Knock Three Times!
CHAPTER X
_Some One Meets Jack and Molly in the Third Green Lane_
They had gone but a short distance along the broad white road which ledto the Three Green Lanes (according to the map), when they heard theEast Gate of the City open and shut again with a clang, and lookingback Jack and Molly saw that two people had come out and had startedoff in the opposite direction to that in which they were going.
"Two more searchers," said Jack. "I remember that little man with thegreen coat, don't you, Molly? He was at the Palace--had very twinklingeyes."
"Oh, yes, I saw him," said Molly. "And that boy with him in thatcurious red-brown suit. I wonder which part they are searching.Supposing _they_ are the lucky people who are going to find the BlackLeaf ... if we only knew," sighed the little girl, standing in themiddle of the white road and gazing pensively at the two figures inthe distance.
"I know one thing," said Jack. "We shan't be the lucky people if wedon't move along. Come on, Molly."
Two minutes' brisk walking brought them to the entrance to the FirstGreen Lane. And here their search began. The lane was a very twistyone, and was closed in on either side with high thick hedges; fresh andgreen the hedges were, and starred with tiny white flowers that smelledvery sweet.
"How strange that it isn't autumn here, like it was at home," saidJack. "It's more like summer here, isn't it, Molly?"
"It isn't really strange," said Molly. "Everything is so differenthere, isn't it? I don't see why the seasons in the Possible Worldshould be like ours any more than anything else is like ours."
"No. P'r'aps you're right," agreed Jack.
They went carefully along, searching thoroughly as they went, Mollytaking the left-hand side of the lane and Jack the right. For the mostpart it was fairly easy work; there were not many places in the FirstGreen Lane where the Black Leaf could grow undetected, though fromtime to time an extra thick and low-spreading bush would necessitate ahalt for a thoroughly satisfactory examination.
"There is one thing that seems strange to me," Molly went on presently."And that is the way the ordinary and the magic things seem to all getmixed up together. I'm sure I shall be forgetting, when we get homeagain, and keep expecting spells and magic things to happen."
"So shall I," said Jack; and then, as Molly began to laugh--"What's thematter?" he asked.
"Oh, Jack," she laughed. "What would Aunt Phoebe say if she could see usnow!"
"'I'm sure I don't know what the world's coming to,'" mimicked Jack, inan Aunt Phoebe voice, and then joined in Molly's laughter. "And the bestof it is," he chuckled, "it's all through her giving you that birthdaypresent. She _would_ be wild."
"I suppose we really ought not to laugh at her," laughed Molly. "It'shardly respectful--but, somehow, I can't just help it."
They continued to search, chatting and laughing, in a light-hearted,excited mood, and soon they had covered the best part of the FirstGreen Lane. As they neared the end--a break in the hedge (on Jack'sside) blocked by a white gate revealed a big field which lay behind thehedge.
"Hullo," said Jack. "Have we got to search this field, too, I wonder.Where's the map?"
Molly had it in her pocket, and produced it at once. Leaning againstthe gate the two children studied it carefully.
"Yes. See. Here it is ... marked here," said Molly. "The hedge on theleft-hand side--the side I was searching--is the boundary; but thefield this side is marked in our square."
"I tell you what then," suggested Jack. "I'll start on the field whileyou finish to the end of the lane--it's only a few yards more. Then youcome back and start the other end of the field."
Molly agreed, so they separated for a few minutes and continued thesearch. But there was no sign of the Black Leaf anywhere in the bigfield or in the First Green Lane, and at length they started on theSecond Green Lane.
The Second Green Lane had low hedges and many ferns and wild flowersgrowing by the way, and a ditch running along one side of it, whichmade the searching a little more difficult. There were also severalgates leading from this lane into fields which had to be searched too.Some of the fields where the grass was long took a good time to doproperly. But the two children stuck to it perseveringly, urged on bythe hope that perhaps just round the corner, or behind the next tree,or even, perhaps, a few feet ahead of them among the long grass, grewthat which they sought--the Black Leaf. But so far they had searched invain.
In the early afternoon they found themselves at the beginning of theThird Green Lane; and here they decided to stop and have a short restand some lunch. When they sat down on the soft grass by the side of thelane they suddenly discovered that they were really tired; and whenthey saw the tempting little sandwiches and cakes in the "snack forlunch" packets Glan had given them they realized that they were reallyhungry. They had been too busy and excited to realize these thingsbefore. Over lunch they got out the map again and studied it.
"What a lonely piece of country this seems," Jack remarked. "Do youknow, we haven't seen a single person since we started searching!"
"Nor a single house," said Molly. "It's a good thing we have this mapwith us. How useful it is.... Let me look, Jack. Are there any housesor villages marked near here, because we shall have to find some placeto stay to-night if possible."
