‘Sh! Here she comes, to say our lunch is ready,’ said Pip warningly. Sure enough, it was Mrs. Moon.
She put her head in at the door. ‘Will you come now, Master Philip?’ she said, ‘I’ve put your lunch and Miss Bets’ in the dining-room.’
‘Thank you, Mrs. Moon,’ said Pip. Then, on a sudden impulse, he called out.
‘I say, Mrs. Moon - isn’t it queer, the old shepherd told Fatty that he saw you out at half-past six this morning! He must be dreaming, mustn’t he!’
There was a sudden pause. Mrs. Moon looked startled and surprised.
‘Well there now,’ she said at last. ‘Who would have thought anyone’d be peeping out at that time of day. Yes, it’s quite right. I was out early this morning. You see, I usually go up to see my old mother at Sheepsale on a Monday, and I couldn’t let her know in time that I wasn’t coming yesterday. I knew she’d be worrying, and I remembered that Old Nosey, the gypsy fellow, might be going up today, so I got out early and gave him a note for my mother, and a packet of food in case she hasn’t been able to get someone to buy any for her. He’d be taking the 10.15 bus.’
‘Oh,’ said the children, really quite relieved at this explanation.
‘So that’s it!’ said Pip, without thinking.
‘That’s what?’ asked Mrs. Moon sharply.
‘Nothing,’ said Pip hastily, feeling a nudge from Fatty. ‘Nothing at all!’