"
Solomon John started up.
"Let us see if we are blocked up on the east side of the house!" he
exclaimed.
"Of what use," asked Mr. Peterkin, "since we have no door on the
east side?"
"We could cut one," said Solomon John.
"Yes, we could cut a door," exclaimed Agamemnon.
"But how can we tell whether there is any snow there?" asked
Elizabeth Eliza,"for there is no window."
In fact, the east side of the Peterkins' house formed a blank wall.
The owner had originally planned a little block of semi-detached
houses. He had completed only one, very semi and very detached.
"It is not necessary to see," said Agamemnon, profoundly; "of
course, if the storm blows against this side of the house, the house
itself must keep the snow from the other side."
"Yes," said Solomon John, "there must be a space clear of snow
on the east side of the house, and if we could open a way to that "
"We could open a way to the butcher," said Mr. Peterkin,
promptly.
Agamemnon went for his pick-axe. He had kept one in the house
ever since the adventure of the dumb-waiter.
"What part of the wall had we better attack?" asked Mr. Peterkin.
Mrs. Peterkin was alarmed.
"What will Mr. Mudge, the owner of the house, think of it?" she
exclaimed. "Have we a right to injure the wall of the house?"
"It is right to preserve ourselves from starving," said Mr. Peterkin.
"The drowning man must snatch at a straw!"
"It is better that he should find his house chopped a little when the
thaw comes," said Elizabeth Eliza, "than that he should find us
lying about the house, dead of hunger, upon the floor.
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