“I don’t know,” replied Jimmie. “I must have kicked the panel that worked the spring. Let’s see if we can move it back again. Here’s the place in the floor,” and bending over he pressed on a sliding board in the floor. Instantly the wall began slipping back in place. The others leaped back into the first attic, and in a moment the partition had fitted itself as snugly as if it never had been moved.
“All is as if it never had been,” exclaimed Jimmie. “Now let’s find the place I kicked.”
But try as they would, no one could locate the spot again.
“Well, of all that’s curious and mysterious!” said Stephen. “Jimmie, go and turn a few more wheels and see if it happens again.”
Jimmie did as he was bade, and kicked the wall vociferously from one end to the other but it never budged an inch.
In the meantime, Martin and the girls were diving into some old trunks and carved chests which were filled with clothes of another date, old-fashioned silks and dimities that had been worn by the major’s grandmother and aunts.
“There is a trunkful of men’s things, too,” called Stephen, leaving the sliding partition, to join in the rummage.
“I say, girls,” cried Jimmie, “wouldn’t it be fun to give a fancy dress party some day, and surprise the major and Miss Stuart?”
“How delightful!” exclaimed the girls in one voice.
“Oh, pshaw!” said Martin, disgusted.