"Pamela told me that was how she managed to get the boy up, it was a
most original idea you know, Mrs. Romilly, but Pam is so full of
resource, dear child--it is wonderful. When we met Major Fraser he was
in a hurry, but he asked questions. I rather fancied he was surprised
she was able to do it, and you know I could not well mention the means
she employed, it would not have been quite nice, I thought."
"I’ll tell him," said Mrs. Romilly, "if he is puzzled. Of course, he
would be interested to know when you consider Pam’s age and limits.
It’s not like a man. Reube is a tiny boy for his age, but they are all
fairly sturdy, and if it was very steep--Oh, my poor little Pam--I wish
I’d been there! Yes, she is clever, and so plucky."
Meanwhile the person who was "clever and so plucky" had undressed in the
shortest time possible, got into bed and fallen asleep almost before she
laid her head down. For once in a way Pamela was worn out; not only had
the long strain and hard physical exertion tried her, but she was in a
mental fog about her mysterious double.
What to do about it! What to do----
Ought she to tell her mother? Did it matter? If it did not matter, why
was Sir Marmaduke so secret, and why did the girl herself refuse to go
into Clawtol Farm, and lurk about in this queer way? An ordinary
seaside visitor would come to the shore; why then did she never appear
in the cove or among the rocks?
All these questions chased each other through her mind while she
undressed and brushed out her long hair. Then, just before she lay
down, came the realization of one fact. This strange girl appeared only
very early, or late--never when Bell Bay was busy with ordinary life.
Mollie saw her quite early. Hughie saw her in the evening. Crow and
Adrian saw her after dark, very late indeed. Finally Pamela had seen
her in late afternoon, but then there was such a thick fog that she
could elude anyone.
"Oh, bother it all," thought Pam, "no good worrying any way, one can’t
do any more to-night."
Then she was asleep.
*CHAPTER XI*
*In which Adrian holds a decided
opinion about Pam*
No one should count on anything. We say that often, yet we do the
opposite. Pamela thought no one could bother her again that night, yet
she was wakened about two hours after she fell asleep by the cautious
opening of her door.
There was moonlight still, of course. The moon rose later, and was
veiled by fog still, but grey light made things in her room visible.
"Pam!" it was Hughie’s voice; he slid round the edge of the door, closed
it after him, and came towards the bed on tiptoes, a quaint little
figure in blue-and-white striped pyjamas.
"Well?" answered Pamela, not in the least realizing that no cause but an
important matter would have made Hughie do this. She was hardly awake.
Hughie seated himself on the edge of the bed and looked at her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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