"What do you think of it all, Mother?" he inquired.

"Bairns are a blessing," said the old lady tartly, "_I told you so._"

* * * * *

"That's not the end, is it?" asked one of the boys in a tone of dismay,
for the Doctor had paused here.

"Yes, it is," said he.

"But couldn't you make a little more end?" asked Deordie, "to tell us
what became of them all?"

"I don't see what there is to tell," said the Doctor.

"Why, there's whether they ever saw the Old Owl again, and whether
Tommy and Johnnie went on being Brownies," said the children.

The Doctor laughed.

"Well, be quiet for five minutes," he said.

"We'll be as quiet as mice," said the children.

And as quiet as mice they were. Very like mice, indeed. Very like mice
behind a wainscot at night, when you have just thrown something to
frighten them away. Death-like stillness for a few seconds, and then
all the rustling and scuffling you please. So the children sat holding
their breath for a moment or two, and then shuffling feet and smothered