Filbert was
asking; and receiving no reply, he kept on.
"Oh, do hear him," whispered Alexia, back of the sofa-cushion; "he is so
tiresome, asking the same thing over and over."
"Well, do answer him," said Polly.
"I have, once," said Alexia.
"Is your aunt in the closet, did you say?" Mr. Filbert kept on, with the
impression that a reply would soon be coming if he only held up the
conversation at his end of it.
Alexia dashed down the sofa-cushion with a nervous hand. "I can't breathe;
let's get out, Polly," and she flew up, to sit quite straight. "Yes, my
aunt is up in the closet, Mr. Filbert. Whee! Oh, I am so scared, Polly
Pepper!"
"She'll be struck there quicker 'n any other place she could pick out,"
declared the little old gentleman positively.
Alexia hopped off from the sofa and ran on anxious feet to his chair.
"What did yon say, Mr. Filbert? and how do you know?" she cried, all in one
breath.
"The chimney closets always catch the lightning first," said Mr. Filbert
cheerfully; "you see, it----"
Alexia dashed off, ran through the hall and up to her own room. "Aunt,
Aunt," she cried, thrusting her head into the closet, "you'll be struck in
there, Mr. Filbert says so. Come out, Aunt."
There was no response, and Alexia, now in mortal terror, plunged into the
closet.
"Come, Aunt. Oh, my!" as a clap of thunder sent her plunging in headlong.
Pages:
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232