Page:The book of Betty Barber (IA bookofbettybarbe00andr).pdf/63



The Major stared after him, then he shut the window and hurried back to Minora.

“Dear, dear, what a pity!” said Minora. “I don’t know what we are to do without the wand. Why didn’t you tell Father Time?”

“Was it the wand that made me feel so strong?” asked the Major.

“Of course,” said Minora, “it’s a wonderful wand. There’s a knock at the door. Now what’s the matter? I hope they haven’t all come back again. I’ll peep, before I open the door.”

Minora ran to the window, peeped without being seen, and hurried down to the Major.

“Anybody there?” asked the Major.

“Anybody there!” said Minora. “They are all there, and, what is worse, I saw troops of Sharps and Flats collecting together up the road.”

“What shall we do? What shall we do? They will batter the house down!” cried the Major.

“They shan’t get inside,” said Minora.

“Oh, why did you ever bother about them?” wailed the Major. “Why did I ever think of altering my beautiful staircase? It’s all your fault, Minora.”

“We’d better get away as quickly as we can,” said Minora. “I’ll have another peep to see what is happening.”

“I won’t leave my house,” cried the Major, “they would destroy it.”

Minora peeped. Father Time’s men and boys had left the steps and were running up the road, talking and shouting, to meet the Sharps and Flats.

“Now is our chance,” said Minora, “if only I can get him out of the house, before they come back,” and she ran to the Major.

He was sitting on the stairs, saying very decidedly, “I will never leave my house, I will never alter my house.”

“Major,” said Minora, “you said it was all my fault; but it isn’t, it is Betty Barber’s fault. Come with me. Let us go 45