We halted , with a glad realization that we were back in our own haunts and that Peg Bowen had not caught us . `` Oh , was n't that an awful experience ? '' gasped Cecily , shuddering . `` I would n't go through it again -- I could n't , not even for Pat . '' `` It come on a fellow so suddent , '' said Peter shamefacedly . `` I think I could a-stood my ground if I 'd known she was going to come out . But when she popped out like that I thought I was done for . '' `` We should n't have run , '' said Felicity gloomily . `` It showed we were afraid of her , and that always makes her awful cross . She wo n't do a thing for Pat now . '' `` I do n't believe she could do anything , anyway , '' said the Story Girl . `` I think we 've just been a lot of geese . '' We were all , except Peter , more or less inclined to agree with her . And the conviction of our folly deepened when we reached the granary and found that Pat , watched over by the faithful Sara Ray , was no better . The Story Girl announced that she would take him into the kitchen and sit up all night with him . `` He sha 'n' t die alone , anyway , '' she said miserably , gathering his limp body up in her arms . We did not think Aunt Olivia would give her permission to stay up ; but Aunt Olivia did . Aunt Olivia really was a duck . We wanted to stay with her also , but Aunt Janet would n't hear of such a thing . She ordered us off to bed , saying that it was positively sinful in us to be so worked up over a cat .
Five heart-broken children , who knew that there are many worse friends than dumb , furry folk , climbed Uncle Alec 's stairs XXXXX bed that night .
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