-I was old enough to know the danger--and when they went in there was
Harry sitting on the floor, holding a snake tight by the neck and
enjoying its contortions like a new toy."

"Of course," said Harold, "if it were poisonous, which I doubt, the
danger would have been when I let go. My mother quietly bade me hold
him tight, which I suppose I had just sense enough to do, and in
another moment she had snatched up the bill-hook they had been
cutting wood with, and had his head off. She had the pluck."

I could but gasp with horror, and ask how old he was. About two!
That was clear to their minds from the place where it happened which
Harold could not recollect, though Eustace could.

"But, Harold, you surely are the eldest," I said.

"Oh no; I am six months the eldest," said Eustace, proud of his
advantage.

We were to hear more of that by-and-by.

Monday afternoon brought Mr. Prosser, who was closeted with Harold,
while Eustace and I devoted our faculties to pacifying Dora under her
exclusion, and preventing her from climbing up to the window-sill to
gaze into the library from without. She scorned submission to either
of us, so Eustace kept guard by lying on the grass below, and I
coaxed her by gathering primroses, sowing seeds, and using all
inducements I could think of, but my resources were nearly exhausted
when Harold's head appeared at the window, and he called, "Eustace!
Lucy! here!"