Chapter Thirteen JULIAN HAS A SURPRISE
　　THE three children downstairs felt very sorry for George. Uncle Quentin had forbidden them to goup and see her.
　　'A little time for thinking out things all alone may do George good,' he said.
　　'Poor old George,' said Julian. 'It's too bad, isn't it? I say - look at the snow!'
　　The snow was falling very thickly. Julian went to the window and looked out. 'I shall have to go andsee that Timmy's kennel¹ is all right,' he said. 'We don't want the poor old fellow to be snowed up! Iexpect he is wondering what the snow is!'
　　Timothy was certainly very puzzled to see everywhere covered with soft white stuff. He sat in hiskennel and stared out at the falling flakes², his big brown eyes following them as they fell to theground. He was puzzled and unhappy. Why was he living out here by himself in the cold?
　　Why didn't George come to him? Didn't she love him any more? The big dog was very miserable³, asmiserable as George!
　　He was delighted to see Julian. He jumped up at the boy and licked his face. 'Good old Tim!' saidJulian. 'Are you all right? Let me sweep away some of this snow and swing your kennel round a bitso that no flakes fly inside. There - that's better. No, we're not going for a walk, old thing - not now.'
　　The boy patted the dog and fussed him a bit, then went indoors. The others met him at the sitting-room⁴ door.
　　'Julian! Mr. Roland is going out for a walk by himself. Aunt Fanny is lying down, and Uncle Quentinis in his study. Can't we go up and see George?'
　　'We were forbidden to,' said Julian, doubtfully.
　　I know,' said Dick. 'But I don't mind risking it for the sake of making George feel a bit happier. Itmust be so awful for her, lying up there all alone, knowing she can't see Tim for days.'
　　'Well - let me go up, as I'm the eldest⁵,' said Julian. 'You two stay down here in the sitting-room andtalk. Then Uncle Quentin will think we're all here. I'll slip up and see George for a few minutes.'
　　'All right,' said Dick. 'Give her our love and tell her we'll look after Timmy.'
　　67
　　Julian slipped quietly up the stairs. He opened George's door and crept inside. He shut the door, andsaw George sitting up in bed, looking at him in delight.

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