Chapter 7 QUEER HAPPENINGS
Timmy stopped barking and tried to get away from George's hand on his collar. But she would not lethim. George was not easily frightened, but what with the thunderstorm, the queer old cottage andnow Timmy's sudden excitement, she wanted him near her.
'What is it?' asked Anne, in a scared whisper.
'I don't know. I can't even imagine,' said George, also in a low voice. 'Perhaps it's nothing - just thethunderstorm that has upset him and made him nervous. We'll keep awake a bit, and see if we hearanything queer.'
They lay quietly in their corner, and George kept a firm hand on Timmy. He growled¹ once or twice,but did not bark any more. George began to think it really must have been the storm that had upsethim.
A rumble² of thunder came again - the storm was returning, or else another one was blowing up!
George felt relieved. 'It's all right, Anne. It must have been the thunder and lightning in the distancethat upset Timmy. You're silly, Timmy - scaring us like that!'
Crash - rumble - crash! Yes, certainly the storm was gathering³ force again! Timmy barked angrily.
'Be quiet! You make more noise than the thunder!' said George, crossly. 'No, you can't go out into therain, Timmy. It's begun again, as bad as before. You'd only get dripping wet - and then you'd want tocome and sit as close to me as possible and make me wet too. I know you!'
'No - don't let him go, George,' said Anne. 'I like him here with us. My word - what a storm! I hope itwon't strike this cottage.'
'Well, considering that it must have stood here for three or four hundred years, and have seenthousands of storms, I expect it will come safely through one more!' said George. 'Where are yougoing, Anne?'
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'Just to look out of the window,' said Anne. 'Or out of the place where the window used to be! I liketo see the countryside suddenly lit up for just one moment in a lightning flash - and then go back todarkness again.'
She went to stand at the window. There came the crash of thunder, not far away, and a brilliant flashof lightning. Anne stared over the countryside, which had suddenly become visible in the flash - andthen disappeared like magic in a second!
Anne gave a sudden cry and stumbled back to George. 'George - George...'
'Whatever's the matter?' asked George, alarmed.
'There's someone out there - people!' said Anne, clutching George and making her jump. 'I saw themjust for an instant, when the lightning flashed.'
'People? What sort of people?' said George, astonished. 'How many?'

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