Five Children and It by E. (Edith) Nesbit
page 93 of 219 (42%)
page 93 of 219 (42%)
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provisions, you TAKE them. In wars I mean. I'm quite certain you
do. And even in other stories no good brother would allow his little sisters to starve in the midst of plenty.' 'Plenty?' repeated Robert hungrily; and the others looked vaguely round the bare leads of the church- tower, and murmured, 'In the midst of?' 'Yes,' said Cyril impressively. 'There is a larder window at the side of the clergyman's house, and I saw things to eat inside - custard pudding and cold chicken and tongue - and pies - and jam. It's rather a high window - but with wings -' 'How clever of you!' said Jane. 'Not at all,' said Cyril modestly; 'any born general - Napoleon or the Duke of Marlborough - would have seen it just the same as I did.' 'It seems very wrong,' said Anthea. 'Nonsense,' said Cyril. 'What was it Sir Philip Sidney said when the soldier wouldn't stand him a drink? - "My necessity is greater than his".' 'We'll club our money, though, and leave it to pay for the things, won't we?' Anthea was persuasive, and very nearly in tears, because it is most trying to feel enormously hungry and unspeakably sinful at one and the same time. |
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