Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "Doyoulikeme?"askedBetty’sRoger,shyly.

           Heneverhadananswer,foratthisverymomentthesharpbeamfromthepocketlightcutacrossthegrayshadowsoftheroomandshonerightinhisface.Hesprangup,andBettygaveacry;therewasaburstofgigglingandthesoundofhastyshufflingfeet,retreatinginthedirectionofthehall.

           Youcannotseeanythingwhenyouhavejustbeenblindedbyalight.Butyoucanhear.AndBettyandRogerheardthelaughter—mischievous,delightedlaughterthatseemedtobubblefromthedirectionofthecurtain.

           "It’smyhorridlittlebrother,"saidBetty."I’llteachhimalesson…"

           Ericcouldnotstoplaughing.

           "Ofcourseshelikesyou,"heshouted."Andwhyshouldn’tshe?Bettylikesallboys,andthat’safact."

           Then,inthesilencethatfollowed,therewasathudandstillmorelaughter.

           "Calm,becalm!"whisperedKarlssonwhenthetentcollapsedintheirwildflightforthedoor.

           Ericwasascalmashecouldbeinthecircumstances,althoughhewasstillbubblingwithlaughter,andKarlssonhadfallenrightacrosshimsothathedidnotquiteknowwhichlegswerehisownandwhichwereKarlsson’s,andheknewthatBettywouldcatchupwiththematanymoment.

           TheyscrambledtotheirfeetasfastastheycouldandrushedtowardEric’sroominwildpanic,becauseBettywasclosebehind.

           "Calm,becalm!"whisperedKarlsson,andhisfatlittlelegsbeatlikedrumsticksundertheblanketasheran