Page:Poor Cecco - 1925.djvu/188

168 don’t hold no grudge for that, now that all’s friendly-like between us, as you may say. So bygones is bygones, and here’s wishing you and the young gentleman every happiness!”

Jensina glanced hastily at Poor Cecco, but he had not heard; he was talking to Tubby.

“Thank you very much!” she said. “But you are quite mistaken; we are not even engaged!”

“Well, you never know your luck!” returned the rat, smiling broadly, and he touched his forehead and moved away.

Harlequin gave a sudden cry: “There’s Murrum!”

Murrum was still crouched on the limb above them, gazing down in fury and switching his tail. It was this black tip, moving in the moonlight, which had caught Harlequin’s eye.

“Aha!” cried the rats. “We’ll soon settle that!”

And with a mighty whoop they began to scamper up the willow trunk. Murrum did not wait to meet them; he dropped to the ground, his ears laid back and his fur bristling, and made off over the parsley bed, the rats in glad pursuit.

“They can’t really hurt him,” said Jensina. “They only want to give him a good fright.”

Bulka had hung the blue beads solemnly round Tubby’s neck. He stood now, beaming with happiness, while she