Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/59

48 then, after a brief time of silence, Sarah added, "Why is Scip staying in the entry? Why don't he come in here?"

"He has no business to leave us alone so long!" Dorothy said indignantly. "He shall be made to know his duty toward us! Scip! Oh Scip! Come here this instant!"

As if in reply to this summons could be heard the grating of the bolt as the outer door was relocked, and the girls came forward to the middle of the room where the feeble rays of the candle fell upon them; but neither observed the stains and streaks of soot which literally covered the other, so intent were both on the supposed movements of the old darkey.

"Come here this instant, Scipio!" Dorothy cried, after waiting in vain for the appearance of the servant. "I shall tell my father that you are trying to frighten us!"

There was no reply to this command. The silence was profound, and it would have been a welcome break to the sobbing children if they could have heard the voices of the people outside.

"Why don't you come here?" and Dorothy stamped her little foot, while a fresh outburst of tears carried the soot down her face in tiny lines, like the tracings of rivers and streams on a map.

"It is wicked of him to act like this!" Sarah