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XVIII. An Adventure on the Tory Road
Thehousewasaveryold-fashionedone,situatedonaslope,whichfacthadnecessitatedthebuildingofastonebasementunderoneend.Thehouseandout-buildingswereallwhitewashedtoaconditionofblindingperfectionandnotaweedwasvisibleintheprimkitchengardensurroundedbyitswhitepaling.
“Theshadesarealldown,”saidDianaruefully.“Ibelievethatnobodyishome.”
Thisprovedtobethecase.Thegirlslookedateachotherinperplexity.
“Idon’tknowwhattodo,”saidAnne.“IfIweresuretheplatterwastherightkindIwouldnotmindwaitinguntiltheycamehome.Butifitisn’titmaybetoolatetogotoWesleyKeyson’safterward.”
Dianalookedatacertainlittlesquarewindowoverthebasement.
“Thatisthepantrywindow,Ifeelsure,”shesaid,“becausethishouseisjustlikeUncleCharles’atNewbridge,andthatistheirpantrywindow.Theshadeisn’tdown,soifweclimbedupontheroofofthatlittlehousewecouldlookintothepantryandmightbeabletoseetheplatter.Doyouthinkitwouldbeanyharm?”
“No,Idon’tthinkso,”decidedAnne,afterduereflection,“sinceourmotiveisnotidlecuriosity.”
Thisimportantpointofethicsbeingsettled,Annepreparedtomounttheaforesaid“littlehouse,”aconstructionoflathes,withapeakedroof,whichhadintimespastservedasahabitationforducks.TheCoppgirlshadgivenupkeepingducks...“becausetheyweresuchuntidybirds”...andthehousehadnotbeeninuseforsomeyears,saveasanabodeofcorrectionforsettinghens.
