The Tapestry Room | Page 9

said Hugh; "the dark at the end
makes it look so nice--like as if it was a fairy door into some queer
place--a magic cavern, or some place like that."
"So it does," said Jeanne. "What nice fancies you have, Chéri! But I
wish you could see the tonnelle in summer. It is pretty then, with all the
leaves on. But we must run quick, or else Marcelline will be calling us
before we have got to the chicken-house."
Off she set again, and Hugh after her, though not so fast, for Jeanne
knew every step of the way, and poor Hugh had never been in the
garden before. It was not very far to go, however--the chickens' house
was in a little courtyard just a few steps from the tonnelle, and guided
by Jeanne's voice in front as much as by the faint glimpses of her figure,
dark against the snow, Hugh soon found himself safe beside her at the
door of the chickens' house. Jeanne felt about till she got hold of the
latch, which she lifted, and was going to push open the door and enter
when Hugh stopped her.
"Jeanne," he said, "it's quite dark. We can't possibly see the chickens.
Hadn't we better wait till to-morrow, and put Nibble in the cupboard, as
Marcelline said, for to-night?"
"Oh no," said Jeanne. "It doesn't matter a bit that it's dark." She opened
the door as she spoke, and gently pulled Hugh in after her. "Look," she
went on, "there is a very, very little light from the kitchen window after
all, when the door is opened. Look, Chéri, up in that corner sleep

Houpet and the others. Put the cochon de Barbarie down here--so--that
will do. He will be quite safe here, and you feel it is not cold."
"And are there no rats, or naughty dogs about--nothing like that?"
asked Hugh rather anxiously.
"Of course not," replied Jeanne. "Do you think I'd leave Houpet here if
there were? I'll call to Houpet now, and tell him to be kind to the little
cochon."
"But Houpet's asleep, and, besides, how would he know what you say?"
objected Hugh.
For all answer Jeanne gave a sort of little whistle--half whistle, half coo
it was. "Houpet, Houpet," she called softly, "we've brought a little
cochon de Barbarie to sleep in your house. You must be very kind to
him--do you hear, Houpet dear? and in the morning you must fly down
and peep in at his cage and tell him you're very glad to see him."
A faint, a very faint little rustle was heard up above in the corner where
Jeanne had tried to persuade her cousin that the chickens were to be
seen, and delighted at this evidence that any way they were to be heard,
she turned to him triumphantly.
"That's Houpet," she said. "Dear little fellow, he's too sleepy to
crow--he just gives a little wriggle to show that he's heard me. Now put
down the cage, Chéri--oh, you have put it down--and let's run in again.
Your pet will be quite safe, you see, but if we're not quick, Marcelline
will be running out to look for us."
She felt about for Hugh's hand, and having got it, turned to go. But she
stopped to put her head in again for a moment at the door.
"Houpet, dear," she said, "don't let Dudu come into your house. If he
tries to, you must fly at him and scold him and peck him."
"Who is Dudu?" said Hugh, as they were running back to the house
together along the snowy garden path.

"He is----" began Jeanne. "Hush," she went on, in a lower voice, "there
he is! I do believe he heard what I said, and he's angry." For right
before them on the path stood the old raven, on one leg as usual, though
this it was too dark to see clearly. And, as Jeanne spoke, he gave a
sharp, sudden croak, which made both the children jump, and then
deliberately hopped away.
"He's a raven!" said Hugh with surprise. "Why, what funny pets you
have, Jeanne!"
Jeanne laughed.
"Dudu isn't my pet," she said. "I don't like him. To tell you the truth,
Chéri, I'm rather frightened of him. I think he's a sort of a fairy."
Hugh looked much impressed, but not at all surprised.
"Do you really, Jeanne?" he said.
"Yes," she said, "I do. And I'm not sure but that Grignan is too. At least
I think Grignan is enchanted, and that Dudu is the spiteful fairy that did
it. Grignan is the tortoise, you know."
"Yes," said Hugh, "you told me about him. I do wonder if what you
think is true," he added reflectively. "We must try to find