The Professor looked anxiously in my direction, and seemed to look through and through me without seeing me. “Then who are you talking to?” he said. “There isn't anybody here, you know, except the Other Professor and he isn't here!” he added wildly, turning round and round like a teetotum. “Children! Help to look for him! Quick! He's got lost again!”
The children were on their feet in a moment.
“Where shall we look?” said Sylvie.
“Anywhere!” shouted the excited Professor. “Only be quick about it!” And he began trotting round and round the room, lifting up the chairs, and shaking them.
Bruno took a very small book out of the bookcase, opened it, and shook it in imitation of the Professor. “He isn't here,” he said.
“He ca'n't be there, Bruno!” Sylvie said indignantly.
“Course he ca'n't!” said Bruno. “I should have shooked him out, if he'd been in there!”
“Has he ever been lost before?” Sylvie enquired, turning up a corner of the hearth-rug, and peeping under it.
“Once before,” said the Professor: “he once lost himself in a wood—”
“And couldn't he find his-self again?” said Bruno. “Why didn't he shout? He'd be sure to hear his-self, 'cause he couldn't be far off, oo know.”