Hearts and Masks
Page 30A good idea. I made use of it at once. The window was unlatched, but
there was a heavy wire-screen nailed to the sills outside. There was
no getting out that way. The gods were evidently busy elsewhere.
"Nothing doing," I murmured, a bit discouraged.
"And even if there was, you really could not expect me to risk my neck
and dignity by climbing through a window like that. Let us give up the
idea of windows and seek the cellar-doors, those that give to the
grounds. I declare I shall leave by no other exit."
"It was very kind of you to let me make an ass of myself like that.
Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
agree. Seriously, I thought that if you got out that way, you might
find the other exit for me. I am sorry if my laughter annoyed you."
"Not at all, not at all. But wouldn't it be wise to save a little
laughter to make merry with when we get out?"
I stepped out of the bin and relieved her of the candle; and we went on.
"You did look funny," she said.
"Please don't!" I begged.
Soon we came to a bin of cabbages. I peered in philosophically.
"I might find a better head in there than mine," I suggested.
We went on.
"Wait a moment!" she cried. "Here's a bin of nice apples."
Apples! Well, my word, she was a cool one! I picked up one, polished
it on my sleeve, and gave it to her.
"I'm hungry," she said apologetically.
"And plucky, too," I supplemented admiringly. "Most women would be in
a weeping state by this time."
"Perhaps I am waiting till it is all over."
"You had better take off your mask." In fact I felt positive that the
"I am doing very well with it on. I can at least keep my face clean."
She raised the curtain and took a liberal bite of the apple--so
nonchalantly that I was forced to smile.
"Here's a box," said I; "let's sit down while we eat. We are safe
enough. If any one had heard the racket in the coal-bin, the cellar
would have been full of police by this time."