THE BOOK OF BETTY BARBER.
there, and that the most important part or it was still missing. He jumped up on the desk in front of him, and held up his hand or silence.
“Friends,” he said, “this book is more troublesome, more terrible, than you think. It must be found, it must be destroyed. Let me tell you all about it.”
“Go on, go on,” shouted several voices.
“You think it is only an exercise book, full of wrong sums,” continued Thirteen-fourteenths.
“Only!” whispered Sois; but the other figures near her said,“Hush, hush!”
“You only troubled about one end of the book,’ said Thirteen-fourteenths. “At the other is written the Diary of Betty Barber.” The Fraction groaned out the name, but the hall was only filled with wondering faces, not horrified ones.
“It would be difficult to tell you all the trouble that diary has caused. An honoured Major, Major C, has been driven out of Music Land; my dear friend ‘Good little Lucy’ is lost—lost in Nonsense Land; Paint Land is almost dried up; and, added to all this, I find you all tired and cross with overwork and worry, your houses neglected, your proper work left; and all through this terrible book, this Book of Betty Barber.”
“This terrible Book of Betty Barber,” shouted Repeater, as Thirteen-fourteenths paused to get his breath.
“We must find this book,” said the Fraction, “and we must tear it into little pieces.”
“Let us all go and look for it,” said Sois.
“Where did you say you put it, Ellessdee?” asked Tare.
Outside, under the big stone,” said Ellessdee, “Come, Thirteen-fourteenths let me show you the way, and you shall look for yourself.”
The Fraction and Ellessdee ran out of the hall, hand in hand, and all the others followed.
There was nothing under the big stone, and after searching near it and round it they went sadly back to the hall.
