"As for you, Pete Hopkins, if ever I ketch you bringing any child on these premises, you'll be sore for a month."
When Mrs. Allen had written her letter she called Bolax, not finding him on the lawn, she went into the kitchen, supposing Hetty, the cook, was entertaining him, for she often had the children in roars of laughter, with her funny stories about "Brer Rabbit" and the "Pickaninys down Souf."
But Hetty "hadn't laid an eye on dat boy since breakfus."
Mrs. Allen waited a while longer, then became quite uneasy.
Going to the gate she looked up and down the road.
Miss Beldon saw her and asked if she was looking for Bolax. "Yes," said Mrs. Allen, "he has been missing for two hours and I am very much worried about him."
"Well, I saw him get into a wagon right at your gate," said Miss Beldon. Poor Mrs. Allen began to think of Charlie Ross, and every other kidnapping story she had ever heard of. Aunt Lucy and Amy shared her anxiety.
Pat went into the woods to look for him and Hetty took the road to the village, thinking he might be found in that direction.
Mrs. Allen went to her refuge in all trouble, the Oratory.