shop when she was left in sole charge, she sat +stolidly munching cake, and hardly replying when she was spoken to by +Miss Thompson. In point of fact poor Ann was rendered desperately shy +by being dressed up in all her finest clothes to come on this important +visit. All the way to Beechgrove her grandmother had been warning her +that she must behave beautifully if they were asked to go inside the +house, and the consequence was that the poor girl was almost afraid to +speak, for fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. But when once in +the garden her shyness of the young ladies rapidly faded away. + +"Do you ever climb trees or sail boats in ditches?" inquired Madge, +when they had at last got on easy conversational terms with their +visitor. + +Ann explained that there were only a limited number of trees in +Churchbury, and that the police forbid any interference with them. "Of +course some of the children sail their boats in the gutters after a +storm," she added; "but Mother wouldn't like us to do that. She always +makes us keep ourselves to ourselves." + +"But here it's quite different!" broke in Madge. "We do just what we +like, only there is rather a fuss if we tear our clothes very badly. +You might begin on an easy tree." + +"Perhaps she would like to see the pigs and cows first?" interposed +Betty, who could not help noticing that their guest showed some natural +reluctance to risk the red cashmere frock among unknown and probably +prickly branches. + +Ann had been afraid to say that she did not at all wish to climb trees, +but she eagerly grasped at this chance of a reprieve, and they all set +off towards the pig-sty. Now the young Wests always regarded the +little farmyard over which Barton presided as far the most interesting +part of Beechgrove. If their mother had visitors she invariably took +them to see the greenhouses, a dull sort of entertainment, as it seemed +to the children. Certainly some people would stand for half an hour in +front of a row of pots asking questions and reading the names on wooden +labels. It seemed incredible that they should derive amusement from +this monotonous performance, so the children concluded that they did it +merely because some such absurd custom was demanded by good manners of +all guests. Now, looking at the pigs was quite a different affair. +There was some pleasure to be got out of that, and as Ann stood on +tiptoe to peep over the wooden door of the sty they felt convinced that +they were giving her an unusual treat. + +Unfortunately, one has to be accustomed to pigs to appreciate them +properly. When a gigantic old sow was at last lured out of her +sleeping apartment by a shower of acorns, artfully thrown against her +flabby sides, the Wests shrieked with delight because she was followed +by her whole family. + +"I never saw them all out before although they are nearly a month old," +observed Madge, wishing delicately to impress upon the stranger that +she was unusually lucky. + +"We never saw them all out before," echoed John. "You see there are +three in the trough, and one all sticky who has just crawled out, that +makes four. Then there are five squeezed up in the mud behind the +sow's back and two under her snout, so you can see the whole eleven at +once. She had thirteen, but two of them were squashed to death the +first day. Barton found them both flat; he says she must have slept on +top of them by mistake. Our sows generally do when they have a lot of +children." + +"Do you notice that little black one with a white patch under his right +eye?" inquired Betty, feeling that it was now her turn to do the +honours of the pig-sty. "We call him Spot. He is such a little love, +only horribly greedy. That is why he is in such a mess, he will crawl +in the trough and get covered with milk. Sometimes Barton brings him +outside for us to pat. I wonder if we could possibly get him for +ourselves if we poked the sow off with sticks so that she shouldn't +push through the door when it is opened?" + +"Oh, don't try! Please don't open the door!" begged Ann. "I couldn't +bear to have those horrid smelly creatures coming after me. I know I +should scream if they got loose!" + +"Don't you like pigs, then?" This inquiry came in tones of +astonishment from all three children. + +"Like them? No! They smell that horrid it quite upsets me!" Poor +Ann's disgust was so genuine that she quite forgot to speak as +correctly as she had succeeded in doing up to this point. + +It was in vain that the Wests pointed out how baby pigs are quite as +pretty as kittens or puppies when they roll playfully over on their +mother's fat sides. Ann only held her nose and turned away her face; +even when Spot went through the most ridiculous antics, pulling his +little brother Whitey all about the sty by his tail, she expressed no +admiration. + +"Well, if you really don't like them I suppose we had better go and see +the cows," said Madge rather impatiently. It is always disappointing, +and gives very unnecessary trouble, when visitors will not share one's +own tastes. Madge had relied on the pigs as an enormous attraction to +a town child, and she was proportionately irritated when the +entertainment failed. "I suppose you don't think cows dirty?" she +asked with elaborate