Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "Ican’tstandinjustice,"hesaid."I’mgoingintothesittingroom,nomatterwhat."

           Andthetentbegantowalktowardthedoor.Ericwasforcedtogo,too.Achubbylittlehandreachedoutandgraspedthedoorknob,openingthedoorveryquietlyandcautiously.Thetentwalkedoutintothehall,whichwasseparatedfromthesittingroomonlybyaheavycurtain.

           "Calm,becalm!"whisperedKarlsson.Andwithoutasinglesound,thetentglidedacrossthehallfloorandstoppedatthecurtain.Thetalkingcouldnowbeheardmoreclearly,butnotsoclearlythatyoucoulddistinguishanywords.Theyhadnotturnedonthesitting-roomlamp.BettyandherRogerwereevidentlycontentwiththefainttwilightfromoutside.

           "Good,"whisperedKarlsson."Thenourlightwillshowupallthebetter."Butforthepresenthehadthelightswitchedoff,"Becausewe’regoingtoarriveasadelightfulsurprise,"whisperedKarlsson,smilingcontentedlyundertheblanket.

           Slowly,slowlythetentglidedforwardfrombehindthecurtain.BettyandRogerweresittingonthesmallcouchbytheoppositewall.Slowly,slowlythetentmovedintheirdirection.

           "Ilikeyou,Betty,"Ericheardaboy’shuskyvoicesaying.Whatafoolhemustbe,thatRoger!

           "Doyou?"saidBetty,andtherewassilenceagain.

           Likeadarkhillockthetentglidedacrossthefloor.Slowlyandsurelyitwenttowardthecouch—nearerandneareritmoved;nowitwasonlyafewfeetaway,butthetwosittingthereneitherheardnorsawit.