"There seems to be some sort of village marked there ... um ... it'snot very near, though," said Jack. "It's the other side of the Goblin'sHeath.... There doesn't seem to be a house of any sort marked betweenhere and that village, does there? Still, I daresay we could reach thevillage before dusk, if we are not delayed at all----"
"And if the Heath isn't too big----"
"If it is and we can't find a cottage before the end of the Heath,we'll climb up a tree, Moll. It'll be great sport. And we shall bequite safe there till daylight."
They packed up the remains of the lunch, for it was a very generous"snack" that Glan had put in for each of them, and after resting a fewminutes longer they rose to their feet and prepared to start on again.
"My word, I am thirsty," said Jack. At Molly's advice he tried oneof the little sweet things in Old Nancy's packet, and though it wascertainly refreshing Jack still craved for a drink of water. "Is therea stream of water marked anywhere near here. Give me the map again,Molly."
They were standing at the beginning of the Third Green Lane with themap in their hands, when the sound of some one singing came to themfrom a distance.
Jack and Molly looked at each other. This was the first human soundthey had heard since they left the High Road. Perhaps this person,whoever it was, could tell them where they could get some water. Thesinger was evidently approaching, as the song grew louder and clearer,from the direction of the lane which they were just about to search.Then, just as they expected the singer to come round the corner of thelane--the singing ceased abruptly--and no one appeared.
Jack and Molly waited a while, then started off down the lane in thedirection whence the singing had come, thinking perhaps that the singerhad stopped to rest round the corner of the lane. They were right. Asthey turned the corner they saw someone sitting under a tree at theside of the lane. It was a young girl, a little older than Jack andMolly--such a pretty girl, with grey-green eyes and a straight, whitenose, and deep golden hair that curled about her shoulders. Her softgreen frock matched the colour of her eyes.
She did not notice Jack and Molly at first, as her attention was takenup by the contents of a small wicker basket in her lap: she was peeringinside it anxiously, and counting aloud.
"Eight, nine, ten," they heard her say. "Eleven.... Oh, dear, I've lost... no, here it is ... twelve. Oh, that's right!"
She looked up, and saw the children. She gazed up at them, then smiled(such a friendly, sweet smile, Molly thought).
"Oh, I ... I didn't hear you come along," she said.
"We heard you singing," said Molly.
The girl blushed. "I didn't know anyone was near," she said. "I oftensing when I'm by myself--it's so lonely, as a rule." She faste
ned thelid of her basket down.
"We were awfully glad to hear you," said Jack. "Because, do you know,we haven't met a soul since we left the East Gate."
"Have you come from the City, then?" asked the girl with much interest,rising to her feet. "Oh, you can't imagine how lonely it is to live outhere. What news is there? What does the City look like now? Oh, I'dgive anything to live in the City with crowds of people and lights andshops and--and real pavement."
"Haven't you got any pavement then in the village where you live?"asked Jack.
"I don't live in a village," answered the girl. "Its right out here inall this lonely part that mother and I live."
"Near here?" asked Molly.
"Yes. Just at the end of the Third Green Lane," said the girl.
"In a house?" inquired Jack.
"Yes. Why not?" the girl smiled. "What did you think we'd live in?"
"I meant," said Jack, "it's not marked on our map; there's no housemarked until you get to the other side of the Goblin's Heath, and Ididn't think there was one so close."
The girl began to laugh. "Well, there is one, even if it isn't markedon your map. They don't mark all the houses, you know. If your waytakes you along down this lane you'll pass the house, and mother wouldbe awfully pleased to see you if you could spare a little while. Sherarely gets news of the City or sees anybody."
"We _were_ going along this way," said Jack. "And we were justwondering if there was anywhere we could get a drink of water, becausewe're both so thirsty...."
"Thirsty?" said the girl. "Why, here is the very thing!" And she openedher basket and took out a beautiful bunch of grapes. "I had been sentout to gather these from our vine--twelve bunches I've gathered. Dohave one." She placed a delicious-looking bunch in Jack's hands.
"Oh, no--really. I say, can you spare them, though?" protested Jack."And wouldn't your mother mind?"
"She'd mind if I didn't give you a bunch when you were so thirsty,"said the girl, and insisted on Molly having a bunch too.
"Well, it really is awfully kind of you," said Jack, and Molly thankedher also.
Molly hesitated just a second before eating her grapes, wondering ifthey were doing right in accepting them from the little girl whosename even they didn't know. But a glance at the little girl's sweet,frank face reassured any doubts Molly may have had. Jack had alreadystarted his bunch. So Molly ate her grapes too.
"You know," said Jack, "I don't think I've ever tasted such jolly finegrapes. I was terribly thirsty after searching all the morning."
