"Oh, no," he said. "I'd better not take such a jolly fine penknife as that. You're sure to be wantin' it again. But—but I'll borrow it for a bit if you don't mind. I'll bring it back when I bring the water animals. I say, it's jolly kind of you. Well, good-bye."
William closed the door behind him. The sudden peace and silence of the room seemed to Strange too blissful to be real. But the door opened and William's tousled head and earnest face appeared again.
"I say," he said. "How about having a burglar in an' a detective after him, you know, an' mysterious signs an' clues an' blood hounds—as well as the other people?... Not?... Well, it's your tale, so you jus' do it how you like. I'll see you again soon. Well, good-bye."
William disappeared and the front-door opened and shut. With anxious eyes Vivian Strange watched through the window for William's youthful form to appear in the drive loading to the gate. It did not do so. Instead, the familiar untidy head appeared once more round the door.
"I say!" he said. "I was jus' tryin' to remember—did I have three pieces of cake in here, or only two?... Oh, thanks.... I say, it's jolly kind of you."
"Take it all," said Mr. Strange, "and go!"
William was still more touched.
"Oh, no!" he said as he opened the cupboard. "I won't take it all—not jus' now. I'll take one more piece now an' I'll come round for another piece later on. It gets so messed up carryin' it about in your pocket, cake does. I've tried it. Gets all mixed up with marbles an' bits of clay an' string an' things. It doesn't spoil the taste but it wastes it—gettin' it all crumby.... Well, good-bye."
Once more the front-door opened and shut. Once more there was silence and peace. Vivian Strange, with a deep sigh, stretched out for his pen. Then an expression of wild despair came over his face.... The well-known footsteps sounded in the hall again and the door opened.
"I nearly went away," said William affectionately, "without showin' you my new whistle. I've been practisin' an' practisin' so's to show it you this afternoon. An' I nearly forgot an' I'd have had to come all the way back. This is it."