“But what were you doing on the road?”
Ruddy blew a cloud of smoke through his nose to let Desire see that he could do it. “Pooh! It was Farmer Joseph’s cart that I was following when the dog came running through the hedge.” He threw away his cigarette. “Going to toss up the pigeon while there’s some light left.”
To Desire this was the crowning marvel—that a boy could tie a message to a bird and tell it where to go. She watched Ruddy scrawl on the thin slip of paper and tiptoed to see the slate-blue wings beat high and higher towards the clouds. When it was no more than a speck, the Pucklike figure started laughing.
“What’s the matter?” asked Teddy.
“I was picturing Ma’s face when Pa comes in and shows her.”
“What did you write?”
“That I wouldn’t be home and that I’d found Hal’s princess.”
“But you didn’t tell her where we are, or anything like that?”
“I gave her Farmer Joseph’s address; it was written on the cart.”
“You ass! Hal may catch us because of that.”