politeness. + +No, Ann had no objection to cows. On the contrary, she knew a milkman +who kept some cows on the outskirts of the town, and she sometimes went +there and had a tumbler of new milk for a treat. To be sure she felt a +little timid when Madge pushed a cabbage into her hand, and told her to +feed a large red cow with particularly sharp horns. The children had a +habit of each adopting a cow and feeding it themselves when there were +any cabbages or pea-stalks to spare. Every cow, of course, had a name. + +"That red one is quite new. She only came on Saturday," observed John. +"So we haven't yet settled who she is to belong to, and that is why you +can feed her. But we are going to call her Spiteful, because she +shakes her head so crossly and has such very sharp horns." + +This was rather a formidable introduction to a cow, and it is not to be +wondered at that Ann soon incurred the scorn of the other children by +dropping her cabbage on the ground and retiring behind the railings. +She afterwards accused Spiteful of having tried to bite her. + +"Well, if you don't care for feeding the animals perhaps you would like +to play in the hay-loft?" said Madge with calm patience. + +"Oh, yes! That is just what I should like!" cried Ann eagerly. A loft +seemed to present fewer possibilities of danger than any of the other +places of amusement to which they had yet taken her. + +There was a little difficulty about climbing a ladder out of the yard. +Ann was awkward, and the red cashmere dress being rather long she +continually tripped over it. But when they had once safely reached the +loft they had a grand game of play among the great heaps of hay and +straw, scattering them untidily all over the neatly-swept floor in a +way that was certain to drive Barton almost wild whenever he discovered +it. + +The distant ringing of a large bell at last broke in upon the +children's shouts. + +"That is to call us," explained Madge. "They always ring it when we +are out in the fields and forget tea. But it can't be tea now because +we have had it. I expect Mrs. Winter wants to go home." + +"Oh, whatever will Grandmama say when she sees my dress!" wailed Ann as +they emerged from the gloom of the loft into full daylight. "It was +new to go to London," she continued sadly; "and Mother said it would do +to wear on Sundays all through the year." + +The red cashmere had indeed suffered sadly. It bore greasy traces of +having been in contact with the pig-sty door all down its front, and +was also torn in more than one place. Mrs. Winter was very much +distressed by her grandchild's appearance when they returned to the +house, and scolded her somewhat severely for having behaved in a rough +and unmannerly fashion when out on a visit. Poor Ann burst into tears, +and was only partially comforted when Miss Thompson took her upstairs +and kindly stitched together the worst of the rents so that she might +not look absolutely ragged on her way home. + +When the little pony cart drove away from the door Madge returned +rather thoughtfully to the schoolroom with the tortoise-shell cat in +her arms. + +"It seems a curious thing," she said, "that people are not always happy +when you mean them to be. I thought Ann would like the same things as +we do, and after all she has gone away almost crying, and hasn't +enjoyed herself a bit." + +"Another time," answered Miss Thompson, "when you really wish to give +your guests pleasure, you had better consult their tastes instead of +your own. If you had only considered for a moment, it was not probable +that a town child would be as familiar with animals as you are; and it +was also easy to see that Ann had been dressed in her best clothes for +the afternoon and was afraid of hurting them." + +"Perhaps so," said Madge. "But I always think it's rather stupid of +people who don't like the same things as we do, don't you?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +AN END OF HIDING. + +At the earliest opportunity on the following day Madge, Betty, and John +returned to the loft to finish their interrupted game. They were three +cavaliers hiding from Cromwell's soldiers, and really a better place of +concealment could not have been found than the loft, where by simply +closing a door they were in almost complete darkness. Madge, as +captain, neglected no opportunity of ensuring the safety of her +followers. She made them crouch down behind the straw, and lie so +still that even the most sharp-sighted Roundheads would scarcely have +suspected their existence. + +"I will steal out to keep watch," she whispered, creeping on her hands +and knees towards the closed door. "Posted by the crack of the hinges +I can survey the whole country, and watch the march of the rebel troops +without being seen. Then when-- Oh!" + +The door suddenly flew open in her face, almost knocking her over. A +head appeared at the top of the ladder. It was Lewis Brand's! + +If the children had really been discovered by Cromwell's soldiers they +could hardly have been more frightened. Lewis had time to step off the +ladder and come into the loft before they recovered themselves +sufficiently to speak. + +"You don't seem overjoyed to see a friend?" he remarked sneeringly. + +"Oh, do go away!" cried Betty nervously. "Somebody