"Denis, he--_doesn't hang out a Christmas stocking_!"
*CHAPTER XVI*
"Oh, Denis!" said Nell.
"What have you been up to now?"
"Jim and I have been dodging Aunt Kezia all the morning. He's very
exciting. Of course because I was with him in the garden she chose to
want me for some deep purpose of her own. Molly told her I wasn't in.
She said she wouldn't say I was out, because it didn't seem truthful.
Then she waved the red flag from the Stronghold window, so I knew I was
to lie low. I sat down on the path behind the dust-bin. I don't like
dust-bins, and Jim does, which makes it awkward. He persisted in
stretching out and picking out horrible bits of dirty paper and
cardboard and tin. Then Aunt Kezia, out of pure, native cussedness,
decides to come into the garden to mend that bit of broken lattice. I
heard her saying so to Sarah in the kitchen doorway, and I simply fled
over the wall. Denis, now I ask you, why couldn't the dust-bin be
against Mrs. Barclay's wall? I daren't cross the garden, so I had to
take refuge in the garden of the enemies of our aunt! And there Jim and
I crouched behind an inadequate laurel bush. At intervals I'd look up,
but always I could see the red handkerchief dangling from the window.
Sometimes I could see Aunt Kezia's head, too! I was frozen so stiff I
couldn't move. And Jim ate two buttons off my blouse. And that awful
old Mrs. Ponsonby next door kept appearing at one of the windows. Hair
by hair I felt my head going grey. But Jim must be exercised. That's
four times in two days Aunt Kezia has almost caught him!"
"I'll mend the catch of his cage this very moment. We're going to St.
James Park this afternoon, you know, and we'll make sure he's safe."