chantering,' as he
would call it.

But as I was older, of course, the mixture of feelings in my mind _was_
a mixture, and I couldn't stand being altogether a humbug.

So I said to mamma--

'It's mostly that we want to go out as soon as ever we've had our
dinner; you know you gave us leave to go?'

'Oh yes,' said she. 'Well, it's a very nice day, and you will take good
care of Peterkin, won't you, Giles? Don't tire him. Are any of your
schoolfel----'

But at that moment a note was brought to her, which she had to send an
answer to, and when she sat down at the table again, she was evidently
still thinking of it, and forgot she had not finished her question,
which I was very glad of.

So we got off all right, though I had a feeling that Clement looked at
us _rather_ curiously, as we left the dining-room.

At the _very_ last moment, I did give the message I had thought about
in my own mind, with James. Just for him to say that mamma and nobody
was to be frightened if we _were_ rather late of coming back--_even_ if
it should be after dark; that we should be all right.

And then we ran off without giving James time to say anything, though he
did open his mouth and begin to stutter out some objection. He was
rather a donkey, but I knew that he was to be trusted, so I just laughed
in his face.

We were a little before the time at the corner of the square, but that
was a good thing. It would never have done to keep _her_ waiting,
Peterkin said. He always spoke of her as if she was a kind of queen. And
he was right enough. All the same, my heart did beat in rather a funny
way, thinking to myself what could or should we do if she didn't come?

But we were not kept waiting long. In another minute or so, a little
figure appeared round the corner, hastening towards us as fast as it
could, but evidently a good deal bothered by a large parcel, which at
the first glance looked nearly as big as itself.

Of course it was Margaret.

'Oh,' she exclaimed, 'I am so glad you are here already. It's this
package. I had no idea it would seem so heavy.'

'It's nothing,' said Peterkin, valiantly, taking it from her as he
spoke.

And it really wasn't very much--what had made it seem so conspicuous was
that the contents were all wrapped up in her red shawl, and naturally it
looked a queer bundle for a little girl like her to be carrying. She was
not at all strong either, even for a little girl, and afterwards I was
not surprised a