"You saved his life," said some one.
"It's all right," she said—and burst into tears.
But children are not much impressed by the tears of others, knowing too well how easily they are produced and stopped. Tim went burrowing to find the bird, and Maria just mentioned that the Tramp had taken the butter away in his pocket. By the time this fact was thoroughly established the group was ready to leave, the tea-things all collected, the fire put out, and the sun just dipping down below the top of the old grey fence.
Then, and not till then, did the affair of the Tramp come under discussion. What seemed most puzzling was why the Policeman had not arrested him after all. They could not make it out at all; it seemed a mystery. There was something quite unusual about it altogether. Uncle Felix and Judy had been wonderful, but—
"Did you see him blink," said Tim, "when Judy went up and gave it him hot?"
"Yes," observed Maria, who had done nothing herself but stare. "I did."
The brother, however, was not so sure. "I think he really believed her," he declared with assurance, proud of her achievement. "He really saw him young and with a sword and curly hair and all that."
Judy looked at him with surprise. Her tears had ceased flowing by this time.
"Of course," she said. "Didn't you?" There was pain in her voice in addition to blank astonishment.
"Of course we did," said Uncle Felix quickly with decision. "Of course we did."