But we found and heard no trace of our lost pet . The Story Girl moped and refused to be comforted ; Cecily declared she could not sleep at night for thinking of poor Paddy dying miserably in some corner to which he had dragged his failing body , or lying somewhere mangled and torn by a dog . We hated every dog we saw on the ground that he might be the guilty one . `` It 's the suspense that 's so hard , '' sobbed the Story Girl . `` If I just knew what had happened to him it would n't be QUITE so hard . But I do n't know whether he 's dead or alive . He may be living and suffering , and every night I dream that he has come home and when I wake up and find it 's only a dream it just breaks my heart . '' `` It 's ever so much worse than when he was so sick last fall , '' said Cecily drearily . `` Then we knew that everything was done for him that could be done . '' We could not appeal to Peg Bowen this time . In our desperation we would have done it , but Peg was far away . With the first breath of spring she was up and off , answering to the lure of the long road . She had not been seen in her accustomed haunts for many a day . Her pets were gaining their own living in the woods and her house was locked up . CHAPTER XI . THE WITCH 'S WISHBONE When a fortnight had elapsed we gave up all hope . `` Pat is dead , '' said the Story Girl hopelessly , as we returned one evening from a bootless quest to Andrew Cowan 's where a strange gray cat had been reported -- a cat which turned out to be a yellowish brown nondescript , with no tail to speak of . `` I 'm afraid so , '' I acknowledged at last . `` If only Peg Bowen had been at home she could have found him for us , '' asserted Peter . `` Her skull would have told her where he was . ''
`` I wonder if the wishbone she gave me would have done any good , '' cried XXXXX suddenly .
Cecily Cowan Paddy Peg WISHBONE XI evening first fortnight night