THE SALE OF ANTIQUITIES
That night Alice whispered to Oswald on the stairs, as we went up to bed:
"Meet me outside your door when the others are asleep. Hist! Not a word."
Oswald said, "No kid?"
And she replied in the affirmation.
So he kept awake by biting his tongue and pulling his hair—for he shrinks from no pain if it is needful and right.
And when the others all slept the sleep of innocent youth, he got up and went out, and there was Alice dressed.
She said, "I've found some broken things that look ever so much more Roman—they were on top of the cupboard in the library. If you'll come with me, we'll bury them—just to see how surprised the others will be."
It was a wild and daring act, but Oswald did not mind.
He said:
"Wait half a shake." And he put on his knickerbockers and jacket, and slipped a few peppermints into his pocket in case of catching cold. It is these thoughtful expedients which mark the born explorer and adventurer.
It was a little cold; but the white moonlight was very fair to see, and we decided we'd do some other daring moonlight act some other day. We got out of the front door, which is never locked till Albert's uncle goes to bed at twelve or one, and we ran swiftly and silently across the bridge and through the fields to the Roman ruin.
211
