The Manor House School

ng Sus

elled, as mysterious rooms ought to be, but had an old-fashioned and rather ugly wallpaper, adorned with big bunches of grapes and flowers; and there was a plain, whitewashed ceiling

or four-post bed; in fact, the only article of any description to be seen was a large horn lantern that hung from a hook in the ceiling. The

t hide in," said Lindsay. "It was so loud,

uncanny. Let us

into the arms of Mrs. Wilson, who, still in black bonnet and mantle, had returned from the

e gave a gasp of consternation, peeped hastily inside the empty room, th

business, and keep to your own places, instead of poking and ferreting about into matters that don't concern you. I can't have you rambling a

he swept the two girls downstairs before her, muttering angrily as she went, and d

re alone, and able to talk things over. "Miss Russel

in an empty room, in such a deserted part

e looked quite ag

Perhaps she has some reason beyond mere fussiness and nasti

nd of a

e had discovered

she tell

nd to take some

h, that she knows where it is. She was housek

Lindsay. "We must watch her, and find o

ad a better opportunity than she of searching the old house? She might even have been present when her eccentric master stowed his fortune so carefully away. If

"only we must keep our eyes and ears open, in c

ttract her special attention; but they looked out for the slightest chance of following her movements, dodging round corners, and stalking her along

ussell. "I shall have to make a new rule, that nobody is to come upstairs until ten minutes before meals. In this lovely weather I e

ture to disobey openly, and judged it wiser to let things rest for the present, until the mistress s

is handicap," said Lindsay. "We mustn't on any account let Mi

w and say nuffin'', like B

s, and there were certainly many small excitements, apart from mysterious chambers or hidden treasures. A

he found them cowering behind the bed curtains, in mortal terror of a large bat that had made its way through the open casement. Earwigs were a constant nuisance, and ev

at the back of the oak panelling, often disturbing the girls at night with the noise. This was particularly noticeable in the room where Lindsay and Ci

Wilson, who made light of all complaints, "they

t possibly gnaw its way into her b

w I should!" she wailed. "I wish Mrs. Wilson would let us

per, and get rid of them all. They wo

hidden behind the wardrobe, or in any other obscure corner. One evening she was making her usual round, armed with a tennis rac

inly; its great big eyes were glaring at

exclaimed Lindsay, in

this instant. She hasn

g-room to cope with the emergency. "I shall send at once for Scott, the gardener, and as

accompanied him, bearing the kitchen poker; and the parlour-maid followed, holding the yard dog by the collar, in case Bill should miss his prey. Miss Frazer and Miss Humphr

ung lady saw it, mum," said Scott, "I'll

oped, and raised the valance with the greatest precaution. Bill

-leastways no rat," said Sc

iss Russell. "It couldn'

, mum," said Scott, suppressing a grin. "If you'll kind

ding down, gave an exclamation as she dre

right eyes. I never saw a more perfect resemblance. I should certainly have been deceived. Well, I'm glad our chase has been a case of much ado about nothing. I think you may go

oke in the school, and a subject of

sing-gown is a tiger next

ave been sure about it first, before

a wily rat, and wa

nd saw that it was

o was fond of Alice, and ha

us, when we were waiting to hear

in your scares next

en just as frightened yourselves," retorted Cic

e," sympathized Lindsay, leading her friend away. "I've thought of s

, the two girls went boldly to Mrs. Wi

, quite amiably, for a wonder. "It's not

t, thank you. We're not going to put any

ysterical giggle that Mrs. Wilson

could you let us have some scraps of dark cloth? Perhaps t

ho straightened her face with an effort. "We're going to

imly. "I should be glad to see you using your needle for o

ching their work-baskets, they retired to a remote part of the garden, where they were not likely to be disturbed. If Mrs. Wilson had imagined they were about to engage in some fine and

esult of their labours. It really was not a bad imitation of a rat. It had a n

in the least. They wouldn't notice them. What a good thing it's l

t a four-poster," said Cicely, chuckl

ed their preparations. The arrangements were ingenious. They fastened their rat very lightly by two pieces of thin sewing cotton to the middle of the piece of tapestry that formed the roof of the grea

he rat right on to their chests," said Lindsay, justly proud of her inventive power

o which a second string was tied, and c

anything," said Cicely. "Won't it

nnocently as usual, having wished Ber

" laughed Lindsay, "but I thought it would be wise

t us get up as soon as we hear the cloc

footed figures stole gently across the landing. Fortunately everything was perfectly quiet in the upper

s," breathed Lindsay. "Have you got yours

led loudly inside the box. They could hear

is t

anxious and wideawake to

w. Oh, there

this time

if it were u

ly it's n

ered Cicely, pullin

e other rooms on the landing, but to bring Miss Frazer hurrying up from the library. Lindsay and Cicely dropped their strings and fled, not a se

's the matter," said Cicely. "If you and I

e to own up, in any c

r of practical jokes. "I only wish I could have seen their faces when the rat plumped on to them. They needn't ta