" Feeling a little doubtful of what their
reception would be like, he pulled the bell. There was a pause, a long
pause, and then they heard the sound of light, quick footsteps, and the
door was unlocked.
"Who's there? What is it?" came in a woman's voice, and a quaint figure,
dressed in a short, dark dressing-gown, and looking not unlike Noah's
wife, appeared holding a lantern in her hand. She had a kindly, shrewd
face, and when Radmore said apologetically, "I'm sorry to disturb you,
but the matter is really urgent, and we've brought a sick animal many
miles in order that it may benefit by Mr. Trotman's skill," her face
cleared, and she said cordially: "All right, sir, come right in."
As they walked along through a curious kind of trellised tunnel, Timmy
carrying Josephine and her kittens, there arose an extraordinary chorus
of sounds in which furious barking predominated.
"You have a regular menagerie here," said Radmore, smiling.
"Why, yes, sir," she answered simply, "but they'll all quiet down after a
bit. They're startled like, hearing strange footsteps."
She led them into the house, and so through into a pleasant little
parlour, full of the good 18th Century furniture which may still be found
in the older houses of an English country town.
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