"Master _Jack_!" she cried out, holding up
her hands in horror; "a little b'y like you out late's this! What'd your
pa say to such doin's, an' Miss Marston? An' there's Miss Nora gone to
bed, thinkin' it's safe an' aslape ye are."
"Oh, hush, cook! it's _all_ right. Don't say anything; please don't," I
said softly; then I let her go upstairs ahead of me.
The drawing-room was all dark, and the light in the hall was turned down
low. The house was very quiet,--everybody had gone to bed; and after
thinking it over, I made up my mind I'd wait downstairs and let the boys
in before they could ring,--I forgot that Phil had taken possession of
papa's latch-key, and was using it. I sat on the steps listening, and
what d'you think? I must have fallen asleep, for the first thing I knew
there were Phil and Felix in the hall, and Phil was closing the front
door. "Oh, I see,--as usual, our gentle Rosebud's to the front,"
exclaimed Phil, still keeping his hand on the knob of the door; "all
right, then he can help you upstairs," and he turned as if to go out.
"What!" Fee cried out in a sharp, startled voice, "you are _never_ going
back to that crowd!"
"That's just what I _am_ going to do," answered Phil; his voice sounded
thick and gruff.
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