Children like that feels like young wolves an' food's flesh an' blood to 'em," said Mrs.Sowerby.Then she smiled Dickon's own curving smile.

"Eh! but they're enjoyin' theirselves for sure," she said.
She was quite right, the comfortable wonderful mother creature--and she had never been more so than when she said their "play actin'" would be their joy.

Colin and Mary found it one of their most thrilling sources of entertainment.

The idea of protecting themselves from suspicion had been unconsciously suggested to them first by the puzzled nurse and then by Dr.Craven himself.
"Your appetite is improving very much, Master Colin," the nurse had said one day.

"You used to eat nothing, and so many things disagreed with you." "Nothing disagrees with me now," replied Colin, and then seeing the nurse looking at him curiously he suddenly remembered that perhaps he ought not to appear too well just yet.