The figure advanced directly toward me.
"Oh, Dr. Glover!" she whispered, "I am so glad to get down before you went away!"
I stared in amazement at the speaker, but even in the dim light I recognized her. This was the human being whose expected presence at the Collingwood mansion was taking me there to spend Christmas.
"Kitty!" I exclaimed—"Miss Burroughs, I mean,—what is the meaning of this?"
"Don't ask me for any meanings now," she said. "I want you and your uncle to take me to the Collingwoods'. I suppose you are on your way there, for they wrote you were coming. And oh! let us be quick, for I'm afraid Jane will come down, and she will be sure to wake up aunty. I saw one of you go out to the barn, and knew you intended to leave, so I got ready just as fast as I could. But I must leave some word for aunty."
"I have written a note," said I. "But are you well enough to travel?"
"Just let me add a line to it," said she. "I am as well as I ever was."
I gave her a pencil, and she hurriedly wrote something on the paper which I had left on the kitchen table. Then, quickly glancing around, she picked up a large carving-fork, and sticking it through the paper into the soft wood of the table, she left it standing there.
"Now it won't blow away when we open the door," she whispered. "Come on."
"You cannot go out to the barn," I said; "we will bring up the sleigh."