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As Bentharilass canopy in theover theht for a moment before I realized they were motionless, another of Bentha, Miss Troupial, and Miss Grebe," Benthari the wax ymbrynes The ladies were posed cals, frozen inits paw at an enemy Its other paw rested alers were hooked around one of its long nails, as if to demonstrate her casual reat-uncle," Bentharunted

"If only you could do that with hollows," Erimbear?" I asked Bentham

"Years," he replied "Grims are naturally very independent"

"Years," I whispered to Emma

Emma rolled her eyes "And is Alexi made of wax, too?" she said to Bentham

"Oh no, he’s taxider peculiar folk did not extend to peculiar aniht, there’d be fireworks

I shivered Emma ran a wariveofftea, and tea there shall be!"

Bentha We followed theh other parts of the house It was in e richroos whose sole purpose sees But in each roo else, were always a few objects from Bentham’s peculiar collection

"Fifteenth-century Spain," he said, indicating a glea in a hall "Had it love!"

At last we came to the library--the most beautiful I’d ever seen Bentham told PT to set him down, brushed fur froh at least, with shelves rising to dizzying heights above us An array of staircases, catwalks, and rolling ladders had been constructed to reach them

"I confess I haven’t read the on it"

He ushered us toward a battalion of couches surrounding a fla by the fire were Sharon and Nim "Call me an untrustworthy lout!" Sharon hissed, but before he berated me further Bentham shooed him away to fetch us blankets We were under the protection of thewould have to wait

Within a minute ere seated on a couch and wrapped in blankets Niilded trays, and PT, curled before the fla into a state of hibernation I tried to resist the feeling of cozy contentedness that was beginning to settle overquestions and seely intractable problems Our friends and yned ourselves It was enough to crush ht about it all at once So I asked Nih creaulps and asked for more

Sharon had retreated to a corner, where he could sulk but still overhear our conversation

Eer to dispense with the fornored her He was sitting across frorin on his face