will see you! I +know they will!" + +"It's very kind of you to be so anxious on my account, but I think I +can take care of myself," said Lewis with a disagreeable laugh. "You +thought you had all got away from me, did you? Pretty sort of friends, +I call you! All going off one day without saying a word, and never +coming back." + +"After all, we are not obliged to play with you!" exclaimed Madge with +some spirit. + +"Aren't you indeed? We shall soon see!" replied Lewis. "I'm not at +all sure that you can get away from me! I sat on the wall and watched +you come down here after dinner, then I seized my opportunity when +nobody was about, and ran across the fields to join you. It was worth +seeing how frightened you all were when I quietly stepped in at the +door! And wherever you go to play I shall turn up in just the same +way. You see if I don't!" + +"What nonsense! We can play in the garden if we like!" said Madge +defiantly. + +"So you can! And find me hiding in the potting-shed and behind the +cucumber-frames," replied Lewis. + +Betty began to cry. It was not very brave of her, but then she had +been rejoicing so much at getting rid of Lewis and his mysteries, and +was so horribly disappointed when they all returned. + +"I won't have you coming back here to tease us all!" cried Madge +angrily. "I am sorry we ever spoke to you. It was wrong of us, and I +heartily wish we hadn't. If you go on--" + +"Mind, you promised faithfully not to tell anybody about me," +interrupted Lewis. "If you say a single word about my coming over the +wall you will have told a lie." + +"Yes, that's the worst of it," admitted Madge. "And yet it seems just +as untruthful to meet you and pretend we are only playing by ourselves. +Either way it's wrong." + +"Very likely," said Lewis carelessly. "That's your affair. It's too +late to draw back now." + +There was a silence, during which the three Wests heartily repented +their naughty folly in having secretly made such an undesirable +acquaintance. + +Presently there was a heavy footstep in the yard below. + +"What's that?" whispered Lewis, in a very different voice to the +bullying accents in which he had just been speaking. + +"It is Barton driving the cows into the yard to be milked," replied +Madge softly. "He always does it about this time." + +"But how am I to get down the ladder to go home if he is standing at +the bottom?" inquired Lewis nervously. + +"I never thought of that! He will be in the yard for the next hour," +answered Madge. "Of course we don't mind passing him, because we are +allowed to play up here; only he doesn't like us making the hay as +untidy as it is now. But I'm sure you can't get down without being +seen." + +"You won't all run away and leave me caught like a rat in a trap, will +you?" begged Lewis, almost whimpering with fright. + +"Is it likely?" replied Madge in her finest tone of scorn. "Stay +quiet," she added with contemptuous kindness, "and we will get you out +of it somehow." + +It is in moments of peril that a true leader shines most. While Lewis +lay cowering behind the straw, and the twins waited expectantly for +some suggestion, Madge calmly looked round the loft and originated a +plan. "I know how you can get away," she said, after some moments of +earnest thought. "There is that little door at the back of the loft, +it does not look out into the yard but out upon the hay-ricks, in fact +that is where they put the hay up into the loft. If you get down that +side Barton can't possibly see you while he is milking the cows in the +yard." + +"Oh, that's a capital idea! I'll go at once!" cried Lewis. "Not that +I am really afraid of your old man or anybody," he added, with a return +of his customary boastful manner. "Only I don't want to get you all +into trouble." + +"You have become very brave all of a sudden," said Madge, who by this +time heartily despised him for his mixture of bragging and cowardice. +"It's fortunate you are not afraid of anything," she added rather +maliciously, "because you see there is no ladder outside this door, so +you will have to drop down to the ground as best you can." + +"It isn't very far, I suppose?" asked Lewis anxiously. But when the +loft door was at last opened--rather a difficult job to accomplish +quietly, as the hinges were rusty and would creak,--he declared that he +could not possibly get down without a ladder. + +"But you must!" exclaimed Madge impatiently. "It's your only chance of +getting away without being seen." + +"I shall be hurt! I know I shall!" moaned Lewis, as he drew back with +a shiver from the open door. + +"It isn't so very far," said Betty encouragingly. "Not higher than a +room, I think." + +Still Lewis hung back. "Oh, dear Madge," he whined, "couldn't you +manage to carry the ladder round from the yard to the door at the back?" + +"Well, if you can't possibly get down without it I will try!" said +Madge desperately. "Betty and John must come with me, as the ladder is +so long I can't carry it alone. I am afraid Barton will make a fuss +when he sees us moving it, though." + +"Oh no, he won't! I dare say he won't notice you," asserted Lewis, +only intent on his own safety, and not caring in the least what risks +other people ran on his account. + +But in the excitement of the moment the