“We shall get some tea after all,” they said, and hurried off with lighter hearts.
Dolly and Weenie, left behind, grew nervous in the strangely silent place, and Clif perceived the fact. “Gr-r-r-r-r!” he said at the window, and made a few more sounds calculated to terrify, an act that caused Teddie the greatest amazement, it seemed such wanton cruelty.
Dolly seized Weenie’s hand.
[153]
]“L-l-let’s go and wait at the gate,” she said, and they fled away together.
It was then that Clif established himself in the place as a good fairy; he thought it a great pity that people should be foolish enough to object to little boys looking on, for he could have helped much better if he had been admitted openly to the house. He sent Teddie off to their own pump with the kettle and bade him bring back the axe. He had a fire burning in a very few minutes, and the kettle sitting in a most comfortable and ordinary way upon it; with the axe and a hammer he broke the lids of two of the packing-cases, and was just starting on a third, when he heard the footsteps coming back along the path.
He had only just time to scramble out of the window again with Teddie’s help, before the new people were actually in the house.
More weary and dispirited than ever sounded the voices; they had been able to make no one hear, it seemed, though they tried at four cottages; every place was quite shut up.
“There’s a house at the back of this,” said Phyl, who had been looking round; “I wonder would it be any use trying there,—why,—how,—look at the fire!”
They had reached the doorway by this time, and all sprang across the room to the wonderful sight.
“There’s even water in the kettle,” Phyl said, the first to break the silence of surprise.