Gilbert and his brother Ralph and the other boys went toward the village, and so did the girls who lived in that direction. But Peggy and Alice and Anita Spaulding still lingered.
“I’m going to tell them that I’ll come back as soon as dinner is over and find the bird for them,” said Peggy. “I know I can find it.”
“Oh, Peggy, maybe mother won’t let you come,” said Alice.
“She’s a sensible mother; I know she’ll let me come,” said Peggy, as she ran up the steps.
Mrs. Butler came to the door. Her eyes looked very red and she still seemed quite upset.
“Oh, Mrs. Butler,” said Peggy breathlessly, “I know I can find the canary-bird—I know I can. I’ll come right straight back as soon as I’ve had my dinner.”
Alice and Peggy ran home and Peggy explained breathlessly about the canary. “Mother dear, Mrs. Butler has lost Sol; and I know I can find him. So please give us our dinner quick.”
“Who is Sol?” Mrs. Owen asked.
“The canary—I know I can find him. I can tell him by his song, and then I can climb up and put his cage in a tree and get him back into it.”
“He won’t come back once he’s free: Gilbert says he won’t,” said Alice.