"Here's lockers under these window-seats," he explained, with a dignified wave of the hand. "Here's books an' maps in this set o' shelves. Here's a small pianner that plays itself when you turn on the electricity——"
There was a stumbling crash and a suppressed cry at the foot of the stairs.
With his heart in his mouth, Droop leaped to the chandelier and turned out the lights; then rushed to the state-rooms and was about to turn their switches as well, when a familiar voice greeted their ears from below—
"Don't be scared—it's only Phœbe."
"What ever possessed—" began Rebecca, in a low tone.
But at that moment Phœbe's head appeared over the stair rail in the light shed from the two state-rooms.
"Won't you light up again, Mr. Droop?" she said, merrily, smiling the while into her sister's crestfallen face. "I heard you two leavin' the house, an' I just guessed what you'd be up to. So I followed you down here."
She dropped into one of the chairs beside the table just as Droop relighted the lamps.
With one slender hand resting upon the table, she looked up into Droop's face and went on:
"I was havin' a dreadful time, stumbling over stocks an' stones at every step, till suddenly there was quite a light struck my face, and first I knew I was lookin' right into your lighted windows. I guess we'll have a pleasant meetin' here of all the folks in town pretty soon—not to mention the skeeters, which are comin' right early this year!"