“Yes,” Sibyl assented, “it would. And it didn't sound exactly like burglars.”
She followed him half-way up the second flight of stairs, and stood there while he explored the third story throughout.
“There ain't anything there,” he reported without looking at her, and was about to pass her on the stairs in going down.
“Oh, thank you very much, Lemuel,” she said, with fervent gratitude in her voice. She fetched a tremulous sigh. “I suppose it was nothing. Yes,” she added hoarsely, “it must have been nothing. Oh, let me go down first!” she cried, putting out her hand to stop him from passing her. She resumed when they reached the ground floor again. “Aunty has gone out, and Jane was in the kitchen, and it began to grow dark while I sat reading in the drawing-room, and all at once I heard the strangest noise.” Her voice dropped deeply on the last word. “Yes, it was very strange indeed! Thank you, Lemuel,” she concluded.
“Quite welcome,” said Lemuel dryly, pushing on towards the basement stairs.
“Oh! And Lemuel! will you let Jane give you your supper in the dining-room, so that you could be here if I heard anything else?”
“I don't want any supper,” said Lemuel.
The girl scrutinised him with an expression of misgiving. Then, with a little sigh, as of one who will not explore a painful mystery, she asked: “Would you mind sitting in the dining-room, then, till aunty gets back?”
“I'd just as lives sit there,” said Lemuel, walking into the dark dining-room and sitting down.
“Oh, thank you very much. Aunty will be back very soon, I suppose. She's just gone to the Sewells' to tea.”