switched off the lights in a hurry and locked the door behind us.
We hardly breathed until we were back in the kitchen again, and
everything quiet. And then Jimmy called my name from up above
somewheres.

"I am going to call him down, Bella," I said firmly. "Let him
help you out. I'm sure I don't see why I should have all this
when the two of you--"

"Oh, no, no! Surely, Kit, you wouldn't be so cruel!" she
whispered pleadingly. "You know what he would think. He--oh, Kit,
let them all get settled for the night, and then come down, like
a dear, and help me out. I know loads of ways--honestly I do."

"If I leave you here," I debated, "what about the policeman?"

"Never mind him"--frantically. "Listen! There's Jim up in the
pantry. Run, for the sake of Heaven!"

So--I ran. At the top of the stairs I met Jimmy, very crumpled as
to shirt-front and dejected as to face.

"I've been hunting everywhere for you," he said dismally. "I
thought you had added to the general merriment by falling
downstairs and breaking your neck."

I went past him with my chin up. Now that I had time to think
about it, I was furiously angry with him.

"Kit!" he called after me appealingly, but I would not hear. Then