Wags, however, had ideas of his own and at this unfortunate moment he gave a smothered yelp and pawed his way out from under the bed clothes. He leaped to the floor and darted playfully toward the housekeeper. “How did that dog get in here?” Cora asked sharply. “_You_ brought him up here last night,” she accused Doris. “You little sneak!” “I am not a sneak,” Doris retorted. She had been confused and ashamed at the untimely discovery of her pet, but now that the housekeeper had made such an uncalled for remark, she was inclined to defend herself. “We heard him barking and were afraid he would awaken every one in the house.” The explanation did not mollify the woman but rather seemed to fan the flame of her wrath. “Yes, you are!” she snapped. “You just wanted an excuse to prowl about the house!” “I did not!” Doris refuted. “It didn’t seem right to leave Wags out there all by himself.” “You had no right to bring him into the house! I’ll get him out of here!” Vengefully, Cora bore down upon the dog. Wags, sensing that she was an enemy to be avoided, whisked past her and leaped upon the bed. Cora began to tear viciously at the blankets in an effort to capture him. By this time Kitty’s arms had closed protectingly upon the little dog, and Doris had jumped out of bed. “We’ll take him downstairs just as soon as we get dressed,” she declared. “Wags hasn’t done any harm. Please don’t get so excited about it!” “I’ll show you who’s excited!” Cora muttered. She had completely lost control of her temper and as Kitty rolled out on the opposite side of the bed, she made another dive for Wags. By this time Doris had lost all patience. “Don’t you dare touch my dog!” she said quietly. “If you do, I’ll call the Misses Gates!” The mention of the old ladies produced a surprising effect upon Cora. For the moment she seemed to forget about the dog and her resentment was turned upon Doris and Kitty. “So you’re trying to get me in trouble, eh?” she demanded harshly. “No, of course not,” Doris tried to explain. “We’ll not say anything to the Misses Gates, if you’ll go away and leave us alone. We didn’t mean to do any harm and we’re sorry we brought Wags up here, since it has caused you so much worry.” Cora cast baleful glances upon the girls. “Had to come here interfering—” they heard her mutter wrathfully to herself. “What did you say?” Doris asked. “Nothing!” “But I heard you say something about us coming here to interfere.” “Well, didn’t you?” “With what could we interfere?” Cora shifted her weight uneasily and looked confused. She felt that she had said too much. “You seem to be afraid of something,” Doris observed shrewdly. “Afraid!” the housekeeper snapped. “It’s you who ought to be afraid. Let me tell you a thing or two. If you don’t want to get into trouble, you’d better be starting back home!” With that she flounced out of the room, leaving Kitty and Doris to stare blankly after her.