interest.
You will begin to get fatter just as I did, she said. I never wanted
my breakfast when I was in India and now I always want it.
I wanted mine this morning, said Colin. Perhaps it was the fresh
air. When do you think Dickon will come?
He was not long in coming. In about ten minutes Mary held up her hand.
Listen! she said. Did you hear a caw?
Colin listened and heard it, the oddest sound in the world to hear
inside a house, a hoarse caw-caw.
Yes, he answered.
That s Soot, said Mary. Listen again. Do you hear a bleat a tiny
one?
Oh, yes! cried Colin, quite flushing.
That s the new-born lamb, said Mary. He s coming.
Dickon s moorland boots were thick and clumsy and though he tried to
walk quietly they made a clumping sound as he walked through the long
corridors. Mary and Colin heard him marching marching, until he passed
through the tapestry door on to the soft carpet of Colin s own passage.
If you please, sir, announced Martha, opening the door, if you
please, sir, here s Dickon an his creatures.
Dickon came in smiling his nicest wide smile. The new-born lamb was in
his arms and the little red fox trotted by his side. Nut sat on his
left shoulder and Soot on his right and Shell s head and paws peeped
out of his coat pocket.
Colin slowly sat up and stared and stared as he had stared when he
first saw Mary; but this was a stare of wonder and delight. The truth
was that in spite of all he had heard he had not in the least
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