If it hadn't been for me throwing the two bags of
cat slap in his eye and hauling Robert over a railing, and lying
like mice under a laurel-bush--Well, it's jolly lucky I'm a good
shot, that's all. He pranced off when he'd got the cat-bags off
his face--thought we'd bolted. And here we are.'
The gentle samishness of the milk swishing into the hand-bowl
seemed to have soothed the burglar very much. He went on milking
in a sort of happy dream, while the children got a cap and ladled
the warm milk out into the pie-dishes and plates, and platters and
saucers, and set them down to the music of Persian purrs and
lappings.
'It makes me think of old times,' said the burglar, smearing his
ragged coat-cuff across his eyes--'about the apples in the orchard
at home, and the rats at threshing time, and the rabbits and the
ferrets, and how pretty it was seeing the pigs killed.'
Finding him in this softened mood, Jane said--
'I wish you'd tell us how you came to choose our house for your
burglaring to-night. I am awfully glad you did. You have been so
kind. I don't know what we should have done without you,' she
added hastily. 'We all love you ever so. Do tell us.'
The others added their affectionate entreaties, and at last the
burglar said--
'Well, it's my first job, and I didn't expect to be made so
welcome, and that's the truth, young gents and ladies.
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