If a girl of fourteen can make a couple of practical farmers and a pair of matter-of-fact housewives half believe for ten minutes that she really is a snake , what wo n't she be able to do when she is thirty ? Here , you , '' added Uncle Roger , perceiving me , `` cut along and get off to your bed . And mind you do n't eat cucumbers and milk before you go . '' CHAPTER XXIV . THE BEWITCHMENT OF PAT We were all in the doleful dumps -- at least , all we `` young fry '' were , and even the grown-ups were sorry and condescended to take an interest in our troubles . Pat , our own , dear , frolicsome Paddy , was sick again -- very , very sick . On Friday he moped and refused his saucer of new milk at milking time . The next morning he stretched himself down on the platform by Uncle Roger 's back door , laid his head on his black paws , and refused to take any notice of anything or anybody . In vain we stroked and entreated and brought him tidbits . Only when the Story Girl caressed him did he give one plaintive little mew , as if to ask piteously why she could not do something for him . At that Cecily and Felicity and Sara Ray all began crying , and we boys felt choky . Indeed , I caught Peter behind Aunt Olivia 's dairy later in the day , and if ever a boy had been crying I vow that boy was Peter . Nor did he deny it when I taxed him with it , but he would not give in that he was crying about Paddy . Nonsense ! `` What were you crying for , then ? '' I said . `` I 'm crying because -- because my Aunt Jane is dead , '' said Peter defiantly . `` But your Aunt Jane died two years ago , '' I said skeptically . `` Well , ai n't that all the more reason for crying ? '' retorted Peter .
`` I 've had to do without her XXXXX two years , and that 's worse than if it had just been a few days . ''
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