Then he thought of a game. The lay figure was a captured princess and William was the gallant rescuer. He went outside, opened the front door cautiously, crept into the hall, hid behind the door, dashed into the studio, caught up the figure in his arms and dashed into the street with it. The danger and exhilaration of a race for freedom through the streets with Annabel in his arms was too enticing to be resisted. As a matter of fact the flight through the streets was rather disappointing. He met no one and no one pursued him....
He staggered up the steps to Aunt Emma’s house still carrying Annabel. There, considering the matter for the first time in cold blood, he realised that his rescue of Annabel was not likely to be received enthusiastically by his home circle. And Annabel was not easy to conceal. The house seemed empty but he could already hear its inmates returning from their walk. He felt a sudden hatred of Annabel for being so large and unhidable. He could not reach the top of the stairs before they came in at the door. The drawing-room door was open and into it he rushed, deposited Annabel in a chair by the fireplace with her back to the room, and returned to the hall. He smoothed back his hair, assumed his most vacant expression and awaited them. To his surprise they crept past the drawing-room door on tiptoe and congregated in the dining-room.
“A caller!” said Aunt Emma. “Did you see?” “Yes, in the dining-room,” said Mrs. Brown. “I saw her hat through the window.”
“Curse!” said Uncle Frederick.
“The maids must have shown her in before they went up to change. I’m simply not going to see her. On Christmas day, too! I’ll just wait till she gets tired and goes or till one of the maids comes down and can send her away!”
“Sh!” said Uncle Frederick, “She’ll hear you.”
Aunt Emma lowered her voice.
“I don’t think she’s a lady,” she said. “She didn’t look it through the window.”
“Perhaps she’s collecting for something,” said Mrs. Brown.
“Well,” said Aunt Emma sinking her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “If we stay in here and keep very quiet she’ll get tired of waiting and go.”