“Ask on,” said Mr. Fanshawe.
“I know that you will think the request I am going to make a peculiar one; but I have a particular reason for making it,” continued she. “It is that you will have the wooden daïs in front of the laundry window removed.”
Mr. Fanshawe certainly was taken aback, as were we all. When he had mastered his bewilderment, and assured himself that he had heard aright—
“It is, indeed, a strange request, my dear Catherine,” said he; “what can be your reason for asking such a thing?”
“If you will only have it done, and not question me, you will understand my reason,” answered Catherine.
Mr. Fanshawe demurred, however, thinking it some foolish whim, and at last Catherine said:
“I must tell you why I wish it done, then: I am sure we shall discover something underneath.”
At this we all looked at one another in extreme bewilderment.
“Discover something underneath? No doubt we should—cobwebs, probably, and dust and spiders,” answered Mr. Fanshawe, much amused.
But Catherine was not to be laughed down.