But, turn as fast as I can, I can only see out of one at one time.
And though I always see her she may be able to creep faster than I can
turn!
I have watched her sometimes away off in the open country, creeping as
fast as a cloud shadow in a high wind.
If only that top pattern could be gotten off from the under one! I mean
to try it, little by little.
I have found out another funny thing, but I shan’t tell it this time!
It does not do to trust people too much.
There are only two more days to get this paper off, and I believe John
is beginning to notice. I don’t like the look in his eyes.
And I heard him ask Jennie a lot of professional questions about me.
She had a very good report to give.
She said I slept a good deal in the daytime.
John knows I don’t sleep very well at night, for all I’m so quiet!
He asked me all sorts of questions, too, and pretended to be very
loving and kind.
As if I couldn’t see through him!
Still, I don’t wonder he acts so, sleeping under this paper for three
months.
It only interests me, but I feel sure John and Jennie are secretly
affected by it.
Hurrah! This is the last day, but it is enough. John is to stay in town
over night, and won’t be out until this evening.
Jennie wanted to sleep with me—the sly thing! but I told her I should
undoubtedly rest better for a night all alone.
That was clever, for really I wasn’t alone a bit! As soon as it was
moonlight, and that poor thing began to crawl and shake the pattern, I
got up and ran to help her.
I pulled and she shook, I shook and she pulled, and before morning we
had peeled off yards of that paper.
A strip about as high as my head and half around the room.
And then when the sun came and that awful pattern began to laugh at me
I declared I would finish it to-day!
We go away to-morrow, and they are moving all my furniture down again
to leave things as they were before.
Jennie looked at the wall in amazement, but I told her merrily that I
did it out of pure spite at the vicious thing.
She laughed and said she wouldn’t mind doing it herself, but I must not
get tired.
How she betrayed herself that time!
But I am here, and no person touches this paper but me—not alive!
She tried to get me out of the room—it was too patent! But I said it
was so quiet and empty and clean now that I believed I would lie down
again and sleep all I could; and not to wake me even for dinner—I would
call when I woke.
So now she is gone, and the servants are gone, and the things are gone,
and there is nothing left but that great bedstead nailed down, with the
canvas mattress we found on it.
We shall sleep downstairs to-night, and take the boat home to-morrow.