up to a farm door to ask for a crust of bread and cheese, for in
spite of the plums they were soon just as hungry as ever again.

Now there is no doubt whatever that, if the four had been ordinary
wingless children, that black and fierce dog would have had a good bite
out of the brown-stockinged leg of Robert, who was the nearest. But at
its first growl there was a flutter of wings, and the dog was left to
strain at his chain and stand on his hind-legs as if he were trying to
fly too.

They tried several other farms, but at those where there were no dogs
the people were far too frightened to do anything but scream; and at
last, when it was nearly four o'clock, and their wings were getting
miserably stiff and tired, they alighted on a church-tower and held a
council of war.

"We can't possibly fly all the way home without dinner _or_ tea," said
Robert with desperate decision.

"And nobody will give us any dinner, or even lunch, let alone tea," said
Cyril.

"Perhaps the clergyman here might," suggested Anthea. "He must know all
about angels"--

"Anybody could see we're not that," said Jane. "Look at Robert's boots
and Squirrel's plaid necktie."

"Well," said Cyril firmly, "if the country you're in won't _sell_
provisions, you _take_ them. In wars I mean. I'm quite certain you do.