"Oh!"
I waited in a guilty and trembling silence for the Angel to return. What if Mary should take it into her head to come and help him off with his overcoat? She often did. I softly opened the outer door. If she didn't hear him enter, all would be well.
Presently he came up. He got out of the elevator stealthily, and I met him with my finger on my lip.
"Aren't you going to take off your hat?" I said, as he stole down the corridor.
"Can't!" he whispered. "I've got cream puffs in it."
I only waited to ward off an attack from the rear. I put my head in at the butler's pantry.
"Mary, I have such a headache that I am going to bed now, so be as quiet as you can, won't you?"
"I'll come and open the bed for you right this instantaneous minute, my poor dear child," she said, taking her hands out of the dish-water.
"No, I'll open it! I don't mind in the least," I said, eagerly.
"Not at all! Do you think I'll be letting you lift your hand when you're sick?"