80 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

basin of soup to his lips to drain off the last drop of its contents.
«There are some sofas in the other room ; you can go and lie down.”

It was still broad daylight, for the time was the middle of
summer, but the children were glad to avail themselves of this offer,
and drag their weary limbs into the inner room of the little cottage.
But Primrose had almost to carry Buttercup—he was so very sound
asleep.. ;

The sofas were broad and soft, and the moment the children laid
their tired heads on them they went off into dreamless slumber.

They all awoke about the same time, to discover that daylight had
faded, and that ‘night had come on. The old man with the white
beard and the hooked nose was standing in the middle of the room,
nodding and laughing.

“Ha! ha!” he said, “you have had a lovely sleep, haven’t
you?”

“Oh, yes,” said Primrose, with a tremendous yawn, “ but we are
very tired still—at least, I am. Oh, how dark it looks outside!” she
added, glancing towards the window; “I think, perhaps, as it’s so
late, we might as well spend the night here, if—if you don’t mind, old
man.

“My name is Peter Pipkins, and it offends me very much when
people speak of me by any name but my right one. It shows a great
want of respect.”

“ Well, Peter Pipkins, may we stay here, in your comfortable
house, for the night?” asked Buttercup, raising his flushed face from
the pillow, and looking at Peter Pipkins with his sleepy eyes.

“No,” said Peter, “I could not permit such a thing for a moment.
Supper is waiting on the table for some other children, and I cannot
possibly have any of you lingering about the place. I have done
with you; I have given youa good meal, and a good sleep, and you
must go now.”

“ But please,” said Primrose, in a frightened voice, “ where are we
to spend the night? The King of the country beyond the Blue
Mountains told my brother in a letter that there would be inns on the
road—which is the next inn?”