As he was not undressed, he lost no time in opening his door and entering with his lamp the front hall. As he did so his mother's door opened, and her delicate, alarmed old face, frilled with white cambric, appeared.
“Oh, who is it at this time of night, do you suppose, Randolph?” she whispered.
“I don't know, mother dear; don't be frightened.”
But she came quite out in her white night draperies, which made her appear singularly massive. “Oh, do you suppose there are burglars in the store?” she said.
“No. Don't worry, mother.”
“Do you suppose it is fire?”
“No; there is no alarm.”
“Randolph, you won't open the door until you have asked who it is. Promise me.”
“It is nobody to be afraid of, mother.”
“Promise me.”