Page:Burnett - Two Little Pilgrims' Progress A Story of the City Beautiful.djvu/142

126 down and fell upon their scant lunch as they had fallen upon their breakfast.

It was very scant for two ravenously hungry children, and they tried to make it last as long as possible. But scant as it was and tired as they were, their spirits did not fail them.

"Perhaps if we eat it slowly it will seem more," said Meg, peeling an egg with deliberation, but with a very undeliberate feeling in her small stomach.

"Robin, did you notice our man?"

"I saw him, of course," answered Rob. "He's too big not to see."

"I noticed him," continued Meg. "Robin, there's something the matter with that man. He is a gloomy man."

"Well, you noticed him quickly," Robin responded, with a shade of fraternal incredulity. "What's happened to him."

Meg's eyes fixed themselves on a glimpse of blue water she saw through the trees. She looked as if she was thinking the matter over.

"How do I know?" she said. "I couldn't. But somehow he has a dreary face—as if he had been thinking of dreary things. I don't know why I thought that all in a minute—but I did, and I believe it's true."