Rain began to fall. At first it came in a heavy downpour, then slackened somewhat. The wind no longer tore at the doors.
“You’ll be able to go any time now,” said Fenestra. “I can let you have an umbrella.”
“It’s still rather bad,” answered Penny. “If you don’t mind, I believe we’ll wait a few minutes longer.”
The decision displeased the man. Frowning, he turned to gaze at the girls somewhat critically.
“Who sent you here?” he demanded. “Why did you come?”
His manner was so suspicious that Penny sensed it was no time to reveal the real purpose of the visit. Instead she said:
“My father has a cottage along the river. We were returning from there when the storm broke.”
Her explanation seemed to satisfy the man. He shrugged and fell to pacing the floor restlessly.
The rain presently ceased. Penny and Louise felt that they no longer could delay their departure. Saying good-bye to Fenestra, they left the house.
Rounding a corner of the building, they were startled to hear a light tap on the window. Glancing up, they saw Tillie Fellow’s face pressed against the pane.