“But you must have done it in your sleep, because—”
“I never. I was wide awake as you be.”
“But why did you snore? You couldn't have fallen asleep between the door and the bed. And you hadn't quite reached the bed when I got here.”
“I—I—I—Aw, shut up!”
Brown smiled blandly. “I will,” he said, “provided you promise to keep this door shut and don't do any more spying.”
“Spyin'? What do you mean by that?”
“Just what I said. You and I had a discussion concerning that same practice when I fell over the bank at the Slough a while ago. I was not spying then, but you thought I was, and you didn't like it. Now I think you are, and I don't like it.”
“Wh—what—what would I be spyin' on you for? Wh—what reason would I have for doin' it?”
“No good reason; because I have no intention of visiting our new neighbors—none whatever. That being understood, perhaps you'll shut the door and keep it shut.”
Seth looked sheepish and guilty.