Part 6 (1/2)

”It must be deep as deep as deep,” said Mollie.

”Deeper than that,” said Geoffrey.

But it is not easy to dig with a stick, and the hole was anything but deep when Nurse's voice was heard calling: ”Miss Mollie! Master Geoffrey!”

”What shall we do?” said Geoffrey.

”Put it in quickly, cover it up, and we'll make the hole deeper after tea,” said Mollie.

So the box and doll were popped in the hole and covered up, and Mollie and Geoffrey ran in to Nurse. Nurse wanted to make them tidy for tea.

Never had the two children stood so quietly to have their faces washed and their hair brushed.

At tea-time they talked so little that Mother began to suspect that something was wrong.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

”I wonder the doll doesn't come from Uncle Percy, Mollie,” she said. ”I expect he is searching for the very prettiest of all the dollies.”

Molly nearly choked over her bread-and-b.u.t.ter; but Geoffrey said never a word.

He was staring out of the window, staring at Snap, who was tearing up and down the lawn, carrying something brown in his mouth.

”What has Snap found?” said Mother. ”Is it a rabbit? Really I must ask Jane to----”

”I'll go, Mother,” said Geoffrey, and he was down from his chair without waiting for Mother to say ”Yes” or ”No.”

”Oh, oh, oh!” cried Mollie. ”Look at Snap!”

”What can it be?” said Mother. ”Ah! Geoffrey has caught him. Now we shall see what it was.”

But Geoffrey came back into the room with the reddest of cheeks and the emptiest of hands.

”What had the dog got, Geoffrey?” asked Mother. ”Mollie, what is the matter?”

Certainly Mollie's conduct was peculiar. She was making signs to Geoffrey, pointing out of the window, opening her mouth, and shaking her head.

”T-t-t--” stammered Mollie, and then there was a knock at the front door.

”Who can that be?” said Mother.

A voice was heard in the hall, a voice they all knew.

”Uncle Percy himself,” cried Mother; ”then, Mollie, he must have brought your doll.”

Uncle Percy came into the room and was welcomed warmly by Mother, but very quietly by the children. As soon as they could they slipped out of the room and made their way into the garden. ”We shall have to tell now,” said Mollie. ”Where did you put it?”

”I threw it behind the laurel-bush,” said Geoffrey. ”I suppose I had better get it.”

He ran to the laurel-bush and Mollie followed.