"I can't," said Regie; "I've swallowed it." And he began to whimper, and then suddenly rolled on the grass screaming.
Dick pounced upon him like a panther, and held him by the feet head downward, shaking him violently. The child's face was terrible to see.
Hester hid her face in her hands. Rachel rose and stood close to Dick.
"I think the shaking is rather too much for him," she said, watching the poor little purple face intently. "I'm bound to go on," said Dick, fiercely. "Is it moving, Regie?"
"It's going down," screamed Regie, suddenly.
"That it's not," said Dick, and he shook the child again, and the half-penny flew out upon the grass. "Thank God," said Dick, and he laid the gasping child on Hester's lap and turned away.
A few minutes later Regie was laughing and talking, and feeling himself a hero. Presently he slipped off Hester's knee and ran to Dick, who was lying on the grass a few paces off, his face hidden in his hands.
"Make the half-penny fly again, Uncle Dick," cried all the children, pulling at him.
Dick raised an ashen face for a moment and said, hoarsely, "Take them away."
Hester gathered up the children and took them back to the house through the kitchen garden.