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Consequences Francis opened it and read aloud:

"I went back and she came back and she wants you to come back at ded of nite. RUBE."

"Well, I shan't go," said Francis.

A voice from the bush by the gate made them all start.

"Don't let on you see me," said the Spangled Boy, putting his head out cautiously.

"You seem very fond of hiding in bushes," said Francis.

"I am," said the boy briefly. "Ain't you going—to see her again, I mean?"

"No," said Francis, "I've had enough dead of night to last me a long time."

"You a-going, miss?" the boy asked. "No? You are a half-livered crew. It'll be only me, I suppose."

"You're going, then?"

"Well," said the boy, "what do you think?"

"I should go if I were you," said Bernard impartially.

"No, you wouldn't; not if you were me," said Francis. "You don't know how disagreeable she was. I'm fed up with her. And besides, we simply can't get out at dead of night now. Mrs. Pearce'll be on the lookout. No—it's no go."

"But you must manage it somehow," said Kathleen; "you can't let it drop like this. I shan't believe it was magic at all if you do."

"If you were us, you'd have had enough of magic," said Francis. "Why don't you go yourselves—you and Bernard."

"I've a good mind to," said Bernard unexpectedly. "Only not in the middle of the night, because of my being certain to drop my boots. Would you come, Cathay?" 67