At last he said: "Look here, you're a curious child, but a nervy one. How'd you like to
see if you can get the Key? If you do we'll go to a hotel and have a
real meal, and we can talk about your Career."
Although quivering with Terror, I consented. How could I do otherwise,
with such a prospect? For now I began to see that all other Emotions
previously felt were as nothing to this one. I confess, without shame,
that I felt the stiring of the Tender Passion in my breast. Ah me, that
it should have died ere it had hardly lived!
"Where is the key?" I asked, in a wrapt but anxious tone.
He thought a while.
"Generaly," he said, "it hangs on a nail at the back entry. But the
chances are that Patten took it up to his room this time, for safety,
You'd know it if you saw it. It has some buttons off sombody's batheing
suit tied to it."
Here it was necessary to hide again, as father came stocking out,
calling me in an angry tone. But shortly afterwards I was on my way
to the Patten's house, on shaking Knees. It was by now twilight, that
beautiful period of Romanse, although the dinner hour also. Through the
dusk I sped, toward what? I knew not.
The Pattens and the one-peace lady were at dinner, and having a very
good time, in spite of having locked a Guest in the bath-house. Being
used to servants and prowling around, since at one time when younger I
had a habit of taking things from the pantrey, I was quickly able to see
that the Key was not in the entry. I therfore went around to the front
Door and went in, being prepared, if discovered, to say that somone was
in their bath-house and they ought to know it. But I was not heard among
their sounds of revelry, and was able to proceed upstairs, which I did.
But not having asked which was Mr. Patten's room, I was at a loss and
almost discovered by a maid who was turning down the beds--much to
early, also, and not allowed in the best houses until nine-thirty, since
otherwise the rooms look undressed and informle.
I had but Time to duck into another chamber, and from there to a closet.
I REMAINED IN THAT CLOSET ALL NIGHT.
I will explain. No sooner had the maid gone than a Woman came into the
room and closed the door. I heard her moving around and I suddenly felt
that she was going to bed, and might get her ROBE DE NUIT out of the
closet. I was petrafied. But it seems, while she really WAS undressing
at that early hour, the maid had laid her night clothes out, and I was
saved.