"I shall try to enjoy myself as well as I can before he comes, because I know it won't be very pleasant after he gets here."
Mrs. Le Bras said nothing, because she was afraid Johnny was about right. As Johnny went up to the laboratory to put up his pipe and the other articles, he looked very sober and thoughtful: he was already planning how he could escape from Felix's racket and nonsense.
When Johnny came down again, Sue said,—
"You didn't explain, after all, how the rug put out the lamp last night."
"Put out the light, you mean. Why, don't you see? The rug prevented the air from reaching the fire, and, as there was no more oxygen to combine with the hydrogen and carbon, there could be no fire."
CHAPTER III.
THE SKY-ROOM.
Johnny felt so badly about the coming of Felix, and begged so hard to be allowed some place of refuge during the stay of this wild guest, that his father said he might have the large back-room in the French roof, if his mother was willing. Mrs. Le Bras said she had no objection, if Johnny did not mind having all the things about that were stored in that room, since there was no other place to put them in. Johnny said all he wanted was somewhere to go when Felix got too rude, where he could be sure Felix would not follow him: he said, too, that he should like to keep the chemicals be was using in the same place; because, if they were not out of the way, Felix would be meddling with them.
"I will have a lock put on the door of the room, and give you the key," said his father; "and then if you let in any one you don't want, it will be your own fault. You can carry the things from your laboratory into this private domicile, and whatever else you wish."
"I will carry most of my books, then," said Johnny; "for I haven't a single book that Felix will want to read."