CHAPTER XXVI

termewiththeairofamartyr,”saidBarney.“Well,anyway,youcan’ttidythelean-to.Youcan’tevenenterit.ThedoorwillbelockedandIshallkeepthekey.” “Bluebeard’schamber,”saidValancy.“Ishan’teventhinkofit.Idon’tcarehowmanywivesyouhavehangingupinit.Solongasthey’rereallydead.” “Deadasdoor-nails.Youcandoasyoulikeintherestofthehouse.There’snotmuchofit—justonebigliving-roomandonesmallbedroom.Wellbuilt,though.OldTomlovedhisjob.Thebeamsofourhousearecedarandtheraftersfir.Ourliving-roomwindowsfacewestandeast.It’swonderfultohavearoomwhereyoucanseebothsunriseandsunset.Ihavetwocatsthere.BanjoandGoodLuck.Adorableanimals.Banjoisabig,enchanting,greydevil-cat.Striped,ofcourse.Idon’tcareahangforanycatthathasn’tstripes.IneverknewacatwhocouldswearasgenteellyandeffectivelyasBanjo.Hisonlyfaultisthathesnoreshorriblywhenheisasleep.Luckisadaintylittlecat.Alwayslookingwistfullyatyou,asifhewantedtotellyousomething.Maybehewillpullitoffsometime.Onceinathousandyears,youknow,onecatisallowedtospeak.Mycatsarephilosophers—neitherofthemevercriesoverspiltmilk. “Twooldcrowsliveinapine-treeonthepointandarereasonablyneighbourly.Call’emNipandTuck.AndIhaveademurelittletameowl.Name,Leander.Ibroughthimupfromababyandhelivesoveronthemainlandandchucklestohimselfo’nights.Andbats—it’sagreatplaceforbatsatnight.Scaredofbats?” “NoIlikethem.” “SodoI.Nice,queer,uncanny,mysteriouscreatures.Comingfromnowhere—goingnowhere.Swoop!Banjolikes’em,too.Eats’em.Ihaveacanoeandadisappearing