Gray was about to reply, when George started to his feet, and began to tremble visibly.
"What is it?" asked the landlady, in a loud whisper.
"Don't be afraid; it's only one of his tricks."
But George had turned towards the landlady, and was holding out his arms. It was as if a chord in his memory, long dormant, had suddenly been struck when he heard her voice.
"He won't hurt you," said Parrott and Busby in one chant.
Then George electrified the landlady. It was simply done. He stood there, turned towards her, and spoke.
"Moggles!" he said, in an awful voice.
The landlady gasped. A chord in her memory had been touched, too.
"Moggles!" said George again.
"Don't mind him," said Gray, "he goes off like that sometimes."