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And we went, after we had asked for a piece of rope to lead the pig by.

“In case it should come back into your nice room,” Alice said. “And that would be such a pity, wouldn’t it?”

A little girl in a starched pinafore was sent for the rope. And as soon as the pig had agreed to let us tie it round his neck we came away. The scene in the drawing-room had not been long.

The pig went slowly,

“Like the meandering brook,”

Denny said. Just by the gate the shrubs rustled and opened and the little girl came out. Her pinafore was full of cake.

“Here,” she said. “You must be hungry if you’ve come all that way. I think they might have given you some tea after all the trouble you’ve had.”

We took the cake with correct thanks.

“I wish I could play at circuses,” she said. “Tell me about it.”

We told her while we ate the cake; and when we had done she said perhaps it was better to hear about than do, especially the goat’s part and Dicky’s.

“But I do wish auntie had given you tea,” she said.

We told her not to be too hard on her aunt, because you have to make allowances for grown-up people.

When we parted she said she would never forget us, and Oswald gave her his pocket button-hook and corkscrew combined for a keepsake.

* * * * *

Dicky’s act with the goat (which is true, and no kid) was the only thing out of that day that was put in the Golden Deed Book, and he put that in himself while we were hunting the pig.

Alice and me capturing the pig was never put in. We would scorn to write our own good actions, but I suppose Dicky was dull with us all away; and you must pity the dull, and not blame them.

* * * * *

I will not seek to unfold to you how we got the pig home, or how the donkey was caught (that was poor sport compared to the pig). Nor will I tell you a word of all that was said and done to the intrepid hunters of the Black and Learned. I have told you all the interesting part. Seek not to know the rest. It is better buried in obliquity.