He tried to be dignified. “Wha’s matter?” he asked. “I’m all right.”
She winked. “But if father could only see you now!”
He became amiable again. “Thass all right,” he declared, “I’m going to bed. He’s sleeping th’ sleep of th’ just. Thass dad. Sleep of the just!”
“Sure,” she agreed. “But you know what he’d do to you.”
A door opened, in the hall above. A step sounded. Hetty, quick as light, led Wint under the stair where he was invisible from above, and signed him to be quiet. The elder Chase called down the stairs: “Who’s that?”
“Me, Mr. Chase,” said Hetty. “I tripped. I’m sorry if I woke you up.”
She heard Chase say something under his breath; but when he answered, his tone was affable. “All right. Time you were abed, Hetty.”
“Uh-huh! I went to see my mother.”
“That’s all right. Good night!”
“Good night!”