“No, my child. Wouldn’t have hurt a fly!”

“Ay, but I am afraid I shouldn’t have beat you at all, unless I had meant to hurt you,” said Bella. “Did I pinch your legs, Pa?”

“Not much, my dear; but I think it’s almost time I⁠—”

“Oh, yes!” cried Bella. “If I go on chattering, you’ll be taken alive. Fly, Pa, fly!”

So, they went softly up the kitchen stairs on tiptoe, and Bella with her light hand softly removed the fastenings of the house door, and Pa, having received a parting hug, made off. When he had gone a little way, he looked back. Upon which, Bella set another of those finger seals upon the air, and thrust out her little foot expressive of the mark. Pa, in appropriate action, expressed fidelity to the mark, and made off as fast as he could go.