Another , a dilapidated , striped beastie , with both ears and one eye gone , glared at us from the sofa in the corner . A dog , with only three legs , lay behind the stove ; a crow sat on a roost above our heads , in company with a matronly old hen ; and on the clock shelf were a stuffed monkey and a grinning skull . We had heard that a sailor had given Peg the monkey . But where had she got the skull ? And whose was it ? I could not help puzzling over these gruesome questions . Presently tea was ready and we gathered around the festal board -- a board literally as well as figuratively , for Peg 's table was the work of her own unskilled hands . The less said about the viands of that meal , and the dishes they were served in , the better . But we ate them -- bless you , yes ! -- as we would have eaten any witch 's banquet set before us . Peg might or might not be a witch -- common sense said not ; but we knew she was quite capable of turning every one of us out of doors in one of her sudden fierce fits if we offended her ; and we had no mind to trust ourselves again to that wild forest where we had fought a losing fight with the demon forces of night and storm . But it was not an agreeable meal in more ways than one . Peg was not at all careful of anybody 's feelings . She hurt Felix 's cruelly as she passed him his cup of tea . `` You 've gone too much to flesh , boy . So the magic seed did n't work , hey ? '' How in the world had Peg found out about that magic seed ? Felix looked uncommonly foolish . `` If you 'd come to me in the first place I 'd soon have told you how to get thin , '' said Peg , nodding wisely . `` Wo n't you tell me now ? ''
asked Felix eagerly , his desire XXXXX melt his too solid flesh overcoming his dread and shame .
If behind from in of over than that to with