“It is very strange,” muttered Mr. Thornton. “It certainly seemed to me inside the house.”
In the hall outside the nursery he met old Eliza, the nurse.
“Have you been into Master Kenneth’s room?” she asked. “I thought the noise came from there, though I don’t see how it could be so.”
“It can’t be, of course,” said Mr. Thornton, but he went into Kenneth’s room, where the boy was still sleeping soundly. It was just at this moment that Kenneth at last woke up.
“What is the matter?” he murmured, blinking sleepily. “What is the matter, Papa?”
“We heard a bell ring,” said his father, “and Eliza thought that it came from here. Did you hear it?”
“No, Papa,” said Kenneth drowsily, “I didn’t hear any bell,” and turning over he went fast asleep again. It was a quarter past four, and Captain Prout was just rowing away from the beach, where he had looked in vain for his little passenger.
“I knew he would forgit to come!” he chuckled.
From Kenneth’s room Mr. Thornton went to Rose’s. He found her standing by the window in her little blue wrapper, looking out towards the woods.
“Oh, Papa, what is it?” she said eagerly. “Do you think it was the fairies?”