'Could you eat, Miss Hazel?'
'Truly, sir, I could. Mr. Falkirk—what a lovely kitten! Do you remark her length of tail?'
Mr. Falkirk thought he had heard of "puss in boots" before, but never had the full realization thereof till now.
'You have tasted nothing,' he said. 'What shall I get you? We shall be off in a few minutes, and you will not have another chance till we reach Hadyn's Dam.'
'Thank you, sir. A few minutes of undisturbed repose—with the removal of those cucumbers—and the restoration of that chicken to its other and I hope better half, is all that I require.'
'You will have rest at Hadyn's Dam,' said Mr. Falkirk with a face more expressive than his words.—'The bridge there is broken.'
'Queer place to rest, sir! Mr. Falkirk—there is Mr. Kingsland wondering why you keep me here.'
'He's eating his dinner.'
'Is he? I am afraid there will be crumbs in the piazza,' said Wych Hazel, closing her eyes. 'He says he don't wonder you are kept.'
'What shall I get you, Wych? You cannot go from here to the next stopping place without anything,' Mr. Falkirk said kindly.