"How long I sat after I had eaten my bread and honey, I
don't know. The little man was busy about the room, pulling a
string here, and a string there, but chiefly the string at the
back of the door. I was thinking with some uneasiness that he
would soon be wanting me to go out and clean the windows, and I
didn't fancy the job. At last he came up to me with a great
armful of dusters. 'It's time you set about the windows,' he
said; 'for there's rain coming, and if they're quite clean
before, then the rain can't spoil them.' I got up at once. 'You
needn't be afraid,' he said. 'You won't tumble off. Only you
must be careful. Always hold on with one hand while you rub with
the other.' As he spoke, he opened the door. I started back in
a terrible fright, for there was nothing but blue air to be
seen under me, like a great water without a bottom at all. But
what must be must, and to live up here was so much nicer than
down in the mud with holes in my shoes, that I never thought of
not doing as I was told. The little man showed me how and where
to lay hold while I put my foot round the edge of the door on to
the first round of a ladder. 'Once you're up,' he said, 'you'll
see how you have to go well enough.' I did as he told me, and
crept out very carefully.
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