alled their secret entrance, and creeping in, stood
up in the 'room' and looked about her. Not a basket was to be seen.
The place was bare.

She scrambled out again more quickly than she had moved for a very long
time. "Penelope," she shouted, "girls, quick--come--we've been--"

Then the thought suddenly came to her that perhaps the thieves were in
hiding somewhere near, and were chuckling over her dismay, and she drew
herself up abruptly. If a trick had been played them the perpetrators
should not gloat over their discomfiture.

Guard was still sniffing eagerly about the spot when Esther walked with
dignity back to the others, and, still with that fear of watching eyes on
her, sat calmly down by them before she spoke; but when she did speak her
tragic, mysterious voice and manner filled them all with awe and dismay.

"Girls, keep very quiet and listen to me. What _do_ you think has
happened! There are thieves about. They have stolen our baskets and the
can--everything. There isn't a crumb left. Isn't it awful! Don't shriek
or make a fuss. They may be watching us, and we won't let them see that
we know, or--or care, will we?"

To the two younger ones it was an impossibility to suppress all signs.
To them thieves meant robbers, bandits, a horde of savage creatures who
might spring from anywhere, who, having consumed their provisions,
might next run away with themselves. There were other troubles, too.

"And I am _so_ hungry," cried Poppy. "I am starving. It isn't a bit like
a birthday. I wish I hadn't had one."

Esther sat down by her and put her arms protectingly round her.
Penelope looked fierce.

"We cannot put up with it," she cried indignantly. "It's such
impertinence to take our things, such wickedness, such thievery.
The children will be starved. What can we do? Where can we look? Who do
you think can have done it? Come and search for them, shall we?
Guard ought to be able to catch them. Perhaps some one has done it just
to play us a trick."

"But suppose they are looking on and laughing," said Esther, who had a
perfect horror of being made to look foolish. "And do you think it is
safe? They must be horrid people, and might do anything if we found them
out."

"I expect they have run away by now, if they stole the things," said wise
Penelope, who could be very practical when she did come out of her dreamy
state, "and they would laugh more if the baskets were only just hidden for
a