the front window open。〃
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〃No； Monica； surely not。〃 Bertha sat up also； and thrilled in
sympathy。
〃I am sure of it。 You remember I had forgotten to water the pots； and
then I opened the window； and Jane called me about the jam； and I have
never been in the room since。〃
〃Good gracious； Monica； it is a mercy that we have not been murdered
in our beds。 There was a house broken into at Forest Hill last week。
Shall we go down and shut it？〃
〃I dare not go down alone； dear； but if you will come with me。 Put
on your slippers and dressing…gown。 We do not need a candle。 Now；
Bertha； we will go down together。〃
Two little white patches moved vaguely through the darkness； the
stairs creaked； the door whined； and they were at the front room window。
Monica closed it gently down； and fastened the snib。
〃What a beautiful moon！〃 said she； looking out。 〃We can see as
clearly as if it were day。 How peaceful and quiet the three houses are
over yonder！ It seems quite sad to see that ‘To Let' card upon number
one。 I wonder how number two will like their going。 For my part I
could better spare that dreadful woman at number three with her short
skirts and her snake。 But； oh； Bertha； look！ look！！ look！！！〃 Her voice
had fallen suddenly to a quivering whisper and she was pointing to the
Westmacotts' house。 Her sister gave a gasp of horror； and stood with a
clutch at Monica's arm； staring in the same direction。
There was a light in the front room； a slight； wavering light such as
would be given by a small candle or taper。 The blind was down； but the
light shone dimly through。 Outside in the garden； with his figure
outlined against the luminous square； there stood a man； his back to the
road； his two hands upon the window ledge； and his body rather bent as
though he were trying to peep in past the blind。 So absolutely still and
motionless was he that in spite of the moon they might well have
overlooked him were it not for that tell…tale light behind。
〃Good heaven！〃 gasped Bertha； 〃it is a burglar。〃
But her sister set her mouth grimly and shook her head。 〃We shall
see；〃 she whispered。 〃It may be something worse。〃
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Swiftly and furtively the man stood suddenly erect； and began to push
the window slowly up。 Then he put one knee upon the sash； glanced
round to see that all was safe； and climbed over into the room。 As he did
so he had to push the blind aside。 Then the two spectators saw where the
light came from。 Mrs。 Westmacott was standing； as rigid as a statue； in
the center of the room； with a lighted taper in her right hand。 For an
instant they caught a glimpse of her stern face and her white collar。 Then
the blind fell back into position； and the two figures disappeared from
their view。
〃Oh； that dreadful woman！〃 cried Monica。 〃That dreadful； dreadful
woman！ She was waiting for him。 You saw it with your own eyes；
sister Bertha！〃
〃Hush； dear； hush and listen！〃 said her more charitable companion。
They pushed their own window up once more； and watched from behind
the curtains。
For a long time all was silent within the house。 The light still stood
motionless as though Mrs。 Westmacott remained rigidly in the one
position； while from time to time a shadow passed in front of it to show
that her midnight visitor was pacing up and down in front of her。 Once
they saw his outline clearly； with his hands outstretched as if in appeal or
entreaty。 Then suddenly there was a dull sound； a cry； the noise of a fall；
the taper was extinguished； and a dark figure fled in the moonlight； rushed
across the garden； and vanished amid the shrubs at the farther side。
Then only did the two old ladies understand that they had looked on
whilst a tragedy had been enacted。 〃Help！〃 they cried； and 〃Help！〃 in
their high； thin voices； timidly at first； but gathering volume as they went
on； until the Wilderness rang with their shrieks。 Lights shone in all the
windows opposite； chains rattled； bars were unshot； doors opened； and out
rushed friends to the rescue。 Harold； with a stick； the Admiral； with his
sword； his grey head and bare feet protruding from either end of a long
brown ulster； finally； Doctor Walker； with a poker； all ran to the help of the
Westmacotts。 Their door had been already opened； and they crowded
tumultuously into the front room。
Charles Westmacott； white to his lips； was kneeling an the floor；
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supporting his aunt's head upon his knee。 She lay outstretched； dressed
in her ordinary clothes； the extinguished taper still grasped in her hand； no
mark or wound upon herpale； placid； and senseless。
〃Thank God you are come； Doctor；〃 said Charles； looking up。 〃Do
tell me how she is； and what I should do。〃
Doctor Walker kneeled beside her； and passed his left hand over her
head； while he grasped her pulse with the right。
〃She has had a terrible blow；〃 said he。 〃It must have been with some
blunt weapon。 Here is the place behind the ear。 But she is a woman of
extraordinary physical powers。 Her pulse is full and slow。 There is no
stertor。 It is my belief that she is merely stunned； and that she is in no
danger at all。〃
〃Thank God for that！〃
〃We must get her to bed。 We shall carry her upstairs； and then I shall
send my girls in to her。 But who has done this？〃
〃Some robber〃 said Charles。 〃You see that the window is open。 She
must have heard him and come down； for she was always perfectly
fearless。 I wish to goodness she had called me。
〃But she was dressed。〃
〃Sometimes she sits up very late。〃
〃I did sit up very late；〃 said a voice。 She had opened her eyes； and
was blinking at them in the lamplight。 〃A villain came in through the
window and struck me with a life…preserver。 You can tell the police so
when they come。 Also that it was a little fat man。 Now； Charles； give
me your arm and I shall go upstairs。〃
But her spirit was greater than her strength； for； as she staggered to her
feet； her head swam round； and she would have fallen again had her
nephew not thrown his arms round her。 They carried her upstairs among
them and laid her upon the bed； where the Doctor watched beside her；
while Charles went off to the police…station； and the Denvers mounted
guard over the frightened maids。
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CHAPTER XVII。
IN PORT AT LAST。
Day had broken before the several denizens of the Wilderness had all
returned to their homes； the police finished their inquiries； and all come
back to its normal quiet。 Mrs。 Westmacott had been left sleeping
peacefully with a small chloral draught to steady her nerves and a
handkerchief soaked in arnica bound round her head。 It was with some
surprise； therefore； that the Admiral received a note from her about ten
o'clock； asking him to be good enough to step in to her。 He hurried in；
fearing that she might have taken some turn for the worse； but he was
reassured to find her sitting up in her bed； with Clara and Ida Walker in
attendance upon her。 She had removed the handkerchief； and had put on
a little cap with pink ribbons； and a maroon dressing…jacket； daintily fulled
at the neck and sleeves。
〃My dear friend；〃 said she as he entered； 〃I wish to make a last few
remarks to you。 No； no；〃 she continued； laughing； as she saw a look of
dismay upon his face。 〃I shall not dream of dying for at least another
thirty years。 A woman should be ashamed to die before she is seventy。
I wish； Clara； that you would ask your father to step up。 And you； Ida；
just pass me my cigarettes； and open me a bottle of stout。〃
〃Now then；〃 she continued； as the doctor joined their party。 〃I don't
quite know what I ought to say to you； Admiral。 You want some very
plain speaking to。〃
〃'Pon my word； ma'am； I don't know what you are talking about。〃
〃The idea of you at your age talking of going to sea； and leaving that
dear； patient little wife of yours at home； who has seen nothing of you all
her life！ It's all very well for yo