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The moment was not propitious for following her,since Grimpus was looking at
me. Besides, Iliked the notion; it would be a good story to tell Archie. It was
portentouslysolemn, but I thought I saw a twinkle in the eye. The Virginia
creeper wassound, and in less than a minute I was outside Aunt Letitiaswindow.
I protested again that he was mistaken, but I might as well haveappealed to a
post. I dinna hold wi lockin folksup because a pernicketty doctor says theyre
no wise. Evidently Brumbys doings had got about, and there were suspicionsof
his sanity. He had a lot of badinage with Zenobia about her life inthe desert.
But that was all in darkness, and I guessed that the windows wereshuttered.
In
less than twenty minutes I had reachedthe gate in the wall by which I had
entered.
It was aswell that I had made a plan with Aunt Letitia. I waspretty
certain that my horse had long ago made a bee-line for theLarristane stables. I
put the pipe away, and wondered what lunatic asylum I hadwandered into. He had
a lot of badinage with Zenobia about her life inthe desert. After that I took
off mycoat and worked like a beaver. I had to take two pills and some horrid
drops outof a brown bottle. I crept out of my refuge and found the old man
regarding mesolemnly under the swinging lamp. Brown, he began solemnly,which I
didna altogether believe. Miggles orders are positive that you restto-day. Ive
had enough of this sun-bath, I told him, and I feel aheadache coming.
I put the
pipe away, and wondered what lunatic asylum I hadwandered into.
Yedbetter seek
the ither side o the road among the bracken.
For a moment I had a horrid
suspicion that he knew me, for theyused to call me Brummy at school. At nine
oclock I shallhave my window open, and if you enter by it you can leave by
thedoor. She was dozing, andmercifully did not see me. There was nobody in
theWynd but some children playing, and the odds were four to one.
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