A slattern at the door halted him:
"Nobody ain't let up them stairs without my knowin' why," she mumbled.
"I want to see Captain Selwyn," he explained.
"Hey?"
"Captain Selwyn!"
"Hey? I'm a little deef!" screeched the old crone. "Is it Cap'n Selwyn
you want?"
Above, Selwyn, hearing his name screamed through the shadows of the
ancient house, came to the stairwell and looked down into the blackness.
"What is it, Mrs. Glodden?" he said sharply; then, catching sight of a
dim figure springing up the stairs:
"Here! this way. Is it for me?" and as Boots came into the light from
his open door: "Oh!" he whispered, deadly pale under the reaction; "I
thought it was a telegram. Come in."
Boots shook the snow from his hat and coat into the passageway and took
the single chair; Selwyn, tall and gaunt in his shabby dressing-gown,
stood looking at him and plucking nervously at the frayed and tasselled
cord around his waist.
"I don't know how you came to stumble in here," he said at length, "but
I'm glad to see you.
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