As she spoke Jeremiah walked in slowly, a very dejected cat.
"Come here, sir," Grandfather said sternly.
Jeremiah meowed plaintively and jumped on Grandfather's knee.
"I hear you've been up to tricks," Grandfather said.
Jeremiah hung his head and meowed again.
"I see you are sorry and will not do it again," Grandfather said. "If you do——" Grandfather opened his hand and showed the jewel.
In a flash Jeremiah was off Grandfather's knee and running down the hall. Grandfather laughed and held up his hand on which was a long red scratch.
"Oh!" Hortense cried, "the Image said he would cut Jeremiah's claws."
"That was a figure of speech, evidently," Grandfather said. "Whenever Jeremiah is bad, we'll show him the jewel. I'll keep it for you. It must be very valuable. Some day it will be yours."
But Hortense thought less of the jewel than of the monkey charm about her neck. Besides, there were Alligator and Coal and Ember, still captive among the Little People. She wished Grandfather hadn't asked her to keep away from the Little People for a while, though Alligator and Coal and Ember were decidedly able to care for themselves, and Grater was securely bound and unable to do further harm.