nce we had spent several minutes in staring in
at the flower-shop windows, settling what kind of flowers would be best,
and in asking the prices of hers from a flower-woman who often sat near
the corner of the square. She was very good-natured about it. We
shouldn't have liked to go into a regular shop only to ask prices, so it
was a good thing to know a little about them beforehand.

I remember all about that Monday morning particularly well. I did hurry
off from school as fast as I could, though of course--I think it nearly
always happens so--ever so many stupid little things turned up to keep
me later than I often was.

I skurried along pretty fast, you may be sure, once I did get out, and
it wasn't long before I caught sight of poor old Pete eagerly watching
for me at the corner of Lindsay Square. He did not dare to come farther,
because, you see, he had promised mamma he never would, and that if I
were ever very late he'd go home again.

I didn't give him time to be doleful about it.

'I've been as quick as I possibly could,' I said, 'and it's not so bad
after all, Pete. We shall have a quarter of an hour for Rock Terrace at
least, if we hurry now. Don't speak--it only wastes your breath,' for in
those days, with being so plump and sturdy and his legs rather short, it
didn't take much to make him puff or pant. He's in better training now
by a long way.

He was always very sensible, so he took my advice and we got over the
ground pretty fast, only pulling up when we got to the end, or
beginning, of the little row of houses.

'Now,' said I, 'let's first walk right along rather slowly, and if we
hear the Polly we can stop short, as if we were noticing him for the
first time, the way people often do, you know.'

Peterkin nodded.

'I believe I see the corner of his cage out on the balcony,' he said,
half whispering, 'already.'

He was right. The cage was out.

We walked past very slowly, though we took care not to look up as if we
were expecting to see anything. The parrot was in the front of the cage,
staring down, and I'm almost certain he saw us, and even remembered us,
though, out of contradiction, he pretended he didn't.

'Don't speak or turn,' I whispered to Pete. It was so very quiet along
Rock Terrace, except when some tradesman's cart rattled past--and just
now there was nothing of the kind in view--that even common talking
could have been heard. 'Don't speak or seem to see him. They are awfully
c