Mrs Thistlewick led Peter into her sitting room.
The fire had burned low, leaving only a deep red glow beneath the coals.
Shadows danced across the walls.
The old grandfather clock ticked solemnly in the corner.
On the mantelpiece stood seven small china cats, each facing towards the centre of the room.
Peter was quite certain that one of them winked at him.
“Stand there,” commanded Mrs Thistlewick.
Peter stood beside the hearth.
The old lady lit two candles and settled into her high-backed armchair.
She looked thoroughly cross.
“Peter Collins,” she began, “I thought we had reached a perfectly satisfactory understanding yesterday evening.”
“We had, madam.”
“I thought you had learnt that entering somebody’s property without permission was unacceptable.”
“Yes, madam.”
“And yet here you are again!”
Peter shifted uneasily.
Mrs Thistlewick glanced down at her old carpet slippers.
She slipped one from her foot and examined its worn rubber sole.
“Do you remember this, Peter?”
“Yes, madam.”
“I should think you do.”
She gave the arm of her chair a sharp tap with it.
THWACK!
Peter jumped.
Mrs Thistlewick placed the slipper upon the little table beside her.
“In my day, young man, a carpet slipper was regarded as a very serious warning indeed. Children knew that when an adult took off a slipper, the time for nonsense had come to an end.”
Peter swallowed.
“Now,” she continued, “you are going to stand perfectly still and listen to me.”
For what seemed like a very long time, Mrs Thistlewick delivered a stern lecture about trespassing, frightening elderly people, wandering about at night and behaving like a complete young rascal.
Every time Peter attempted to interrupt, she raised one finger.
“Not yet, young man. I haven’t finished.”
At last, she picked up the slipper once more and brought it firmly down upon the wooden table.
THWACK!
The candles flickered.
The grandfather clock stopped ticking.
Even Sebastian sat up straight.
“That,” announced Mrs Thistlewick, “is twelve minutes of my sleep you have disturbed, and twelve minutes you shall spend putting my garden back in order tomorrow.”
Peter looked miserable.
“Now I want an explanation, and it had better be a good one.”