children had raised their +voices rather loudly, and Barton heard them as he milked the cows in +the yard below. + +"Now, you young ladies and Master John, you are breaking that straw all +to pieces, I'll be bound!" he shouted. "I'll be up and see what you +are about directly I've done with this cow, that I will! Tossing the +hay all over the floor, when it was only put tidy the other day!" + +"Will he come up really?" whispered Lewis, white with terror. "Yes? +Oh, help me to get away! Help me!" + +"I will try," said Madge, once more taking the lead; "but you must do +as I tell you. Now if you had a rope to hold on to do you think you +could get down to the ground?" + +"Yes, I think I could. But where is the rope? Please be quick!" + +"Of course we can't get a rope here!" answered Madge sharply. She was +losing all patience with this coward, who only thought of his own +comfort and safety. However, she had pledged herself to do her best +for him, so she continued: "We will tie all our pocket-handkerchiefs +together. They will reach a good way towards the ground." + +This really seemed an excellent idea, although when it came to be +worked out John could not make any contribution, having left his +handkerchief in the pocket of another coat. The knots also took up a +terrible amount of material, so that the completed rope was not a very +long affair. + +"Do you think it is strong?" asked Lewis nervously. "And that you can +hold my weight?" + +"No fear of that!" Madge squatted down by the door, Betty held her +firmly by the waist, and John tugged at the back. "Now we are ready," +they said. + +There was really no excuse for any further delay. Lewis desperately +seized the end of the knotted handkerchiefs and stood for a moment +irresolute on the edge of the wall. Then suddenly, thinking he heard +Barton coming behind him, he sprang forward with such a jerk that the +handkerchiefs slipped through his fingers and he fell heavily to the +ground. + +"Well, that is his own fault, not ours!" exclaimed Madge. "We held the +rope tight enough, and if he chose to jump in that silly way nobody +could help it!" Her indignation, however, gave way to fear, as Lewis +continued to lie motionless on the ground. "Is he hurt, or only +shamming?" she said. "Lewis! Lewis! get up and run home before anyone +sees you!" Even this appeal produced no effect on the prostrate +figure, and the children became seriously alarmed. + +"I don't think he can be pretending," observed Betty; "he would be +afraid to lie there so near the yard. Besides, he is in such a funny +position." + +"I must go down and see what is the matter," said Madge decidedly. +"No, I sha'n't try the handkerchiefs, we have had enough of them, and I +don't think you two really are strong enough to hold me up." Without +waiting to discuss the matter any further she climbed down the ladder +and ran through the yard. + +"Hullo, Miss Madge, where are you off to?" cried old Barton from the +corner of the cow-house. "Up to some mischief again, I can see by the +pace you are running? Whatever have you been doing now, I wonder?" + +Madge rushed on without answering, and disappeared round the end of the +buildings. Lewis was still lying in a sort of crumpled-up heap when +she reached him. He did not attempt to rise or even speak when she +pulled him by the arm. "I am afraid he must be badly hurt!" she cried +anxiously to Betty and John, who were staring with white frightened +faces from the open door of the loft above. + +[Illustration: LEWIS WAS STILL LYING IN A SORT OF CRUMPLED-UP HEAP] + +"What shall you do?" they asked. "Will he get better? Can we help?" + +"It's something too bad for us. I shall call Barton to look at him," +replied Madge. There were exclamations of astonishment from the twins. +"Yes, it's no good trying to keep it a secret about Lewis any longer," +she said gravely. "Of course we shall be scolded, but that can't be +helped." + +When Barton came he took a very grave view of the case. "Seems as if +the young gentleman were mortal bad," he said. "Better run up to the +house and call someone at once. It's a question if he ever walks home +again, wherever he comes from!" + +"Does Barton mean he will die?" asked John in an awestruck whisper as +the three children ran off for help. Nobody cared to be left behind +with Barton by the side of that still figure on the ground. + +"Oh no! Barton only said that to try and frighten us," answered Madge +with a would-be hopeful air. But in her heart fear that Lewis was +already dead so overcame all other considerations that she rushed into +the house calling for help without a moment's thought of the blame she +was about to incur. + +Fortunately Captain West was at home that afternoon. He understood at +once that somebody was hurt while doing something in the loft, and +naturally concluded that it was old Barton, whose business it was to +carry down the hay when wanted. + +"Did he slip on the ladder?" inquired Captain West as he hurried back +with the children. + +"Oh no! getting out of that little square door at the back of the loft. +You see, he was sliding down our handkerchiefs and they slipped--" + +"Barton sliding down your handkerchiefs?" repeated Captain West in a +tone of great astonishment. + +"No, of course not!" laughed