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Rh “I’m looking for a place to post my letter,” Tubby explained.

“Oh, I thought you might be looking for a job,” said the squirrel, “and you certainly won’t find one there. Can you read and write?”

“Of course!” said Tubby proudly.

“Then stop poking your fingers into those cracks and listen to me. I’ve got three children at home. They’re smaller than you, but about the same colour. That’s why I thought you might be an orphan. Do you want to come and teach them?”

“Teach them what?” Tubby asked.

“Anything you like,” said the squirrel, waving his tail vaguely.

Tubby thought a little while.

“I’d like to see the house first,” she said.

“It’s just up there,” said the squirrel. Looking up, Tubby saw for the first time a big hole halfway up the wall of the tree, which she had not noticed the night before.

“How do you get up?” she asked.

“This way,” said the squirrel, and he ran up and down the wall two or three times, clinging with his claws and making a funny scratchy sound as he went.

“I can’t do that!” Tubby said.

“I’ll help you,” said the squirrel. And he did, pushing her from behind and showing her where to put her paws.