Cecily took the wishbone in her trembling little hands and began her backward pacing , repeating solemnly , `` I wish that we may find Paddy alive , or else his body , so that we can bury him decently . '' By the time Cecily had repeated this nine times we were all slightly infected with the desperate hope that something might come of it ; and when she had made her nine gyrations we looked eagerly down the sunset lane , half expecting to see our lost pet . But we saw only the Awkward Man turning in at the gate . This was almost as surprising as the sight of Pat himself would have been ; but there was no sign of Pat and hope flickered out in every breast but Peter 's . `` You 've got to give the spell time to work , '' he expostulated . `` If Pat was miles away when it was wished it would n't be reasonable to expect to see him right off . '' But we of little faith had already lost that little , and it was a very disconsolate group which the Awkward Man presently joined . He was smiling -- his rare , beautiful smile which only children ever saw -- and he lifted his hat to the girls with no trace of the shyness and awkwardness for which he was notorious . `` Good evening , '' he said . `` Have you little people lost a cat lately ? '' We stared . Peter said `` I knew it ! '' in a triumphant pig 's whisper . The Story Girl started eagerly forward . `` Oh , Mr. Dale , can you tell us anything of Paddy ? '' she cried . `` A silver gray cat with black points and very fine marking ? '' `` Yes , yes ! '' `` Alive ? '' `` Yes . ''
`` Well , does n't XXXXX beat the Dutch ! ''
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