" And without another word she turned and went upstairs. As
she reached the landing her sister ran out of her room in great alarm.
"What is the matter, Charlotte? I heard two explosions."
"It is nothing, Eleanor. Some men broke into the house, and we have
gone down and frightened them away. I did not think it was worth while
disturbing you, as you are so easily alarmed; but it is all over now,
and the servants are shutting up the house again. I will tell you all
about it in the morning. Go to bed again at once, or you will catch
cold. Good-night."
Directly Miss Penfold had gone upstairs a hubbub of talk burst out
from the female servants.
"It's disgraceful, John! With that great gun you ought to have shot
them all dead."
"It went off by itself," John said, "just as I was going to level it."
"Went off by itself!" the cook said scornfully. "It never went off of
itself when it was hanging above your bed. Guns never go off by
themselves, no more than girls do. I am surprised at you, John. Why, I
have heard you talk a score of times of what you would do if burglars
came; and now here you have been and knocked a big hole in the
ceiling. Why missus has twenty times as much courage as you have. She
shot straight, she did, for I heard one of the men give a squalk. Oh,
you men are pitiful creatures, after all!"
"You wouldn't have been so mighty brave, cook, if Miss Penfold and me
hadn't been in front of you.
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