To

AMY AND ARTHUR

MY MUCH-ESTEEMED OPPOSITE NEIGHBOURS

19 Sumner Place, S.W.,
June, 1896.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I[A Happy Waking]
CHAPTER II[The Peacock's Cry]
CHAPTER III[A Strange Birthday]
CHAPTER IV[What the Swallows thought of It]
CHAPTER V[Jesse Piggot]
CHAPTER VI[A Fairy Tale—and Thoughts]
CHAPTER VII[An Unexpected Pig's Head]
CHAPTER VIII[Welcome Visitors]
CHAPTER IX["My Pupils"]
CHAPTER X[Taking Refuge]
CHAPTER XI[Under the Sofa]
CHAPTER XII[Another Birthday]

ILLUSTRATIONS

[Off Ferdy went again, a little bit faster this time]
["What is it, dear? Did you call me?"]
[Took her back to court in her own chariot]
["I've done 'em before from one of the old squeakers up at the farm"]
[Watching the sweet summer sunset]
["We works in a shed there, in a field by the smithy ... and we're as jolly as sand-boys"]
["Step downstairs, if you please, and then I'll hear what you've got to say"]