“No. Why should I be?” he answered with his usual question, looking up in my face with calm shining eyes.
“He ain't got sense to be frightened,” said Nanny, going up to him and giving him a pitying hug.
“Perhaps there's more sense in not being frightened, Nanny,” I returned. “Do you think the lightning can do as it likes?”
“It might kill you,” said Jim.
“Oh, no, it mightn't!” said Diamond.
As he spoke there came another great flash, and a tearing crack.
“There's a tree struck!” I said; and when we looked round, after the blinding of the flash had left our eyes, we saw a huge bough of the beech-tree in which was Diamond's nest hanging to the ground like the broken wing of a bird.
“There!” cried Nanny; “I told you so. If you had been up there you see what would have happened, you little silly!”
“No, I don't,” said Diamond, and began to sing to Dulcimer. All I could hear of the song, for the other children were going on with their chatter, was—
The clock struck one,
And the mouse came down.
Dickery, dickery, dock!