The young man swerved, jumped off his cycle, and said rather sharply:
"Do you want to be run over, little girl? What are you doing?"
"I'm stopping you. The policemen do it like that at Brighton."
"But what are you stopping me for?"
Dreamikins came very close to him, and laid hold of his coat sleeve.
"I've got a bed ready for you," she said, in an eager whisper, "and I've sticked pins in the cushion, and Fibo let me do it, and Cherubine and me will be very happy if you comes to-night, and please come along now."
The young man looked quite bewildered.
Did this child belong to some people who let lodgings? he wondered. If so, he was in luck's way. He recklessly determined to follow her.
"I want to sleep here to-night," he said. "I've done nearly forty miles to-day, and am dead beat."
"And you're a stranger," said Dreamikins softly. Then she tucked her hand into his.