9
　　An afternoon out
　　Lucy-Ann stopped rocking the chair, and her heart sank into her shoes. Foreigners! Did that meanthey were from Tauri-Hessia, or whatever the country was – and had they tracked down Gussy?
　　Oh dear – surely, surely another adventure wasn’t beginning! This had seemed as if it would besuch a nice peaceful holiday.
　　‘Blow!’ whispered Lucy-Ann to the cat on her knee. ‘Blow Gussy! Blow his uncle!’
　　Bill asked a few more cautious questions, but Mrs Ellis had nothing else to tell him of anyinterest. He got up, took the milk she had brought him from the dairy, and paid her. He thankedher, said good night, and out he and Lucy-Ann went, into the starry¹ night.
　　‘I fear – I very much fear – that somebody is on Gussy’s track,’ said Bill, in a half-whisper asthey went along together. ‘Now, how could they have guessed he was with us? It’s a pity he’s sostriking-looking, and so easily recognizable. I suppose someone must have spotted² him with me,made enquiries about me – and as soon as they knew who I was, the rest would be easy. Hm! Idon’t like it very much.’
　　‘Will you and Gussy have to disappear from here?’ whispered Lucy-Ann, so softly that Billcould hardly hear. ‘Please don’t go away, Bill.’
　　‘I’ll have to discuss things with your aunt,’ said Bill. ‘Don’t say a word to Gussy. He’ll get thewind up properly, if I know anything about him. And on no account must any of you leave himalone anywhere – always keep him in your midst.’
　　‘Yes, Bill,’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘Oh dear – I do wish those people weren’t going to the farm. Bill,they might be ordinary people, mightn’t they? They haven’t got to be enemies, have they?’
　　Bill squeezed Lucy-Ann’s hand. ‘No. I may be wrong. But I get hunches⁴ about these things,Lucy-Ann. And I’ve got a hunch³ this very minute. You needn’t worry. I shan’t let anythinghappen.’
　　‘Well – so long as you’re with us,’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘But please don’t go away, Bill.’
　　‘I won’t,’ said Bill. ‘Not unless I take Gussy with me, which would really be the safest thing todo.’

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