Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 76: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

68 BOB PEMBERTON IN THE WRONG ROOM. ‘‘Gypsy—what does she know about it?’’ demands the other, suddenly, and her voice grows even harder than usual, if that can be possible. “T see I must tell you the story before you will consent to let me leave here and seek my own apartments.’’ ‘‘Oh, certainly. If there is a story, relate it, but please be brief. I am notin the habit of receiving gentlemen in a dressing gown.’’ She releases his arm, however. ‘The room is not wholly dark, now that his eyes have become accus- tomed to it, for the moonlight outside is in a measure reflected through the window. ‘““T was sitting at my window, smoking—Senator John had gone to sleep in his chair, when my atten- tion was attracted by a moving figure in the moon- light below. Watching the man, I became convinced that he meant some evil, and, seeing how easily I could reach the ground, I determined to follow and see what he was up to. ‘“This I did. Presently he was joined by a man from the house, and the two conferred together. J ust as they were about setting fire to some brush and dead leaves gathered against the side of the house, Miss Gypsy appeared and gave both of them a good hiding, while I watched the fun until they ran away.” He can hear something like the grating of teeth, but takes no notice of the sound. ‘“Well?’’ she says, with an effort. ‘‘I congratulated Miss Gypsy on her proficiency with the riding whip, and regretted that the rascals had proven too cowardly to give mea show. Then I COMME OO KS.(6OLM