Five Children and It

aid Cyril. 'I'

ch?' said Robert

ackape! I'm n

Bobs!' s

Squirrel's orat

the water-butt in the backyard, wher

eautiful as the day - ugh! - that was pretty jolly beastly if you like - and wealth and castles, and that rotten

ning,' said Robert; 'th

things,' said Cyril firmly. 'Now I've been

; you know it all right all the time, but when you're asked it all goes out of your head. Ladies and gentlemen, you know jolly well that when

ear!' sa

ppen to think of a really useful wish if he didn't injure his poor little brains try

exciting, but damp. When it was over, and

an it, Bobs. Now honou

We're wasting th

g the water out of the tails of his ja

y. 'But I've got a lump as big

handkerchief, and Robert bathed his wou

oldiers, or any of the old games. We're dead sure to

ead with it so that he could be the wounded hero who had saved the bandit captain's life the day before, he cheered up wonderfully. All were soon armed. Bows and arrows slung on the back look well; and umbrellas and cricket stumps stuck through the belt give a fine impression of the wearer's being armed to the teeth. The white cotton hats

yadd,' said Cyril, 'in case w

erful wishes you can think of, or can't think of, are waiting for you round the corner. The game was dragging a little, and some of the bandits were beginning to feel that

deliver!' c

r your life!'

he did not seem to enter into the spirit of the thing at all. H

' and pushed the bandits

on the shins and ankles was not at all peace-making. I know this is the second fight - or contest - in this chapter, but I can't help it. It was that sort of day. You know yourself there are days when rows seem to keep on happening, quite without your meaning them to. If I were a writer of tales of adventure such as those which used to appear in The Boys of England when I was young, of course I should be able to describe the fight, but I cannot do it. I never can see what happens during a fight, even when it is only dogs. Also, if I had been one of these Boys of England writers, Robert

ask him not to go and be beaten too. That 'too' was very nice for Robert, as you can imagine - but it was nothing to what he felt when Anthe

id in floods of tears. 'He didn't mean it -

rt could not, in honour, have done anything to him at a future time. But Robert's fears, if he had any, were soon dispelled. Chivalry was a stranger to the breast of the baker's boy. He pus

r she clung round his legs with the strength of despair. The baker's boy went off red and damp about the face; abusive to the last, he called them a pack of silly idiots,

obert was sobbing - mostly with rage. Though of course I know that a really heroic boy is al

were miserable; and not one of the four was pleased with the baker'

s rage. 'He'd better wait till I'm grown up - the cowardly brute! Beast

said Jane i

I was only rotting - and

purple bruise touched up with red. 'I onl

ansion House years ago - the one who was so kind in helping old ladies over the crossing - and he was the biggest man I have ever seen, as well as the kindest. No one had a foot-rule in its pocket, so Robert could not be measured - but he was taller than your father would be if he stood on your mother's head, which I am sure he would never be unkind enough to do. He must have been ten or eleven f

s done us agai

eling you'd try to make it make you the same size. You'

I can jolly well see

ginning; but

's play fair. It is hateful for poor old Bobs, all alone up there. Let's ask the Sammyadd

gaily; but when they foun

good to be the wrong size for a bit. What did he want to come digging me out with his nasty wet hand

ad indeed been w

think why you don't wish for something sensible - something to eat

ulky brown back on them. The most hopeful felt that furthe

do?' they said; a

g to reason with that baker's boy. I s

ttler than yourself,

stocking, which was as large as a small bolster-case, and strode off. His strides were six or seven feet long, so that it was quite easy for him to be at the bottom of t

s at the corner, and when he heard the boy come whistling

s usual size, just as his body was four times its, 'I

wn on the roof of the cowshed and told the baker's boy exactly what he thought of him. I don't think the boy heard it all - he was in

the best way you c

was quite right that he should be taught that English boys mustn't use their feet when they fight, but their fists. Of course the water he got into only became hotter when he tried to tell his master about

ause the dining-room was rather small, and it would have been so awkward to have a brother the size of Robert in there. The Lamb, who had

I don't believe he'd ever have stopped screamin

out-size' in boys. He found himself able to ste

cold veal and baked potatoes, with sa

small your usual helping of dinner looks when you are many times your proper size. Robert groaned, and asked for more bread. But Martha would not go on giving

going to the Fai

nywhere that si

hey have giants at fairs,

ed 'Oh!' with such loud suddenness that they all thumped her

t's an idea. Let's take Robert to the Fair, and get them to give us money for s

obert indignantly. 'Much

as a little old pony-trap in the coach-house - the kind that is called a governess-cart. It seemed desirable to get to the Fair as quickly as possible, so Robert - who could now take enormous steps and

and the few people they passed on the way. These mostly went into what looked like some kind of standing-up fits

hies. Resisting an impulse to win a coconut - or at least to attempt the enterprise - Cyril went up to the

le gentleman!' she

we are here on business, not o

e w

he head - the b

s sleeping in the sun; 'but I don't advise you to wake him sudden. His temper'

