y?'

'"Mysterious," I suppose you mean,' I said.

'Yes, misterous,' repeated he, 'about what the parrot said, and I'm
pretty sure that old lady thinks so too.'

'Didn't she explain about it, at all?' I asked him. I began to think
there _was_ something queer, perhaps, for Peterkin's manner impressed
me.

'Well, she did a little,' he replied. 'But I'd better tell you all,
Gilley; just what I first heard, before she came up and spoke to me, you
know, and----'

Just then, however, there came an interruption.

Mamma put her head in at the door.

'Boys,' she said, 'not asleep yet? At least _you_ should be, Peterkin.
You didn't wake him, I hope, Giles?'

I had no time for an indignant 'No; of course, not,' before Pete came to
my defence.

'No, no, mummy! I was awake all of myself. I wanted him to come very
much, to talk a little.'

'Well, you must both be rather tired with all the excitement there has
been,' mamma said. 'So go to sleep, now, and do your talking in the
morning. Promise,--both of you--eh?'

'Yes,' we answered; 'word of honour, mamma,' and she went away, quite
sure that we would keep our promise, which was sealed by a kiss from
her.

Dear little mother! She did not often come up to see us in bed, for fear
of rousing us out of our 'beauty' sleep, but to-night she had felt as if
she must make sure we were all right after the fuss of Peterkin's being
lost, you see.

And of course we were as good as our word, and only just said
'Good-night!' to each other; Pete adding, 'I'll begin at the beginning,
and tell you everything, as soon as I hear your first snort in the
morning, Giles.'

'You'd better wait for my second or third,' I replied. 'I'm never very
clear-headed at the first, and I want to give my attention, as it's
something real, and not one of your make-ups,' I said. 'So, good-night!'

It is awfully jolly to know that you are trusted, isn't it?

CHAPTER III

AN INVITATION

I SLEPT on rather later than usual next morning. I suppose I really was
tired. And when I began to awake, and gradually remembered all that had
happened the night before, I heartily wished I hadn't promised Peterkin
to snort at all.

I took care not to open my eyes for a good bit, but I couldn't carry on
humbugging that I was still asleep for very long. Something made me open
my eyes, and as soon as I did so I knew what it was. There was
Pete--bolt upright--as wide awake as if he had never been asleep,
stari