"
The policeman looked from one to the other, smiling slightly when
he understood the case.
"The locksmith!" he exclaimed; "he is a new fellow, and I did not
recognize him, and arrested him! Very well, I will go and let him
out, that he may let you in!"
and he hurried away, surprising the Peterkin family with what
seemed like insulting screams of laughter.
"It seems to me a more serious case than it appears to him," said
Mr. Peterkin.
Mrs. Peterkin did not understand it at all. Had burglars entered the
house? Did the policeman say they had taken spoons ? And why
did he appear so pleased? She was sure the old silver teapot was
locked up in the closet of their room. Slowly the family walked
towards the house, and, almost as soon as they, the policeman
appeared with the released locksmith, and a few boys from the
street, who happened to be out early.
The locksmith was not in very good humor, and took ill the jokes
of the policeman. Mr. Peterkin, fearing he might not consent to
open the door, pressed into his hand a large sum of money. The
door flew open; the family could go in.
Amanda arrived at the same moment. There was hope of breakfast.
Mrs. Peterkin staggered towards the stairs. "I shall never go to
another carnival!" she exclaimed.
THE PETERKINS AT THE FARM. YES, at last they had
reached the seaside, after much talking and deliberation, and
summer after summer the journey had been constantly postponed.
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