“You think there has been a change， then？” said Eustace.
“It’s not only me，” said Jill. “Everyone‘s been sayingo.They’ve noticed it. Eleanor Blakiston heard Adela ennyfather talking about it in our changing room yesterday. he said， ‘Someone’s got hold of that Scrubb kid. He‘s quite nmanageable this term. We shall have to attend to him next.’” Eustace gave a shudder. Everyone at Experiment House new what it was like being “attended to” by Them.
Both children were quiet for a moment. The drops drippedoff the laurel leaves.
“Why were you so different last term？” said Jill presently.
“A lot of queer things happened to me in the hols，” said Eustace mysteriously.
“What sort of things？” asked Jill.
Eustace didn‘t say anything for quite a long time. Then he said： “Look here， Pole， you and I hate this place about as much as anybody can hate anything， don’t we？”
“I know I do，” said Jill.
“Then I really think I can trust you.” “Dam‘ good of you，” said Jill.
“Yes， but this is a really terrific secret. Pole， I say， are you good at believing things？ I mean things that everyone here would laugh at？”
“I’ve never had the chance，” said Jill， “but I think I would be.”