294 THE LAND OF PLUCK

The worst was soon over, but it seemed the library
ceiling could n’t get over it in a hurry. It dripped, and
dripped, and broke out in great damp blotches and cracked
and whimpered as if it were alive. Fortunately, the con-
tents of the bookcases escaped wetting, and the carpet
did n’t “run,” as Grandma said; so it might have been worse.

But those six visitors —who shall describe their emo-
tions! As one of them afterward said, they “were fright-
ened to death and bursting with laughter.” They all tried
to hide behind one another when Mr. Brant, half angry, half
unused, asked them what they would like to do next.

“Go home, sir, I guess,” said Tommy.

And home they went.