“Yes. He came to me at once, he was glad to see me. I took him quite a long walk, letting him sniff the meat I’d got. When I gave it to him, he swallowed it all at once with hardly a chew!”

“And slept all night long so that your precious friends could break into the house,” said Julian. “All I can say is that you are a hardened little rogue. Aren’t you ashamed of anything?”

“I don’t know,” said Jo, who wasn’t really quite certain what feeling ashamed meant. “Shall I stop telling you things?”

“No. For goodness’ sake go on,” said Dick, hastily. “Had you anything to do with George’s kidnapping?”

“I just had to hoot like an owl when she and Timmy were coming,” said Jo. “They were ready for her with a sack to put over her head — and they were going to bang Timmy on the head with a stick to knock him out — then put him into a sack too. That’s what I heard them say. But I didn’t see them. I had to creep back here and shut the front door, so that if nobody missed George till morning they’d just think she’d gone out early somewhere.”

“Which is what we did think,” groaned Dick. “What mutts we are! The only clever thing we thought of was to stalk the person who collected the parcel.”

“It was only me, though,” said Jo. “And anyway, I was coming back to tell you I would take you to George. Not because I like her — I don’t. I think she’s rude and horrible. I’d like her to stay kidnapped for years!”

“What a nice, kind nature!” said Julian to Dick, helplessly. “What can you do with a kid like this?” He turned to Jo again. “Seeing that you wish George would stay kidnapped for years, what made you decide to come and tell us where to find her?” he asked, puzzled.

“Well, I don’t like George — but I do like him!” said Jo, pointing with her spoon at Dick. “He was nice to me, so I wanted to be nice back. I don’t often feel like that,” she added hurriedly, as if being kind was some sort of weakness not really to be admired. “I wanted him to go on liking me,” she said.

Dick looked at her. “I shall like you if you take us to George,” he said. “Not unless. If you deceive us, I shall think you’re like one of those sour damson stones — only fit to be spat out as far away as possible.”

“I’ll take you tomorrow,” said Jo.

“Where is George?” asked Julian, bluntly, thinking it would be as well to know now, in case Jo changed her mind by the morning, and became her wicked little self again.

Jo hesitated. She looked at Dick. “It would be very nice of you to tell us,” said Dick, in a kind voice. Jo loved a bit of kindness and couldn’t resist this.