And then he hopped for joy! And little Mr. Hedgehog was sitting on his hillock and he was so glad that his radishes were coming on so nicely, and his wife was standing by the hedge, gossiping with Mrs. Mole, who had just got a new fur for the Autumn....” “Sister....” “Yes?” “Can the water from down there be coming up after us?” “Why, little brother?” “I can hear it gurgling....” “Don’t listen to the water, little brother ... just listen to what Mrs. Hedgehog has to chatter about!” “Yes, sister, but the water is chattering so loud ... I think it chatters much louder than Mrs. Mole....” “Come away from the stupid water, little brother.... Come here to me! You can’t hear the water here!” “I can’t come to you sister! I can’t move, sister.... Can’t you come and fetch me?” “Me too, sister—yes, me too!—me too!” “I can’t do that, little brothers, little sisters! Your youngest brothers and sisters are on my lap. They have gone to sleep and I mustn’t wake them!” “Oh sister, are we sure to get out?” “Why do you ask as if you were frightened, little brother?” “The floor is shaking so and stones are tumbling down from the ceiling!” “Have those silly stones hurt you?” “No, but my little sister’s lying down and she’s not moving any more.” “Don’t disturb her, little brother. Your sister’s asleep!” “Yes, but she was crying just now...!” “Don’t be sorry little brother that she had gone where she need not cry any more....” “Where has she gone to, then, sister?” “To heaven, I think.” “Is heaven so near, then?” “Oh yes, quite near. I can even see the door from here! And if I’m not wrong, Saint Peter is standing there, in front of it, with a large golden key, waiting until he can let us in....” “Oh, sister ... sister!! Now the water’s coming up—! Now it’s got hold of my feet! Now it’s lifting me up—!” “Sister!! Help me, sister.—The water has come—!!” “God can help you—Almighty God!” “Sister, I’m frightened!” “Are you frightened of going into the lovely heaven?” “Is it lovely in heaven?” “Oh—glorious—glorious!” “Is Foxy Fox in heaven, too—and little Mr. Hedgehog?” “I don’t know! Shall I ask Saint Peter about it?” “Yes, sister.... Are you crying?” “No, why should I be crying?—Saint Peter—! Saint Peter—!” “Did he hear?” “Dear God, how cold the water is....” “Saint Peter—! Saint Peter—!!” “Sister.... I think he answered, just now....” “Really, little brother?” “Yes ... somebody was calling....” “Yes, I heard it, too!” “... So did I....” “... So did I....” “Hush, children, hush....” “Oh, sister, sister—!” “Hush, please—please—!” “... Maria—!” “Freder—!!!” “Maria—are you there—?” “Freder—Freder—here I am! Here I am, Freder—!!” “On the stairs?” “Yes!” “Why don’t you come up?” “I can’t raise the door!” “Ten trains have run together.... I can’t come to you! I must go and get help!” “Oh, Freder, the water’s already close behind us!” “The water—?” “Yes!—And the walls are falling in!” “Are you hurt—?”