Robin munched his apple, and Joe came close to Nell and rubbed his head against her shoulder.
She fed him also, to his own great surprise, for he did not think that he had earned a morsel, and then, without a word, turned and walked out of the paddock.
Boris ran after her.
"I say, Nell!" he exclaimed, panting. "Would you like a white rat? I have four, and I—I'll give you one if you'll promise not to forget to feed it."
Nell stood still when Boris made this offer, and looked down into his ruddy, brown, sunburnt face. Boris had bright eyes, as round as two moons. The giving up of one of his white rats meant a great deal to him. Nell carefully weighed the value of the offer.
"No," she said at last in a deliberate tone. "I might forget to feed the rat, and I don't think I ever could love it; but thank you all the same, Boris."
"Don't mention it," said Boris, in his most polite tone; he was immensely relieved by Nell's declining his offer.
She walked slowly towards the house, and Boris turned to Kitty, who had followed him.
"I offered her a rat," he said; "but she wouldn't have it. Do you think she will be very bad for a bit?"