"Searching?" asked the girl, puzzled. "Did you say searching? What haveyou lost?"
"It isn't what we've lost--it's what we can't find," said Jack. "Youknow--it's what they're all looking for."
The girl shook her head. "I don't know what you mean," she said.
"Don't you know about the search for the Black Leaf?" asked Jack insurprise. "Oh, I say. And about the Pumpkin being back again--ofcourse, you know that?"
"What!" screamed the girl. "The Pumpkin back? No! No! I didn't knowthat. We hear nothing--living out here alone.... But, oh dear, oh dear!Whatever are we going to do?" She was trembling and seemed very upset."I must get home at once and tell mother--poor mother," she added.She fastened the lid of her basket with shaking fingers. "Are youcoming along this way now?"
"DO HAVE ONE!"]
The children explained to her that although they were coming that waythey would have to search as they came, and advised her to go on infront of them to tell her mother if she felt this was the wisest thingto do. But she seemed afraid to leave them.
"I'd rather stay with you, if you don't mind," she said. "I--I expectyou'll think I'm an awful coward--but I simply daren't go on alone.I'll help you search as we go along; and do tell me how it allhappened--how the Pumpkin came back."
So, as the three of them moved off down the lane, Jack and Mollyrecounted something of what had happened. They did not talk much aboutthemselves, but related the main incidents of the Pumpkin's return.Their companion listened eagerly, putting in a hurried question everynow and then. When they had finished she said:
"Well, I do think it's plucky of you. To search like this--in a strangeland. I--I feel quite ashamed of myself for being so scared just now.We all have to take our chance. Do let me help you search this bit oflane. And afterward, I'll go to the City and ask to be given a part tosearch too. How far do you intend to search to-day?"
"We thought of trying to get as far as the other side of the Goblin'sHeath," said Jack.
"Oh, you'll never be able to do that before nightfall!" the girlexclaimed. "It's a very big Heath. I wonder--would you care to stay atour house to-night? Mother and I would be only too proud to have you,if you'd care...."
"It's very good of you," said Molly. "Perhaps----"
"Well, wait until you see mother, if you'd prefer that," said the girl."Wait until you see our house. I know I shouldn't care to promise tostay with anyone until I'd seen where they lived. In a strange countrytoo."
She had added this, seeing that Jack and Molly hesitated. But they weremore than half-persuaded, because she spoke so reasonably and frankly.
They continued to search the Third Green Lane thoroughly; the afternoonwore on, and the shadows of eventide began to fall.
Presently the girl said, "We are near the end of the lane now. Roundthe next turning you will see my house."
So far the search had been in vain, and Jack and Molly were beginningto feel very tired, as the lane had been long and difficult.
"We must have been two hours searching this lane," said Molly. "Willyour mother be getting anxious about you?"
The girl shook her head. "And she won't even be cross when she seesthat I've brought visitors home with me. You will come in, won't you?"she asked, "and we can all have tea together."
It sounded so tempting that the children accepted gladly, especially asthe house hove in sight at that moment. Turning the corner they camesuddenly upon it. Such a quaint, cosy little house, which lay snuggledaway behind a cluster of thick bushes and trees. The lane continued foronly a short distance beyond the house, then it opened out into a greatwide heath--the Goblin's Heath. The children hadn't time to take inmuch of the scenery, as their companion ushered them into the garden ofher house quickly. It was darker in the garden under the trees than outin the roadway, and they saw that a little light was glimmering fromone of the windows of the house, which made it look very homely andcomfortable. Jack and Molly followed their companion up the path to thefront door.
The girl tapped twice on the front door, then, rattling the handle andcalling out, "Here we are, mother!" she threw open the door and thethree of them passed in.
They found themselves in a dark, narrow passage, at the end of whichthey could see a glow as from firelight. Their companion closed thefront door and led the way along the passage.
"Here we are, mother!" she called again, and a figure appeared in thefirelit opening at the end of the passage, and stood there chucklingsoftly.
Suddenly, Jack and Molly were afraid.
"Jack, I'm going back!" gasped Molly, and turning, both the childrenmade for the door. But it was shut fast, and there were no handles orbolts to be found.
The girl and the figure in the firelight burst into loud laughter.
"You little sillies!" a voice cried, accompanied by another burst oflaughter.
They could see the girl in green quite plainly now. She had reachedthe end of the passage and stood whispering to the other person. Thefirelight shone on both of them. The girl in green was strangelyaltered. No longer fresh and young and pretty--her face looked old andhard and scornful. Jack and Molly caught a few of the words she waswhispering.
"Oh, Jack," Molly sobbed. "They're the Pumpkin's friends. We'retrapped!"