‘We shan’t,’ said Charles.
‘You must,’ said Caroline.
‘Oh, well,’ said Charlotte, and took away the little poultice of chewed fern from each eye.
‘There’s nothing,’ she said.
‘I knew there wouldn’t be,’ said Charles. ‘Perhaps another time you’ll know I’m right.’
‘Never mind,’ said Caroline. ‘We did it. So we can’t keep bothering about what might have happened if we had. Let’s go to bed. It was decent of you to try, Charles, when you didn’t want to so much—Oh!’
‘What?’ said the others.
‘Poisoned,’ said Charles gloomily. ‘I knew it wasn’t safe. I expect you chewed harder than we did, and—Oh!’
Charlotte had already said her ‘Oh.’ And now all three children were staring straight before them at the window. And there, where a moment ago was just black bare outside night, was a face—a white face with wide dark eyes.