She clasped her hands to her forehead in absolute bewilderment. Jasper went and locked the kitchen door.
“Now we are safe,” she said; “and you two had best go into the bedroom. Yes, you had, for when he comes along it is the wisest plan for him to find the kitchen locked and the place in darkness. He will never think of my bedroom; and, indeed, when the curtains are drawn and the shutters shut you cannot get a blink of light from the outside, however hard you try.”
“Come, Sylvia,” said Evelyn. She took Sylvia’s hand and dragged her into the bedroom.
“But why have you come, Evelyn? Why is it?” said poor Sylvia, in great distress and alarm.
“You will have to welcome me whether you like it or not,” said Evelyn; “and what is more, you will have to be true to me. I came here because I have run away—run away from the school and the fuss and the disgrace of to-morrow—run away from horrid Aunt Frances and from the horrid Castle; and I have come here to dear old Jasper; and I have brought my own money, so you need not be at any expense. And if you tell you will—— But, oh, Sylvia, you will not tell?”
“But this is terrible!” said Sylvia. “I don’t understand—I cannot understand.”
“Sit down, Miss Sylvia, dearie,” said Jasper, “and I will try to explain.”
Sylvia sank down on the side of the little white bed.
“Now I know why you were getting this ready,” she said. “You would not explain to me, and I thought perhaps it was for me. Oh dear! oh dear!”
“I longed to tell you, but I dared not,” said Jasper. “Would I let my sweet little lady die or be disgraced? That is not in me. She will hide here with me for a bit, and afterwards—it will come all right afterwards, my dear Miss Sylvia. Why, there, darlings! I love you both. And see what I have been planning. I mean to go up-stairs to-night and sleep in your room, Miss Sylvia. Yes, darling; and you and Miss Evelyn can sleep together here. The supper is all ready, and I have had as much as I want. I mean to go quickly; and then if your father comes along and rattles at the kitchen door he’ll get no answer, and if he peers through the keyhole, the place will be black as night. Then, being made up of suspicions, poor man, he’ll tramp up-stairs and he’ll thunder at your door; but it will be locked, and after a time I’ll answer him in your voice from the heart of the big bed, and all his suspicions will melt away like snow when the sun shines on it. That is all, Miss Sylvia; and I mean to do it, and at once, too; for if we were so careful and chary and anxious before, we must be twice as careful and twice as chary now that I have got the precious little Eve to look after.”