human
Vita went out somewhere. She often does, and you see I was going over to camp, so there was, really, no one at home.
gpt
Your dying princess has come down stairs to die,
human
Princess?
gpt
Or was it merely a maid in waiting--excuse me, your _man_ in waiting.
human
Wyn, shouted Laddie,
gpt
There is someone in the kitchen, declared Treble.
human
Here she comes!
gpt
Hello! called out Vita.
human
What's this? A party?
gpt
No, it isn't Vita, Nora managed to answer.
human
I was almost scared to death----
gpt
Let me tell her, Nora,
human
I'm not going in that house with her until Cousin Ted comes home, declared Nora.
gpt
Vita is always putting me off. She knows what that noise up in the attic is.
human
Have you heard it before?
gpt
Yes, a number of times----
human
Then, if the moaner did not die before, Nora, what makes you think the present attack would be fatal?
gpt
Land sakes, Wyn! Will you hush? Fun is all right in its place but this is serious,
human
Looks it,
gpt
Nonsense, standing here like a----
human
Serenading party, finished Laddie.
gpt
Let's begin.
human
Serenading?
gpt
You coming in? No?
human
No. We are not coming in, declared Nora, who had stepped up to the door at which the spacious Vita stood.
gpt
We heard a noise up in the attic and we were coming in to investigate, but we won't now.
human
Perhaps she doesn't know a thing about it, suggested Laddie.
gpt
Don't you think, Nora, we ought to go in and look around?
human
No, I don't. She is in the plot, or secret or whatever it is, declared Nora aside.
gpt
When I first came here I heard it----
human
Why didn't you tell us?
gpt
I don't know, murmured Nora.
human
You know I had queer ideas at first,
gpt
We know, but we all have--at first, admitted Laddie.
human
I used to think I would love Thistle, and see what she has done to us with her old bossing.
gpt
Can't we go to the bench and talk it over?
human
Oh, no, please don't, begged Nora.
gpt
I don't know just what I fear, but actually, girls, she did whisper this,
human
I am as much afraid of Vita now as I am of the thing up in the attic.
gpt
Your nice, fat, good natured Vita?
human
I don't mean that I am afraid of her all the time, Nora hastened to correct.
gpt
She is as good as gold, generally, and I am sure Vita is honorable. But it is that attic affair--she is in some way connected with that, and I am not going to take a chance of getting frightened again tonight. You have no idea how I felt, up there all alone, in fact I was all alone in the house when I heard that groan.
human
Groan? Wyn could not resist.
gpt
I thought it was a moan?
human
We can bring Nora back home about the time she expects her Cousin Jerry, Betta's suggestion included.
gpt
There is no sense in subjecting her to more terror with the Italian woman.
human
For once I agree with you, Betta, answered Thistle.
gpt
March back to the Chickadee, every Scout of you, and see that you don't wallow in that mud puddle.
human
But the prince? inquired Wyn.
gpt
Is he to walk through ordinary mud puddles?
human
No. Of course not. You and the other big girl, Treble by name, are to carry him. Avaunt!
gpt
Oh please----
human
Put your royal arms around me,
gpt
If you don't you may be dumped,
human
Listen! ordered someone.
gpt
Here comes the whole camp! Are we out after hours?
human
If we are we can plead emergency, explained Thistle.
gpt
How could we wait for permission when someone was moaning to death?