Dorothy was not sure whether she dreamed it, or really heard sounds stirring under the trees. She had been thinking of the Gypsy girl, and Tavia, as she fell asleep, and when she suddenly awoke in the middle of the night, there seemed to be some one moving about just under the window of her room. It was so quiet that even faint sounds could be heard, and Dorothy lay there listening for some time, after being aroused. Presently something banged—like a blind being slammed back. There was no breath of wind—surely someone must have opened the shutter¹!

 

The moonlight came in through the casement² and illuminated³ the room enough for her to see to get up and reach her door. It was but a step to the boys’ apartment. She would call them, she decided⁴, but was most anxious not to disturb her father or aunt.

 

[130]

Strange to say when Dorothy had slipped on her dressing⁵ gown and slippers⁶ and knocked at the door of the boys’ room, she found them both awake, for they had answered her light tap at once. A moment later they were in the corridor, attired⁷ in their big bath robes.

 

“I’m sure I heard a footstep at the side porch,” whispered Dorothy.

 

“So did I,” answered Ned. “I’ve been awake for a long time, listening.”

 

“Perhaps you had better go down,” suggested Dorothy nervously⁸. “It might be a tramp.”

 

“Tramp nothing,” declared Nat boldly, as he made his way softly to the front door. “I’ll bet it’s our friend Urania. I was sure she would call this evening.”

 

Without the slightest fear the brothers opened the door, and searched about for a possible intruder. They even looked under the lilac bush at Dorothy’s window, but no midnight prowlers were discovered.

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