64 Tom Seven Years Old.

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en re

there can be any there to-night. Its very
strange, though—they couldn’t possibly have
known we were coming ?”

“Come along,” said Tom. “Never mind.

How very dark it is!”

He was shivering all over. They crept
downstairs again. Ann did not hear them.

“If they begin to squall,’ whispered Bob,
in the passage, “I shall certainly go upstairs
again. Everything is so nice and ready, and

I could at least see them all sitting round the
chimney.”

“You may go if you like,” said Tom. “I
won't.”

He only wished to jump into bed, and cover
himself up. It was dreadfully cold outside.

“YT don’t care a bit about the public,”
thought he, when he was in; “but I’m very
sorry for the cats. I can’t imagine how they
can bear staying out on the slates all of their
own accord, with only their day fur-skins on—
nothing more than they wear in the day-time!
How they must freeze, poor things !”