"You can hear what I say," said the witch.

"Yes, I can hear what you say, but when most people talk I am like a
prisoner locked up; and every day there are more and more locked doors
between me and the world. You do not know how horrible it is."

"Oh, well," said the witch, "as long as you can hear magic you will not
lack a key to your prison. Sometimes it's better not to hear the other
things. You are the ideal guest for the House of Living Alone."

"I'll go and fetch David my Dog and Humphrey my Suit-case," said Sarah
Brown.

At that moment a taxi was heard to arrive at the other side of the
ferry, and the ferryman's voice was heard shouting: "All right, all
right, I'll be there in half a tick."

"I hope this isn't Peony in a taxi," said the witch. "I get so tired of
expelling guests. She's been drawing her money, which may have been
tempting."

They listened.

They heard someone alight from the ferry-boat, and the voice of Miss
Meta Mostyn Ford asking the ferryman: "Do you know anything about a
young woman of the name of Watkins, living at Number 100 Beautiful
Way----"

"No, he doesn't," shouted the witch, opening the shop door. "But do step
in. We met yesterday, you may remember. I'll ask the ferryman to get