Page:The book of Betty Barber (IA bookofbettybarbe00andr).pdf/143

 “Fuss, fuss, fuss,” cried Repeater.

“Don’t you want to be a whole number again, Thirteen-fourteenths?”

“Of course I do,” said Thirteen-fourteenths, “but who do you talk about that just now?”

“Then find it, find it,” said Ellessdee.

“Up a tree, up a tree, fastened to the top. Come on!” shouted Tare.

And the five figures turned away from the Fraction, and ran one to one tree, one to another, and began to climb hard.

“What can be the matter with them?” said Half-term, as the others watched them in silence.

Up one tree after another swarmed the figures, calling to one another as they climbed.

“They are not looking for the book,” said Lucy at last.

“Then what are they looking for?” said Half-term.

“I expect they are really trying to find the book,” said Thirteen-fourteenths, “though they may not be looking for it. I found the first box when I was looking for the piece of my” And then Thirteen-fourteenths stopped suddenly, and running to the foot of a tree which Ellessdee had begun to climb seized hold of a black leg and held it fast.

“Are you looking for the piece of my jacket, Ellessdee?” he asked eagerly.

“Of course, of course, let me go,” said Ellesdee, beginning to kick. “They said it was up a tree. Why don’t you look for it yourself?” And, having managed to free his leg from the Fraction’s grasp, he began to climb the tree faster than ever.

“Who told you it was up a tree?” called Thirteen-fourteenths; but Ellessdee was far too busy to answer.

“They are looking for the lost piece of my jacket,” said the Fraction to Lucy; “isn’t it kind of them!”

“Can’t we help?” said Half-term, who was aching for something to do.

“What is it like?” asked Miss Crimson Lake. 119