Page:Adams - A Child of the Age.djvu/187

175 would be by the left-hand window. I threw up a pebble. It struck a pane: cracked it, I thought, and, falling on the pavement, bounded and rolled into the gutter. I made a step, picked it up, and, standing, threw again. Same result. But I didn't look for the falling pebble: I looked steadily at the window. Surely she was awake.

Now for a little soft earth!—Up it went.

I looked steadily at the window.

No—yes! A movement: a movement of the blind. I stepped back, and, taking off my hat, and turning a little sideways, so that she might if possible see something of my face, looked up as before.

Another movement of the blind. It was, I thought, drawn aside a little. I held up my outstretched arms. All at once I knew the blind ran up; heard a hasp strike, and the top half of the window came down. There was something white in the dark space that had been the top half of the window. I cried out:

'Rosy, it's me!—me! Come down and let me in.'

'O gracious!' said her dear voice, 'how you frightened me! What's the matter?'

'Let me in! let me in! let me in!' I said,

does not reject. Say, shall I go away, or something receive!

Heaven only knew what the poor child thought of it all! I began laughing at the idea. Then, suddenly serious:

'Mrs. Smith is fast asleep,' I said quietly, 'down here. I want to tell you something—something very important to us both. Will you come and let me in?'

A pause, then:

'Yes,' she said, 'I will come down.'

Then the window was drawn up, and I stood waiting for some minutes. At last I heard her coming down the creaking stairs. A bolt was softly undone at the top of the door, a lock shot back: the door opened, and I was standing by her in the narrow passage.