"What!" said Herbert sharply. "You are dreaming."
"Then we are all dreaming," said Eustace gravely. "You saw her for yourself."
It would be impossible to describe the scene that followed. When the boudoir door opened and the grown-ups all trooped out, headed by Aunt Dorothy, the commotion was beyond words. From the midst of it Mr. Chase slipped away, to return with Peter in his arms. Peter was in pyjamas and dressing-gown, rosy, and fresh roused from sleep.
"We can't let him be out of it all," said Mr. Chase. "I have told him of our joyful surprise, and he takes it quite calmly."
"Peter would," said Miss Chase, taking the wee fellow in her arms.
"I'm very glad I didn't drown you," Peter said serenely. "Herbert—"
But he finished the sentence in an incoherent yell, kicking out right and left.
"What is the matter?" asked Dorothy in surprise.
"Eustace pinched my bare leg," Peter said irately, wriggling to the ground in order to avenge himself.
Eustace caught his wrists, and bending low, whispered,—