“All right,” assented Lemuel. When he appeared in the upper entry and flashed the gas up, he saw Sibyl standing at the reception-room door, with her finger closed into a book which she had been reading.
“You're not to say that you will do one thing when you're told to do another.”
Lemuel whitened a little round the lips. “I'm not to do two things at once, either, I suppose.”
Sibyl ignored this reply. “Please go and get your supper, and when you've had it come up here again. I've some things for you to do.”
“I'll do them now,” said Lemuel fiercely. “I don't want any supper, and I sha'n't eat any.”
“Why, Lemuel, what is the matter with you?” asked the girl, in the sudden effect of motherly solicitude. “You look very strange, you seem so excited.”
“I'm not hungry, that's all,” said the boy doggedly. “What is it you want done?”
“Won't you please go up to the third floor,” said Sibyl, in a phase of timorous dependence, “and see if everything is right there? I thought I heard a noise. See if the windows are fast, won't you?”
Lemuel turned and she followed with her finger in her book, and her book pressed to her heart, talking. “It seemed to me that I heard steps and voices. It's very mysterious. I suppose any one could plant a ladder on the roof of the L part, and get into the windows if they were not fastened.”
“Have to be a pretty long ladder,” grumbled Lemuel.