'It was well earned,' said Puck, throwing some leaves into the still waterof the marlpit. The black, oily circles spread dizzily as the childrenwatched them.
'I want to know, oh, ever so many things,' said Dan, 'What happened to oldAllo? Did the Winged Hats ever come back? And what did Amal do?'
'And what happened to the fat old General with the five cooks?' said Una.'And what did your Mother say when you came home?'...
'She'd say you're settin' too long over this old pit, so late as 'tisalready,' said old Hobden's voice behind them. 'Hst!' he whispered.
He stood still, for not twenty paces away a magnificent dog-fox sat on hishaunches and looked at the children as though he were an old friend oftheirs.
'Oh, Mus' Reynolds, Mus' Reynolds!' said Hobden, under his breath. 'If Iknowed all was inside your head, I'd know something wuth knowin'. Mus' Danan' Miss Una, come along o' me while I lock up my liddle hen-house.'