Miss Chandler moved some books from the mantel in the living-room. She pulled a knob. The whole front of the mantel came down and there was a deep box with a mattress.
“This is a folding-bed,” said Miss Chandler. “Did you ever sleep in one?”
“Never,” said Dora.
“Will it shut up while we are in it?” asked Lucy doubtfully.
“It can’t do that,” said Miss Chandler. She showed them a bolt which kept the bed from shutting until the proper time in the morning. Even if at heart it wanted to close, it couldn’t until the people were ready to put it away.
Miss Chandler brought sheets and blankets, and in five minutes a comfortable bed was ready for two tired little girls. Soon they were tucked into it.
“I shall be reading in my bedroom for a while,” said Miss Chandler. “If you want anything, just speak to me.”
Miss Chandler expected that the children would talk for a time, but they did not. Lucy was sleepy and Dora had so much to think about that she didn’t feel like talking. Very soon Lucy was asleep.
Dora watched the wind blow the sash curtain before the open window and then she suddenly discovered a strange thing. It was exactly like a bright round eye on the wall near the door.
Dora looked at it hard, and the longer she looked, the less she liked it. How could a person or an animal with one eye be staring at her in the dark? How could any eye shine like that?