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that she slipped and stumbled with every step, and Eustace, quite tired out, could hardly get along at all.
    â€œOh, do hurry, Eustace: you’re so slow.”
    â€œI’m trying to keep up with you, Hilda!”
    Suddenly she took his hand. “Here, hang on to me.”
    â€œWon’t they be angry if I’m sick?”
    â€œNot if you’re with me. There, you sit at the back. Isn’t it glorious us being together like this?”
    â€œIt’s getting so dark, Hilda.”
    From the wood where the valley curved an owl called.
    â€œWhat was that, Hilda?”
    â€œOnly an owl, you silly!”
    The toboggan rushed down the slope. It was too dark to see the irregularities in the ground. They felt a bump; Hilda stuck out her foot; the toboggan pitched right over and brother and sister rolled pell-mell to the bottom.
    Hilda pulled Eustace to his feet. “Wasn’t it lovely, Eustace?”
    â€œYes, but oh, Hilda, I do feel sick!”
    Suddenly he was sick.
    â€œI’m all right now, Hilda.”
    â€œThat’s a good thing. Let me take the toboggan.—Coming, Major Steptoe.”
    â€œHe looks a bit white,” said Aunt Sarah, as they settled themselves into the landau. “Whatever made you take him up again, Hilda?”
    â€œI knew he really wanted to,” said Hilda. “Didn’t you, Eustace?”
    â€œYes,” said Eustace faintly. “But I think I won’t go on the box to-night.”
    â€œI won’t either,” announced Hilda.
    â€œCan we go back by Anchorstone Hall?” asked Eustace. “Then Mr. Craddock needn’t turn round.”
    They waved farewells to the Steptoes, who were going the other way. The road led through woods and open clearings.
    â€œI keep feeling better,” Eustace whispered to Hilda. “Wasn’t it lovely, our last ride?”
    â€œBetter than the ones you had with Nancy?” muttered Hilda, affectionate menace in her tone.
    â€œOh, much, much better,” whispered Eustace.
    â€œAnd do you love me more than her?”
    â€œOh, much, much more.”
    So they conversed, with mutual protestations of endearment, until suddenly a great sheet of water opened out before them, and beyond it rose the chimneys and turrets and battlements of Anchorstone Hall. The moon made a faint pathway on the water, but the house was still gilded by the setting sun. Eustace was enchanted. “Oh, isn’t it lovely? If I ever make enough money to buy it, will you come and live there with me, Hilda?”
    â€œCambo’s good enough for me.”
    â€œOh, but this is so grand!”
    â€œSilly Eustace, you always like things grand.”
    â€œThat’s why I like you.”
    â€œI’m not grand.”
    â€œYes, you are.”
    â€œNo, I’m not.”
    â€œOh, children, shut up!” said Mr. Cherrington, turning round from the box.
    â€œYes, for goodness’ sake be quiet,” said Aunt Sarah.
    There was silence for a space. Then Eustace whispered: “I think I feel quite well now, Hilda.”

5. A LION IN THE PATH
    N EXT MORNING Eustace was not allowed to get up to breakfast: he was considered to be too tired. So he spent the first part of the morning, not unwillingly, in bed. Cambo boasted few bedrooms, and the one he shared with Hilda did not contain and could not have contained more furniture than their two narrow beds, set side by side, a washing-stand, a combined chest-of-drawers and dressing-table, two chairs with seats made of stout fibre, and some rings behind a curtain in lieu of wardrobe. The furniture and the woodwork were stained brown, the wallpaper was dark blue with a design of conventional flowers, and the curtains of the window, which looked out on the brown flank of the house next door, were of dark blue linen. Eustace greatly admired the curtain rings of oxidised copper, and also the door handle which was made of the same metal and oval in shape