Madge rather hysterically. "It was +Lewis--that's to say, a boy who came over the wall--when we were in the +Eagle's Nest, you know." + +"I don't know in the least what you are talking about," said Captain +West; "but I can see he is badly hurt," he added as they came in sight +of Lewis lying just as he fell, for old Barton had been afraid of +trying to move him alone. + +"Look here," began Captain West after a short examination of the +injured boy, "you, Betty, run back to the house and ask your mother to +send for the doctor. Don't frighten her more than you can help. John, +go and fetch the gardener as quickly as possible; we must get this poor +boy carried home and properly attended to. Now, Madge," he added when +the twins had started on their errands, "collect yourself, please, and +speak the truth. Where does this boy come from?" + +"From Mrs. Howard's, over the wall," answered Madge quietly, though she +could not help trembling with excitement. "He lives with her and is +very cruelly treated, so we began to talk one day when we were in the +Eagle's Nest, and--" + +"That will do for the present," interrupted Captain West. "Now I don't +want any of you here any more. Go off to the schoolroom and stay there +till bed-time, unless I send for you." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +EXPLANATIONS. + +After so much excitement it seemed intolerably dull to sit quietly hour +after hour in the schoolroom without knowing what was going on. Even +Miss Thompson could not attend to them, for she was sitting with their +mother, who happened to be unwell in bed. The children had time to +talk over and imagine every kind of terrible conclusion to the accident +before their father was ready to come and see them. + +"Will he get better?" Madge inquired in a trembling voice as soon as +the door opened. + +"Get better? Yes, I should hope so in every way," answered Captain +West, sitting down and taking the twins gently on his knees, while +Madge hung over the back of his chair. "It's a bad accident though," +he continued. "A broken leg and some injury to the head. He only +regained consciousness just before I left Mrs. Howard's." + +"Oh, what were they doing with him? I hope they won't lock him into +the cellar now he is ill!" cried Betty compassionately. + +"My dear child! What are you thinking about? Do we usually lock +people in cellars when they are ill?" laughed her father. "No, he was +in a remarkably nice bedroom, with a hospital nurse and Dr. Brown in +attendance on him when I left." + +Betty felt greatly relieved. It seemed impossible to believe that much +cruelty would take place in the presence of Dr. Brown, who always +ordered her black-currant tea when she had a cough, and told Nurse to +put as little mustard as possible in the poultices. + +"But why should you expect that boy to be ill-treated at home?" +inquired Captain West. "From what I hear about him I should think it +is much more likely he has been spoilt!" + +"Ah! it isn't his real home," explained Betty, "and that Mrs. Howard is +a terrible person." + +She was going to add that the old lady had the reputation of being a +witch, but the accusation seemed too absurd to be urged in broad +daylight in the school-room. So she only mentioned a few of Lewis's +tales about Mrs. Howard's cruelty to him. + +Captain West listened for a minute and then fairly burst out laughing. +"Do you really mean that you believed all that?" he said. "You +seriously thought boys were stolen, and shut up in dark cellars, and +all the rest of it?" + +The children hung their heads, suddenly feeling rather ashamed of the +ease with which they had been imposed upon, for they could see that +their father did not believe a word of the horrors. + +"But other people beside Lewis Brand have told us that Mrs. Howard is +very dreadful and mysterious," observed Madge, who did not at all like +finding herself quite in the wrong. "When Mrs. Bunn is weeding the +garden she sometimes tells us what people in the village say--" + +"She would be better employed pulling up groundsel!" interrupted +Captain West. "But what does she tell you about starving boys in +cellars full of black-beetles?" + +Madge was bound to admit that she had never heard this particular +accusation against Mrs. Howard from anybody except Lewis. + +"But people say she is mad and never will see strangers. And we have +looked at her over the wall, so we know something about it," she +persisted. + +"And you saw a very delicate-looking old lady tottering along and +nodding her head? Just so. Now listen to me. Many years ago poor +Mrs. Howard had a very serious illness, which left her with some +disease of the nerves so that she cannot keep her head still for a +moment. Ever since then she has shut herself up and avoided seeing +strangers, as she is very shy about her infirmity being noticed. And I +must say," concluded Captain West, "that I am vexed to think my +children should have tried to pry into what did not in the least +concern them." + +"I am sorry we looked at her, if that is the reason she nodded so +funnily to the cows," said Madge. "But were not any of the stories +Lewis told us true? About the cellars, and the jailer with the gray +beard?" + +"I cannot tell you anything definite about Mrs. Howard's