“Polly, Algernon! They’re here! I’m bringing them home.” With a rush the lantern-bearers were upon her, and Perdita was taken from her arms into Mr. Osgood’s, while Algernon, husky and faint with relief, picked up his brother and listened to Catherine’s story. She followed the others to the Osgoods’, where Polly and Mrs. Osgood were waiting 269 in suspense. Perdita had been put to bed as usual, but when Mrs. Osgood came home from the Three R’s party she had gone in to tuck the children up, and kiss them good night. Perdita was not there, and they searched the house before they thought of being alarmed. Not finding her anywhere, they had roused Peter and questioned him. He could only say: “I say, ‘Perdita, Perdita, stay home with Peter. Elsmere bad boy.’”
That suggested Elsmere, and investigation showed that, though he had not been missed at home, he was not there. Then the men had taken lanterns, and gone out to search.
No one was more distressed than Peter. “I’d ought to tooken care of Perdita better,” he would sob. “I’d ought to watched her better.”
“There, there, boy,” Catherine and Polly soothed him. “You did your best, and she’s home now, all safe, and won’t go journeying again, ever. She didn’t like Hotspur’s house, and she will stay home with Peter.”
“O, Catherine,” sighed Polly. “You are an only child, and you don’t know what agonies you can have over your brothers and sisters. It seems to me ever since Peter and Perdita were born I’ve been worrying about one or both of them!”
“Poor Polly!” said Catherine sympathetically. “But I don’t suppose you’d give me your share in them, would you?”
270Polly caught Peter close, and hugged him till he protested and drew away from her.
“Kiss me,” she begged.
“I did,” said Peter.
“Kiss me again.”