"I wonder what's here!" she exclaimed.
"Rats!"
The girl in the doorway saw the dark, into which the low door opened; she was used to rats in the dark.
"I don't believe it," says Hazel; "Luclarion has a cut, a great big buff one with green eyes. She came in over the roofs, and she runs up here nights. I shouldn't wonder if there might be kittens, though,—one of these days, at any rate. Why! what a place to play 'Dare' in! It goes way round, I don't know where! Look here, Desire!"
She sat on the threshold, that went up a step, over the beam, and so leaned in. She had one eye toward the girl all the time, out of the shadow. She beckoned and nodded, and Desire came.
At the same moment, the coast being clear, the girl gave a sudden scud across, and into the swing. She began to scuff with her slipshod, twisted shoes, pushing herself.
Hazel gave another nod behind her to Desire. Desire stood up, and as the swing came back, pushed gently, touching the board only.
The girl laughed out with the sudden thrill of the motion. Desire pushed again.
Higher and higher, till the feet reached up to the window.
"There!" she cried; and kicked an old shoe off, out over the roof. "I've lost my shoe!"