He jumped up and prepared to go : all his limbs still seemed quite stiff with his long sleep , especially his neck , for he could not move his head easily , and he laughed at his own stupidity at being still so drowsy that he kept knocking his nose against the wall or cupboards . The squirrels and guinea pigs ran whimpering after him , as though they would like to go too , and he begged them to come when he reached the door , but they all turned and ran quickly back into the house again . The part of the town was out of the way , and Jem did not know the many narrow streets in it and was puzzled by their windings and by the crowd of people , who seemed excited about some show . From what he heard , he fancied they were going to see a dwarf , for he heard them call out : ` Just look at the ugly dwarf ! ' ` What a long nose he has , and see how his head is stuck in between his shoulders , and only look at his ugly brown hands ! ' If he had not been in such a hurry to get back to his mother , he would have gone too , for he loved shows with giants and dwarfs and the like . He was quite puzzled when he reached the market-place . There sat his mother , with a good deal of fruit still in her baskets , so he felt he could not have slept so very long , but it struck him that she was sad , for she did not call to the passers-by , but sat with her head resting on her hand , and as he came nearer he thought she looked paler than usual . He hesitated what to do , but at last he slipped behind her , laid a hand on her arm , and said : ` Mammy , what 's the matter ? Are you angry with me ? ' She turned round quickly and jumped up with a cry of horror . ` What do you want , you hideous dwarf ? ' she cried ; ` get away ; I ca n't bear such tricks . ' ` But , mother dear , what 's the matter with you ? ' repeated Jem , quite frightened . ` You ca n't be well . Why do you want to drive your son away ? ' ' I have said already , get away , ' replied Hannah , quite angrily . ` You wo n't get anything out of me by your games , you monstrosity . ' ` Oh dear , oh dear !
she must be wandering in her mind , ' murmured the lad XXXXX himself .
From as behind for in nearer than that to with