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〃Oh！〃 said Greta timidly。
〃If you are afraid；〃 said Christian； 〃you had better go back home。〃
〃I am not afraid； Chris；〃 said Greta meekly。
Neither girl spoke again till they had taken the path along the wall。
Over the tops of the vines the heat was dancing。
〃The sun…fairies are on the vines！〃 murmured Greta to herself。
At the old house they stopped； and Christian； breathing quickly；
pushed the door； it was immovable。
〃Look！〃 said Greta； 〃they have screwed it！〃 She pointed out three
screws with a rosy…tipped forefinger。
Christian stamped her foot。
〃We mustn't stand here；〃 she said； 〃let's sit on that bench and
think。〃
〃Yes；〃 murmured Greta； 〃let us think。〃 Dangling an end of hair； she
regarded Christian with her wide blue eyes。
〃I can't make any plan；〃 Christian cried at last； 〃while you stare at
me like that。〃
〃I was thinking；〃 said Greta humbly； 〃if they have screwed it up；
perhaps we shall screw it down again； there is the big screw…driver
of Fritz。〃
〃It would take a long time； people are always passing。〃
〃People do not pass in the evening；〃 murmured Greta； 〃because the
gate at our end is always shut。〃
Christian rose。
〃We will come this evening； just before the gate is shut。〃
〃But； Chris； how shall we get back again？〃
〃I don't know； I mean to have the pictures。〃
〃It is not a high gate；〃 murmured Greta。
After dinner the girls went to their room； Greta bearing with her the
big screw…driver of Fritz。 At dusk they slipped downstairs and out。
They arrived at the old house； and stood； listening； in the shadow of
the doorway。 The only sounds were those of distant barking dogs； and
of the bugles at the barracks。
〃Quick！〃 whispered Christian； and Greta； with all the strength of her
small hands； began to turn the screws。 It was some time before they
yielded； the third was very obstinate； till Christian took the screw…
driver and passionately gave the screw a starting twist。
〃It is like a pigthat one；〃 said Greta； rubbing her wrists
mournfully。
The opened door revealed the gloom of the dank rooms and twisting
staircase； then fell to behind them with a clatter。
Greta gave a little scream； and caught her sister's dress。
〃It is dark；〃 she gasped； 〃O Chris！ it is dark！〃
Christian groped for the bottom stair； and Greta felt her arm
shaking。
〃Suppose there is a man to keep guard！ O Chris！ suppose there are
bats！〃
〃You are a baby！〃 Christian answered in a trembling voice。 〃You had
better go home！〃
Greta choked a little in the dark。
〃I amnotgoing home； but I'm afraid of bats。 O Chris！ aren't you
afraid？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Christian； 〃but I'm going to have the pictures。〃
Her cheeks were burning； she was trembling all over。 Having found
the bottom step she began to mount with Greta clinging to her skirts。
The haze above inspired a little courage in the child； who； of all
things； hated darkness。 The blanket across the doorway of the loft
had been taken down； there was nothing to veil the empty room。
〃Nobody here； you see；〃 said Christian。
〃No…o；〃 whispered Greta； running to the window； and clinging to the
wall； like one of the bats she dreaded。
〃But they have been here！〃 cried Christian angrily。 〃They have
broken this。〃 She pointed to the fragments of a plaster cast that
had been thrown down。
Out of the corner she began to pull the canvases set in rough； wooden
frames； dragging them with all her strength。
〃Help me！〃 she cried； 〃it will be dark directly。〃
They collected a heap of sketches and three large pictures； piling
them before the window； and peering at them in the failing light。
Greta said ruefully：
〃O Chris！ they are heavy ones； we shall never carry them； and the
gate is shut now！〃
Christian took a pointed knife from the table。
〃I shall cut them out of the frames；〃 she said。 〃Listen！ What's
that？〃
It was the sound of whistling； which stopped beneath the window。 The
girls； clasping each other's hands； dropped on their knees。
〃Hallo！〃 cried a voice。
Greta crept to the window； and； placing her face level with the
floor； peered over。
〃It is only Dr。 Edmund； he doesn't know； then；〃 she whispered； 〃I
shall call him； he is going away！〃 cried Christian catching her
sister's
〃Don't！〃 cried Christian catching her sister's dress。
〃He would help us；〃 Greta said reproachfully； 〃and it would not be so
dark if he were here。〃
Christian's cheeks were burning。
〃I don't choose；〃 she said； and began handling the pictures； feeling
their edges with her knife。
〃Chris！ Suppose anybody came？〃
〃The door is screwed；〃 Christian answered absently。
〃O Chris！ We screwed it unscrewed； anybody who wishes shall come！〃
Christian； leaning her chin in her hands； gazed at her thoughtfully。
〃It will take a long time to cut these pictures out carefully； or；
perhaps I can get them out without cutting。 You must screw me up and
go home。 In the morning you must come early； when the gate is open；
unscrew me again； and help carry the pictures。〃
Greta did not answer at once。 At last she shook her head violently。
〃I am afraid；〃 she gasped。
〃We can't both stay here all night；〃 said Christian； 〃if any one
comes to our room there will be nobody to answer。 We can't lift
these pictures over the gate。 One of us must go back； you can climb
over the gatethere is nothing to be afraid of〃
Greta pressed her hands together。
〃Do you want the pictures badly； Chris？〃
Christian nodded。
〃Very badly？〃
〃Yesyesyes！〃
Greta remained sitting where she was； shivering violently； as a
little animal shivers when it scents danger。 At last she rose。
〃I am going；〃 she said in a despairing voice。 At the doorway she
turned。
〃If Miss Naylor shall ask me where you are； Chris； I shall be telling
her a story。〃
Christian started。
〃I forgot that …O Greta； I am sorry！ I will go instead。〃
Greta took another stepa quick one。
〃I shall die if I stay here alone；〃 she said； 〃I can tell her that
you are in bed； you must go to bed here； Chris； so it shall be true
after all。〃
Christian threw her arms about her。
〃I am so sorry； darling； I wish I could go instead。 But if you have
to tell a lie； I would tell a straight one。〃
〃Would you？〃 said Greta doubtfully。
〃Yes。〃
〃I think；〃 said Greta to herself； beginning to descend the stairs； 〃I
think I will tell it in my way。〃 She shuddered and went on groping
in the darkness。
Christian listened for the sound of the screws。 It came slowly；
threatening her with danger and solitude。
Sinking on her knees she began to work at freeing the canvas of a
picture。 Her heart throbbed distressfully； at the stir of wind…
breath or any distant note of clamour she stopped； and held her
bre