CHAPTER XXXVIII
THE SERPENT
Ernie, who was never very fond of work, had on the Captain's arrival stored his trunks in the dressing-room to save himself the trouble of carting them up to the box-room in the roof.
Now it occurred to him that if a nurse was called in to attend the sick man there might be trouble about the trunks.
On the morning after Mr. Trupp's visit he determined, therefore, to move them before he was found out.
Very early he opened the dressing-room door and blundered in.
A girl with bare arms was standing before the looking-glass, dressing her dark hair; and the bed had been slept in.
"O, beg pardon, Miss," said Ernie, genuinely abashed.
The girl smiled and held up a hushing finger.
"I didn't know, Miss," continued Ernie, still caught in his own confusion.