It'll be very profitable to him. I thi

his pocket,' said th

is

a GI

RE kid

and see,'

oat that came below her brown frock, and leaving her in charge of the 'shooting-gallery' she turned to Anthea and said, 'W

e Fair because people do stare so, and they seem to go into kind of standing-up fits when they see him. And we thought perhaps you'd like to show him and get penn

ea's hand, and was holding it very firmly; and Anthea could not help wondering what would happen if Robert should have wandered off or turned his proper size during the interval. But she knew

e woman saw the hand she said 'My!' but when she saw the foot she said 'Upon my civvy!' and when, by slow and heavy degrees, the whole of Robert's enormous bulk was at last complet

what a baby elephant had, as died. What'll you take? He's soft, ain't he? Them giants mostly is - but I never see - no, never! What'll you take? Down on the nail. We'll treat

much, I shouldn't wonder. I'll come and be a show for to-day if you'll give me' - he he

ed thirty. 'Come on now - and see my Bill - and we'll fix a price for the season. I dessay you might get

eeping man, and he did not seem at all pleased at being awakened. Cyril, watching through a slit in the tent, saw him scowl and shake a heavy fist and a sleepy head. Then the woman went on speaking very fast. Cyril heard 'Strewth,' and 'biggest draw you ever, so help me!' and he began to share Robert's feeling that fifteen

id with hoarse heartiness. 'Lor' love a duck! you'll be that happy with us yo

ng to sing 'As once in May', a favourite of his mothe

we'll have 'em before the week's out. Young man, your fortune's made. It's a good thing you came to me, and not to some chaps as I could tell you on. I've known blokes

n his knees, because the tent was not big enough for him to stand upright in, but even in that position

st you've got, mind!' Another whisper followed, of which the chil

was delightful to the large and empty Robert; and the man went to post sentinels round t

nthea indignantly when the meanin

y strange and wo

ding on a trestle-table outside the tent making a speech. It was rather a good speech. It began by saying that the giant it was his privilege to introduce to the public that day was the eldest son of the Emperor of San Francisco, compelled through an unfortunate love affair with the Duchess of the Fiji Islands to leave his own country and take

the princely attitude - no expense spared - money no object. His girl wished to see the giant? Well, she should

l present. Bill slapped his leg. 'That's done the trick!' he whispered to 'Becca. It was indeed a splendid advert

like?' aske

as big as a barn, and that fierce. It froze the blood in

than to laugh, and more inclined to sleep than either. For, by ones and twos and threes, people kept coming in all the afternoon, and Robert had to sha

ly fifteen shillings! Bill had taken four times that already, for the news of the giant had spread, and tradespeople in carts, and gentlepeople in carriages, came from far and near. One ge

tfully. 'It's no use pro

f years, I suppose! Well, here's my

same size then,' sa

so much the better,'

, Robert beckone

d will have an easy.

a paper hastily pinned

N HOUR WHILE THE

was a hurri

Robert. 'I've been thinking

ts and you're your right size.

said, 'when they saw me get my right size. No, we must th

hich Bill was smoking a clay pipe and talking in a low voice to

rly finished his tea. But he must be left alone when the sun sets. He's very que

omes over him

e isn't at all like himself - you'd hardly know him. He's very queer in

nd for the even

after sunset he'll be

r him,' sai

f an hour before sunset, the tent was agai

ut the giant's meals and the

l owned. 'You see he has to ea

he same. We'll manage somehow, like Sydney Carton did. Only, you girls MUST get out, or it's all no go. We can run, but you can't - whatever you may think. No, Jane, it's no good Robert going out and knocking people down. The police would follo

and Ant

giant with you. Be kind to him.' And that, as Anthea sai

gone, Cyril

says can't you loop up the tent at the back a bit? He says he's stifling for a breath of air. I'll see no one peeps in at him. I'

oped up, and the brothers were left alone. They matured their plan in whispers. Outside, the

n had set, a boy in a Norf

' he said, and mingled

boy came out of the

ted there a

walked quickly through the field, and along the road, where Robert caught Cyril up. Then they ran. They were home as soon as the girls were, for it was a long way, and they ran most of it. It was indeed a very l

'Becca said when they found that the gian