It must have been moderately entertaining.' Then our robber told my Father how I had rushed into the room with a pistol, crying out...

but you know all about that.

And he laid it on so thick and fat about plucky young-uns, and chips of old blocks, and things like that, that I felt I was purple with shame, even under the blanket.

So I swallowed that thing that tries to prevent you speaking when you ought to, and I said, 'Look here, Father, I didn't really think there was any one in the study.

We thought it was a cat at first, and then I thought there was no one there, and I was just larking.