Cassy fell over a stack of washtubs, and called on all the saints to help her.
Mrs. Hawkins ordered Alice to let her go, and Cassy to get up, and me to move on.
She was obeyed. A great general was our grandmother, and we all knew it!
We left the dining-room, locking the last door behind us. We dodged the dark, blind alley, sheltered the candle from the drizzling mist, and went around into the kitchen and called Hector from above.
The old man answered, and soon came toddling down the narrow stairs.
"Hector, have you heard those noises?" inquired Mrs. Hawkins.
"The Lord between us and evil! I've heern, mist'ess! I've heern!"
"What do you suppose it is?"
A dubious, solemn shake of the head was the old man's only reply.
"Can't you speak, Hector? How do you account for these noises? Come! no mysteries; answer if you can; what are they?"