`` Make yourselves at home , '' she said , producing her pipe from her pocket . `` I ai n't one of the kind who thinks their houses too good to live in . Guess I wo n't bother washing the dishes . They 'll do yez for breakfast if yez do n't forget your places . I s ` pose none of yez smokes . '' `` No , '' said Felicity , rather primly . `` Then yez do n't know what 's good for yez , '' retorted Peg , rather grumpily . But a few whiffs of her pipe placated her and , observing Cecily sigh , she asked her kindly what was the matter . `` I 'm thinking how worried they 'll be at home about us , '' explained Cecily . `` Bless you , dearie , do n't be worrying over that . I 'll send them word that yez are all snug and safe here . '' `` But how can you ? '' cried amazed Cecily . `` Better not ask , '' said Peg again , with another glance at the skull . An uncomfortable silence followed , finally broken by Peg , who introduced her pets to us and told how she had come by them . The black cat was her favourite . `` That cat knows more than I do , if yez 'll believe it , '' she said proudly . `` I 've got a rat too , but he 's a bit shy when strangers is round . Your cat got all right again that time , did n't he ? '' `` Yes , '' said the Story Girl .
`` Thought he would , '' said XXXXX , nodding sagely .
Peg breakfast cat dearie glance sigh silence strangers time word