‘That’s only song-nonsense. People die if you take their hearts out,’ said Caroline with conviction.
‘Well, then, don’t let’s make him hollow. Let’s make him solid and then think what to do.’
‘I know,’ said Charlotte; ‘but if he’s a pig, he’s a pig, however solid you make him. What’s bred in the bone will come out in the wash. And if we’re not to stick pins in him, what’s the good?’
‘Oh,’ said Caroline, ‘I think I know. Look here! We’ll make the wax image and then be kind to it. You can tame wild beasts with kindness.’
‘It kills cats,’ said Charlotte.
‘No, it was Care killed the cat,’ Caroline reminded her, ‘and, anyway, this won’t be a cat, even if it did. We’ll think of nice things to do to it. Let’s make it now.’
‘Bags I!’ said Charles hastily. ‘It was my idea, and I collected the wax.’
‘Like an old bee,’ said Charlotte. ‘All right, fire ahead.’
Charles had been warming the wax between his hands, and now, hardly waiting for Caroline to fetch and spread a newspaper, he began to divide the wax into six pieces.