Maudie burst out laughing.
"He means the green-grocer's," she said. "Oh, Duke, how funny you are!"
"And how could the ogre's wife go and buy him things at shops if they were up on the top of a hill so big that nobody could get down?"
"Oh," replied Duke, "'cos there was andnother hill just a very little way off that they could get on quite easily, like steps, and there was lots of shops on the nother hill—all kinds."
"All shops for ogreses?" inquired Hec timidly.
"No, in course not. Shops for proper people. But when the ogre's wife went to buy somefin for him to eat she had to buy a whole shop-ful—lots and lots—but I zink I've toldened you enough for to-day. I must make some more up first."
"Very well, dear, perhaps it will be better, and thank you for what you've told us to-day," said Cousin Magdalen, beginning to fold up her work. "I must try now to get my letter written before luncheon. I hope it's not going to rain all the afternoon."
One or two of the children ran to the window, as she spoke, to examine the state of the clouds. Suddenly, as they stood there, something, a small dark thing, was seen to fall or flutter to the ground, a short way off.
"What was that?" said Hoodie, whose quick eyes always saw things before any one else.
"What?" said Duke deliberately.