Page:Rewards and Fairies (Kipling, 1910).djvu/47

Rh ‘Now,’ she said, ‘you can’t get any Oak, Ash, and Thorn leaves from here, and’ — she balanced wildly on one leg — ‘I’m standing on Cold Iron. What’ll you do if we don’t go away?’

‘E–eh? Of all mortal impudence!’ said Puck, as Dan, also in one boot, grabbed his sister’s hand to steady himself. He walked round them, shaking with delight. ‘You think I can only work with a handful of dead leaves? This comes of taking away your Doubt and Fear! I’ll show you!’

A minute later they charged into old Hobden at his simple breakfast of cold roast pheasant, shouting that there was a wasps’ nest in the fern which they had nearly stepped on, and asking him to come and smoke it out.

‘It’s too early for wops-nestes, an’ I don’t go diggin’ in the Hill, not for shillin’s,’ said the old man placidly. ‘You’ve a thorn in your foot, Miss Una. Sit down, and put on your t’other boot. You’re too old to be caperin’ barefoot on a empty stomach. Stay it with this chicken o’ mine.’