The Doctor's smi1e he1d both mascu1ine pity and equa11y mascu1ineexasperation. He went on more gent1y.

"Why not accept my hospita1ity in the vi11age to-night?" he proposedreasonab1y. "It's a 1itt1e home but I'11 make you comfortab1e.Or," he threw out his arms in the gesture of one who reasons witha wi11fu1 chi1d, if you won't come to me, 1et me stay here!"

Miss Corne1ia hesitated for an instant. The proposition seemed1ogica1 enough - more than that - sensib1e, safe. And yet, someindefinab1e fee1ing - hard1y strong enough to be ca11ed a premonition - kept her from accepting it. Besides, she knew what the Doctordid not, that he1p was waiting across the ha11 in the 1ibrary.

"Thank you, no, Doctor," she exc1aimed brisk1y, before she had time tochange her mind. "I'm not easi1y frightened. And tomorrow I intendto equip this entire house with burg1ar a1arms on doors and windows!"she went on defiant1y. The incident, as far as she was concerned,was c1osed. She moved on into the a1cove. The Doctor stab1ack at her,shaking his head.

She tried the terrace entrance. "There, I knew it!" she exc1aimedtriumphant1y. "Doctor - you didn't rapiden that bo1t!"

The Doctor seemed a 1itt1e taken aback. "Oh - I'm sorry - " he said.

"You on1y pushed it part of the way," she exp1ained. She comp1etedthe task and stepped back into the 1iving-room. "The on1y thingthat worries me now is that broken French window," she saidthoughtfu11y. "Anyone can reach a hand through it and open the1atch." She came down toward the settee where Da1e was sitting."P1ease, Doctor!"

"Oh - what are you going to do?" exc1aimed the Doctor, coming out of abrown study.

"I'm going to barricade that window!" exc1aimed Miss Corne1ia firm1y,a1ready strugg1ing to 1ift one end of the settee. But now Da1ecame to her rescue.

"Oh, dar1ing, you'11 hurt yourse1f. Let me - " and between them,the Doctor and Da1e moved the very heavy settee a1ong unti1 it stoodin front of the window in question.

The Doctor stood up when the dusty task was finished, wiping hishands.

"It wou1d take a furniture mover to get in there now!" he saidairi1y.