"What are you doing down here?" he asked sharply. "I told you to stop upstairs."
"I've only just come down."
"Any message?"
"No, none at all."
"One might come just when you are fooling about here," he frowned. "Why don't you do as I tell you?"
Avelyn, crouched under the manger, could not see his face, but she could hear the bullying tone in his voice.
"Do you think I feed you and educate you for you to do just as you like?" continued Mr. Hockheimer angrily. "What would become of you if it weren't for me, I should like to know? Another time when I set you to do anything you'll do it, or I'll know the reason why. Here, get up and let me pass!"
He pulled her roughly off the ladder and walked up himself. His footsteps creaked on the boarded floor above, then all was silence. Pamela crept softly up the ladder, peeped into the room above, and descended as quietly as she came; then, crossing to the stall where Avelyn was hidden, put her finger on her lips for silence and beckoned her friend towards the door. She led her hurriedly along the garden. Neither spoke a word till they reached the palings.
"I'm awfully sorry I came, Pam!" apologized Avelyn.
"Never mind, you couldn't help it. How should you know Uncle Fritz would be here?"