Chapter 8 OFF TO THE LITTLE HUT
Julian and Dick were so sleepy after their long day in the cold air, and their enormous meal, that theycould not keep their eyes open for long.
'Go to bed, both of you!' said Anne, seeing them lying tired out in their chairs, when Mrs. Jones hadcleared away everything.
'Yes. I think we'd better,' said Julian, staggering up. 'Oh, my legs! They're as stiff as sticks! Goodnight, you two girls, and Timmy. See you tomorrow - if we wake up!'
The two boys stumbled up the stone stairs to bed. George and Anne stayed downstairs, talking andreading. Timmy lay on the hearthrug, listening, his ears twitching¹ towards Anne when she spoke², andthen towards George as she answered. This little habit of his always made them laugh.
'It's exactly as if he was listening, but too lazy to join in our conversation!' said Anne. 'Oh, George - Ireally am glad you're not going home tomorrow. It would be the first time you'd ever done a thinglike that! I'd just have had to come with you!'
'Don't let's talk about it,' said George. 'I feel rather ashamed of making such a fuss now. All the sameI shall be terrified if I see any of those dogs again when I'm with Timmy. What a bit of luck the boyswent up to that hut today, Anne - we'd never have known about it if they hadn't.'
'Yes. It sounds fun,' said Anne. 'Don't let's be too late to bed, George. It will be quite a pull up themountainside tomorrow, with all our things!'
George went to the window.
'It's snowing hard,' she said. 'Just as Morgan said it would. I don't like him, do you?'
'Oh - I think he's all right,' said Anne. 'And what a voice he's got! He nearly made me jump out of myskin when he called his three dogs. He must have the loudest voice in the world!'
'Timmy - you're yawning!' said George, as Timmy opened his mouth widely and made a yawningnoise. 'How's your neck?'
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Timmy was getting rather tired of having his neck examined. He lay still while George had anotherlook at it.
'Healing beautifully!' she said. 'You'll be quite all right tomorrow. Will you like going off to that hutall by ourselves, Tim?'
Timmy gave her a loving lick and yawned again. Then he got up and trotted³ over to the door that ledto the stone stairs, looking back enquiringly at George.
'Right. We're coming,' said George, laughing, and she and Anne blew out the lamp on the table, andfollowed Timmy up the stairs. They peeped in at the boys' room - and saw Julian and Dick absolutelysound asleep, dead to the world!

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