Anne of Windy Poplars - L. M. Montgomery [53]
‘I do like it. I’ve always liked washing dishes. It’s fun to make dirty things clean and shining again.’
‘Oh, you ought to be in a museum!’ snapped Nora.
By moonrise everything was ready for the shore dance. The boys had a huge bonfire of driftwood ablaze on the point, and the waters of the harbour were creaming and shimmering in the moonlight. Anne was expecting to enjoy herself hugely, but a glimpse of Nora’s face, as the latter went down the steps carrying a basket of sandwiches, made her pause.
‘She’s so unhappy. If there was anything I could do!’
An idea popped into Anne’s head. She had always been a prey to impulse. Darting into the kitchen, she snatched up a little hand-lamp alight there, sped up the back stairs and up another flight to the attic. She set the light in the dormer window that looked out across the harbour. The trees hid it from the dancers.
‘He may see it and come. I suppose Nora will be furious with me, but that won’t matter if he only comes. And now to wrap up a bit of wedding-cake for Rebecca Dew.’
Jim Wilcox did not come. Anne gave up looking for him after a while, and forgot him in the merriment of the evening. Nora had disappeared, and Aunt Mouser for a wonder had gone to bed. It was eleven o’clock when the revelry ceased and the tired moonlighters yawned their way upstairs. Anne was so sleepy that she never thought of the light in the attic. But at two o’clock Aunt Mouser crept into the room and flashed a candle in the girls’ faces.
‘Goodness, what’s the matter?’ gasped Dot Fraser, sitting up in bed.
‘S-s-s-sh!’ warned Aunt Mouser, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. ‘I think there’s someone in the house. I know there is. What is that noise?’
‘Sounds like a cat mewing or a dog barking,’ giggled Dot.
‘Nothing of the sort,’ said Aunt Mouser severely. ‘I know there’s a dog barking in the barn, but that is not what wakened me. It was a bump – a loud, distinct bump.’
‘ “From ghosties and ghoulies and lang-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night, good Lord, deliver us,” ’ murmured Anne.
‘Miss Shirley, this ain’t any laughing matter. There’s burglars in this house. I’m going to call Samuel.’
Aunt Mouser disappeared, and the girls looked at each other.
‘Do you suppose…? All the wedding presents are down in the library,’ said Anne.
‘I’m going to get up, anyhow,’ said Mamie. ‘Anne, did you ever see anything like Aunt Mouser’s face when she held the candle low and the shadows fell upward, and all those wisps of hair hanging about it? Talk of the Witch of Endor!’
Four girls in kimonos slipped out into the hall. Aunt Mouser was coming along it, followed by Dr Nelson in dressing-gown and slippers. Mrs Nelson, who couldn’t find her kimono, was sticking a terrified face out of her door.
‘Oh, Samuel, don’t take any risks! If it’s burglars they may shoot!’
‘Nonsense! I don’t believe there’s anything,’ said the doctor.
‘I tell you I heard a bump,’ quavered Aunt Mouser.
A couple of boys joined the party, which crept cautiously down the stairs, with the doctor at the head and Aunt Mouser, candle in one hand and poker in the other, bringing up the rear.
There were undoubtedly noises in the library. The doctor opened the door and walked in.
Barnabas, who had contrived to be overlooked in the library when Saul had been taken to the barn, was sitting on the back of the chesterfield, blinking amused eyes. Nora and a young man were standing in the middle of the room, which was dimly lit by another flickering candle. The young man had his arms round Nora, and was holding a large white handkerchief to her face.
‘He’s chloroforming her!’ shrieked Aunt Mouser, letting the poker fall with a tremendous crash.
The young man turned, dropped the handkerchief, and