“Very,” said Bill. “You’ll stop them laying eggs, I should think! Look after her, Philip. See she doesn’t do anything mad.”
Philip grinned. “Lucy-Ann’s all right,” he said. “She’s the most sensible one of us all.”
He put his hand into his pocket to feel if Sally the slow-worm was there. An astonished expression came over his face. He gave a yell.
“Oh! Whatever’s the matter!” said Lucy-Ann, jumping in fright.
“The most wonderful thing has happened!” said Philip. “Honestly, I never thought it of Sally.”
“What? What?” cried the others. Philip brought out his hand and opened it. It was full of what looked like little silvery darning needles, all wriggling about.
“Sally’s babies! Mother, look! My slow-worm has got a whole lot of baby ones in my pocket. Oh, Mother, I don’t believe any slow-worm has ever done that before to anyone! It’s absolutely unique! Aren’t they lovely?”
“Ugh!” said Dinah.
“Perfect!” said Jack.
“Do give me one for myself,” said Lucy-Ann. “Oh, Philip! This is much, much more exciting than our adventure!”
“Much,” agreed Philip. “Good old Sally! I’ve never had baby slow-worms for pets before — now I’ve got heaps.”
“You’re not to keep them in your pocket, Philip,” said his mother. “It’s not good for them or for you.”
“But Sally will be so disappointed,” said Philip, in dismay.
The adventure was forgotten. All four heads bent over the silvery little creatures in Philip’s palm. Snowy came to look. Kiki bent down from Jack’s shoulders.
“Look you, whateffer!” she said, with her head on one side, and opened her beak to hiccup. She caught Mrs. Mannering’s eye and changed her mind.
“Pardon!” she screeched and went off into a cackle of laughter. “Bad Kiki! Send for the doctor, look you! Wipe your feet and blow your pardon!”
THE END