Blossom. "Dot, will you run and call him?"

"He isn't upstairs," said Dot quickly.

Mother Blossom stared, bewildered.

"Didn't he come back with you?" she asked.

"Oh, yes, he came back," admitted Bobby. "Didn't he, Meg?"

Meg nodded, but said nothing. All three of the children had a
vague idea that they were doing Twaddles a great kindness. Of
course Mother Blossom would not be pleased to find that he had sat
down in kerosene oil.

"Ralph!" said Mother Blossom in an odd, choked voice. "Oh, Ralph--"

"Bobby, where is Twaddles?" demanded Father Blossom sternly.
"Where did you leave him? Is anything the matter with him?"

"He's outdoors," said Bobby desperately. "I don't think anything
much is the matter with him, Daddy."

"Outdoors?" echoed Mother Blossom in wonder. "Why doesn't he come
in?"

"He can't," said Dot earnestly.

"Why can't he?" asked Father and Mother Blossom in chorus.