His own ill humour was reflected in her scowl as she followed Maria down
the stairs to drive Fritz out into the dark. They stood a moment in the
open door, after Maria had slapped him with her apron to make him go off
the porch.

"Oh, look at the new moon!" cried Lloyd, pointing to the slender
crescent in the autumn sky.

"I'se feared to, honey," answered Maria, "less I should see it through
the trees. That 'ud bring me bad luck for a month, suah. I'll go out on
the lawn where it's open, an' look at it ovah my right shouldah."

While they were walking backward down the path, intent on reaching a
place where they could have an uninterrupted view of the moon, Fritz
sneaked around to the other end of the porch.

No one was watching. He slipped into the house as noiselessly as his
four soft feet could carry him.

Maria, going through the dark upper hall, with a candle held high above
her head and Lloyd clinging to her skirts, did not see a tasselled tail
swinging along in front of her. It disappeared under the big bed when
she led Lloyd into the room next the old Colonel's.

The child felt very sober while she was being put to bed.

The furniture was heavy and dark. An ugly portrait of a cross old man in
a wig frowned at her from over the mantel. The dancing firelight made
his eyes frightfully lifelike.