Part 27 (2/2)
Bob did stay on after he was quite well and strong, and he entirely justified Eustace's prophecy He provedapparently could have been done without him ”But for Bob,” said Mrs Orban, ”I don't believe we should ever be ready in time”
It was he who saw to the soundness of the travelling boxes, to thecase; he who had advice and assistance to give to every one, and as certainly the life and spirit of the party in the evenings when other people seeood fors as to the wisdo her husband Mr Orban hih he insisted on the trip, was naturally a little sad at the prospect
Even Aunt Dorothy--the witch--had herso rapidly to a close Only to Nesta and Peter did the ti heavy, as if it would never pass
”You'll have to cos before the great departure
”I wish I could,” she said; ”but I am quite sure mother and father won't see the force of that”
”Well, I think you ought to--don't you, Mrs Orban?” Bob said
”Miss Chase hasn't had half enough Colonial experiences yet”
”The few you have given h,” said the girl merrily ”I don't know that I really want any ood for one,” said Bob ”Besides, there is another way of looking at it--isn't there, Nesta? It has been proved you are a witch You ought to be brought back by ood people all off to England with you”
”So she ought,” said Nesta gleefully ”She must be burned at the stake We'll make you come”
”We will, Aunt Dorothy,” cried Peter, ready for the fray; ”and if you won't, we'll get Bob to come and fetch you”
”Will you really, Peter Perky?” retorted Aunt Dorothy ”I should like to see you Why, Mr Cochrane wouldn't set his nose inside England for all the witches in the world”
”Well, no, perhaps not for all the witches in the world,” said Bob thoughtfully; ”they ht prove rather too much for me But what a lot of nonsense we talk, to be sure”
The nonsense had the effect of sending Miss Chase to bed quite unusually et off to sleep for wondering whether she ever would cos ued, ould ever have thought of her coo?
She had becoht sounds that had at first puzzled and so about the life that delighted her--it was so free, such an open air existence! ”They seee of the veranda,” she thought ”I think England will feel a little stiff and shut in after it”
It was a bright ht awoke and fancied it must be day He crowed so loudly over his discovery that he roused a great enemy of his, who replied in husky irritation and no measured terms that he was a fool But thecockerels took the matter up as a joke, and crowed persistently in spite of all remonstrance from the rest of the poultry
Miss Chase put her head under the bedclothes and tried to shut out the sound, but in vain Besides, it was far too hot to sleep with a buried nose and ht shut, she set herbut sleep She must have lain like that for quite ten minutes, when suddenly her eyes unclosed in spite of her, just as if they orked by a spring, and she was as wide awake as ever At least so she fancied the first instant, but the next she thought shebut Nesta's regular breathing--and yet at the other side of the rooure of a man
Her first impulse was to call out, her second prompted caution, and she pinched herself hard to make sure whether she ake or not There was no doubt about it--she was not asleep; the pinch hurt considerably, and the s on her dressing-tablefor valuables Knowing the story of the dark visitor who had frightened every one so before her arrival, Miss Chase had followed the general rule and left nothing of any value lying about, though no one thought a thief would venture into the house now that it was so full Here he certainly was, however, and the question was, ”What ought she to do?”
Miss Chase lay absolutely still, her heart beating to suffocation, herthat this was the saht be of a much more desperate and vicious character Had she been alone shefor help, but there was also Nesta to be considered; she dared not expose the child to a knock on the head to silence her
Theinto nooks and corners in a stealthy, silent way that was most eerie to watch
Miss Chase bore it until at last he went towards Nesta's bed with that cat-like, sinister gait The horror of his approaching the helpless sleeper at the other side of the rooirl's strained nerves His back was towards her; he fancied her asleep Slipping her hand under her pillow she drew out a small revolver, then sat up softly and took careful aim There was a report, a howl of fear and pain, and thefrom her bed with a terrified yell and rushed to her aunt, who sat, still pointing her weapon at the intruder, with a look of griroan thepitifully He disappeared out on to the veranda, leaving a trail of blood across the uncarpeted floor
”Now go for your father,” said Miss Chase, giving the treirl a push ”Tell hi, but she had not reached the door before it opened and Mr Orban dashed in