They did for
him what they could, and promised everything he wanted, but with no
intention of fulfilment. At last he went to sleep, and when at
length his sleep grew profound and peaceful, they left him, locked
the door again, and withdrew, intending to revisit him early in the
morning.
CHAPTER 26
The Goblin-Miners
That same night several of the servants were having a chat together
before going to bed.
'What can that noise be?' said one of the housemaids, who had been
listening for a moment or two.
'I've heard it the last two nights,' said the cook. 'If there were
any about the place, I should have taken it for rats, but my Tom
keeps them far enough.'
'I've heard, though,' said the scullery-maid, 'that rats move about
in great companies sometimes. There may be an army of them
invading us. I've heard the noises yesterday and today too.'
'It'll be grand fun, then, for my Tom and Mrs Housekeeper's Bob,'
said the cook. 'They'll be friends for once in their lives, and
fight on the same side. I'll engage Tom and Bob together will put
to flight any number of rats.
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