Page:Weird Tales Volume 46 Number 3 (1954-07).djvu/86

it, Paul's voice calling, "Mummy! I'm here—" and Sebastian's short barks of welcome.

Paul met them near the steps with Richard Ayreton beside him who spoke to him sternly. "You've worried your mother to death, you'd better apologize to her and to Mr. Borrodale, they've been ages hunting for you!"

Paul hung his head, and then looked up to his mother. "I did go to the woods," he said unwillingly. "I was tired of being told not to, and I made Sebastian come."

"Sebastian never goes into the woods," said Nick quickly.

"I know," said Paul shifting from one foot to another, and he rubbed his dirty hands across his face, "but he had to this time, I made him, he wouldn't leave me you see, but he tried to make me come back and he ran round and round me and pulled at my raincoat. But I went on and on and he came, too, but he lagged behind and he wouldn't run on ahead after rabbits like he usually does. We got lost pretty soon," he ended lamely.

Francesca had recovered from her fright and in the light from the hall door she took her son's shoulders. "You disobeyed me, Paul, you had no right to go; what happened in the woods after you got lost?"

"I'm sorry I worried you, Mum," said Paul and suddenly started to cry which was unlike the boy.

"Come into the warm," said Richard and then Paul told them, while Sebastian watched him as if he knew each word he was saying.

"It was down there," Paul said and pointed to the windows, "in the woods beyond the road, that's where Sebastian hated it so, there was—something green in there and I wanted to see it closer. We were pretty lost then and I didn't know the road was so near." He stopped twisting his hands together.

"Go on," said his mother.

"I wanted to see it closer, this green thing, you know," said