Back To Billabong, page 69 by Mary Grant Bruce
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Mater being away. Yes, of course she'd go at night. She might have sent her boxes away yesterday by a carrier--I bet that horrid little Eliza would help her. Ten to one she means to sneak out to-night--she knows Mater will be home to-morrow."
"What a sell it will be for her if we catch her!" said Wilfred with glee. "I say, what about telling Pater?"
Avice looked sour.
"I did tell him something yesterday, and he only growled at me. At least, I said, 'Do you think Cecilia would ever be likely to run away?' And he just stared at me, and then he said, 'Not your business if she does.' So I'm not going to speak to him again."
"Well, we'd better take it in turns to watch her," Wilfred said. "After dark's the most likely time, I suppose, but we'd better be on the look-out all the time. Where's she now, by the way?"
"Why, I don't know. I say, she's been away a long time--I never noticed," said Avice, in sudden alarm. "She said we were to go on with our French exercises--and that's ages ago."
"Come on and see," said Wilfred jumping up.
Outside the room he caught Avice by the arm.
"Kick off your shoes," he said. "We'll sneak up to her room."
They crept up silently. The door of Cecilia's room was ajar. Peeping in, they saw her standing before her tiny looking-glass, pinning on her hat. A small parcel lay upon her bed, with her gloves and parasol. The children were very silent--but something struck upon the girl's tightly strung nerves. She turned swiftly and saw them.
"What are you doing?" she demanded. "How dare you come into my room?"
"Why, we thought you were lost," said Avice. "We finished our French ages ago. Where are you going?"
"I am going out," said Cecilia. "I'll set you more work to do while I'm away."
"But where are you going?"
"That has nothing to do with you. Come down to the schoolroom."
Avice held her brother firmly by the arm. Together they blocked the way.
"Mater wouldn't let you go out in lesson