boys?" whispered Nancy, placing a detaining hand on her friend's arm.

"But that would be a needless alarm. Everybody would want to know what
was the matter. There would have to be explanations and Cousin Helen
would be frightened. Besides, I am sure it was just your vivid
imagination, Nancy."

She opened the door very softly and peeped in. The room was flooded with
the radiance of two shaded lamps, both burning brightly; in fact, one had
been turned up too high, as if lighted in haste.

"Oh," gasped Nancy, in amazement.

But Billie was determined not to be surprised.

"Take my word for it, Nancy; one of the servants put out the lights by
mistake, thinking we had finished in here for the night, and when you
returned he or she was frightened and lit them again, thinking that
honorable American young lady might be displeased."

Nancy found her handkerchief.

"Very well," she said. "If that is your expert opinion I am willing to
abide by it, but I was fright--"

Before she could finish one of the long French windows blew open and a
gust of wet wind extinguished the lamp on a table near the window. Billie
marched boldly over and closed and bolted the window.

"Whoever it was," she said, "must have got out this way."