"Where are the twins?" she demanded sternly.
To William it seemed as if his heart descended through his boots into the centre of the earth.
"Where are the twins?" she said again.
It was William who answered.
"We don't know," he said desperately. "We've sold 'em. We've sold 'em as slaves."
******
The twins, left to themselves on the doorstep, replete with excitement and milk, fell happily asleep upon each other's shoulders.... The minutes passed by.
They awoke to find a young man looking at them in bewilderment. With him were two ladies, one tall and thin, one short and fat.
"Where do you live, little boys?" said the tall lady.
George smiled at her.