cellars, +except that, judging by the size of the house, they must be very +small," answered Captain West. "But this I know for a fact. The boy +Lewis Brand is an orphan with no money of his own, and Mrs. Howard +being an old friend of his parents generously offered to adopt him and +bring him up. Unfortunately, owing to his mother's long illness, Lewis +was very much neglected as a child, and got into such bad habits that +he has been nothing but an anxiety to his kind friend from the first. +He has already been expelled from two schools, and Mrs. Howard is at +present trying to educate him at home with a tutor--that gentleman with +the gray beard you saw." + +"Well, I never heard of such a horrid story-telling boy!" exclaimed +Madge impetuously. "And so ungrateful too! But why should he have +told such dreadful untruths about Mrs. Howard?" + +"To frighten you, I expect," replied Captain West. "The reason they +would not keep him at school was because he would tease and frighten +the younger boys. He seems a born bully." + +"And a great coward into the bargain!" added Madge. "You should have +seen how frightened--" + +"I dare say!" interrupted her father. "The two things generally go +together. His only excuse is that he was badly trained when young. +However, you will probably admit that in future it will be wiser to let +us choose your friends for you?" + +The children had no answer to make. They were thoroughly ashamed of +themselves. When their father left the room they began to discuss the +subject in all its bearings. + +"I don't want to abuse Lewis as he is ill," said Madge. "That would be +mean. But I must tell you both something very suspicious that +happened. When I was standing by him just after he fell from the loft +I happened to step on something hard. I stooped to see what it was, +picked it up, and here it is!" + +"One of my marbles!" cried John. "One of those I lost out of the +treasure-house! I am quite sure it is, because of the funny red mark I +painted myself on the side." + +"You did it with my new paints," chimed in Betty. + +"But how did the marble come there?" asked John, much bewildered, but +holding tightly on to his newly-recovered treasure for fear it should +again disappear. + +"Well, of course I can't tell for certain," said Madge. "I can only +guess. But it seems as if it must have fallen out of Lewis's pocket." + +"Then you think he took our things out of the treasure-hole?" cried +Betty. "He never could have been so wicked as to steal them, and then +come pretending he was so sorry for our loss and wondering where they +had gone!" + +"Perhaps he didn't actually mean to steal them, only to tease us," +suggested Madge. "And I feel sure now that he took the rope-ladder," +she continued. "You know he pretended at the time that he couldn't get +up the wall without it; but that was only to deceive us. He had those +iron railings for ladders, though he said nothing about them until +later." + +"Oh, Madge!" exclaimed the twins. They could think of nothing else to +say. The contemplation of such deliberate perfidy was too +overpowering. The more they recalled Lewis's dark hints and malicious +suggestions about other people, the more disgusted they felt with him, +and the more vexed with themselves for having been so completely +deceived. "We might have known there was something wrong when he made +us promise not to say anything about him!" they said. "Never again +will we have a secret friend!" + +Captain West went several times to see Lewis during his long illness, +and did his best to make the unfortunate boy understand the reason why +he was an unfit companion for other children. At first Lewis seemed to +regard his untruths and deceptions merely in the light of very clever +jokes; but gradually some faint sense of shame appeared to steal over +him, though whether on account of his faults or only because they had +been discovered, Captain West could not very well make out. + +"What will become of Lewis Brand?" asked the children one day when +their father had just returned from visiting him. + +"Directly he is well enough to walk he is going to live with a +gentleman who has great experience with boys, and who will do his best +to counteract the faults that you all find so shameful in Lewis," said +Captain West. "But in justice to the poor boy I must add one thing. +He was much neglected as a little child, and had none of the advantages +of an affectionate and careful training. Now, in proportion to his +opportunities, perhaps he did not behave worse than certain children +who, with no excuses at all, tried to deceive--" + +"Do you mean us?" interrupted Madge, with a very red face. She did not +at all appreciate being compared in any way with Lewis, for whose +conduct she felt great contempt. And yet there was a certain element +of truth in her father's words that could not be ignored. + +"Well, we will say no more about that," continued Captain West +cheerfully. "I think after what has happened I can trust you all not +to embark again on secret friendships with strangers?" + +"No! Indeed we will not!" cried the three children. And they kept +their resolution. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eagle's Nest, by S. E. 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