She led the way to the Pleasaunce, and, when she got to the
ancestral oak, she said hurriedly, "Now, mesdemoiselles, hide in there,
and as still as mice. You'll soon know who leaves the purses."
With this she scudded to the lane, and gave Edouard the key. "Look
sharp," said she, "before they get up; it's almost their dressing time."
"YOU'LL SOON KNOW WHO LEAVES THE PURSES!"
Curiosity, delicious curiosity, thrilled our two daughters of Eve.
This soon began to alternate with chill misgivings at the novelty of the
situation.
"She is not coming back," said Josephine ruefully.
"No," said Rose, "and suppose when we pounce out on him, it should be a
stranger."
"Pounce on him? surely we are not to do that?"
"Oh, y-yes; that is the p-p-programme," quavered Rose.
A key grated, and the iron gate creaked on its hinges. They ran together
and pinched one another for mutual support, but did not dare to speak.
Presently a man's shadow came slap into the tree. They crouched and
quivered, and expected to be caught instead of catching, and wished
themselves safe back in bed, and all this a nightmare, and no worse.
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