Then he appeared in the doorway, where he stood turning his eyes from one to another with a wistful, questioning gaze: then words seemed to come from his lips in tones of wonder and inquiry.
"What are you all doing here at this time o' night, when honest folk should be a-bed?"
"Just what I've been asking myself for the last hour," gravely remarked a statue in a niche in the opposite wall.
The effect was startling even to those who understood the thing; more so to the others, Rosie screamed and ran to her father for protection.
"Why, why, why!" cried old Mr. Dinsmore, in momentary perplexity and astonishment.
"Don't be afraid Miss Rosie; I'm a faithful friend, and the woman over there couldn't hurt you if she would," said Bruno, going up to the young girl, wagging his tail and touching his cold nose to her hand.
She drew it away with another scream.
"Dear child," said her sister, "it is only a trick of ventriloquism."
"Meant to amuse, not alarm," added Mr. Lilburn.
Rosie, nestling in her father's arms, drew a long breath of relief, and half laughing, half crying, looked up saucily into Mr. Lilburn's face.