"Hum! Then I'm afraid something _did_ happen," went on Mr. Peterkin still more gently. "Yes, I'm _sure_ of it," he added as the sound of some one coming down the garden path could be heard. "Here comes Alvirah. Something has happened. Do--do you want to run?" he asked, for rumor had it that Mrs. Peterkin was possessed of no gentle temper and Mr. Peterkin--well, he was a very mild-mannered man, every one knew that. "Do you want to run?" he asked again.