“‘Well, about that just as you like. Come here to breakfast—that you can do. Mother’ll let you.’
“‘Yes, she’ll let me,’ said Norman, ‘and I can go to see Long-Ears afterwards. You won’t tell?’ he added, with a glance of some fear.
“‘Tell what?’
“‘About him,’ said Norman, nodding his head in the direction of the factory.
“‘Long-Ears?—Not I! not a word.’
“So he set off, with a gleam of pleasure lighting up his little face, and making his feet patter more quick over the ground.
“‘Poor little creature!’ Mrs. Meadow said again, most heartily, and this time the tear was standing in her eye.
“The next morning it rained,—steadily, constantly, straight up and down. But at the usual time Mrs. Meadow and Silky were getting breakfast.
“‘It does come down!’ said Mrs. Meadow.