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"Yes, well, I wish I wasn't so busy at the moment I'd spend a little more time with you and help familiarize you with our country However, I'm sure you'll do fine Mrs Endfield seems pleased with you I hope it continues to be a successful experience for everyone involved," he said, "and my sister-inlaw's investment will be one that ellhis hand towardon the piano

He pivoted and continued into the house Later, when I decided to go to bed, I passed the billiards room where he w

as sitting quietly, sht He had his back to the door, so he didn't see me pass

How strangely alone everyone seeht Great-aunt Leonora was upstairs in her bedroom and probably didn't even knoas ho here? No one ever ine any wo to be his wife, and if he had a child, I could easily understand the child refusing to ads was his or her father Leo was elderly and seee Mary Margaret behaved like a snail or a turtle, pulling herself into a shell if I asked anything too personal I didn't know if she had anything that even resembled a social life

Was everyone who lived or worked on these grounds and in these buildings staring out their s at the sahtbulbs? We had hter and smiles in our ton, DC, I thought

I walked along quickly but as softly as I would if I had to cross a floor of eggs, afraid to breathe-- the heavy silence that filled the house and everyone's lives

After I had coreat-aunt had spoken to Boggs, he did have so done about it the next day However, it was still erratic so that I never knehen it would be hot and when it wouldn't, but at least I had soh for me to take a bath No matter how I scrubbed the tub, it looked dirty to me There were rust spots that had probably been there when Sir Godfrey Rogers's ht The tub itself looked old enough

Nevertheless, I filled it and took offI wanted to havedate with Randall I scrubbed in the shaernails into it because I felt so unclean Then I leaned back and dipped my head under the water, held it there and scrubbedup

At first I didn't notice anything and then I felt the cool breeze and turned to see that the bathroom door ide open My heart stopped and started I just sat there staring at the dooraiting for signs of someone It was quiet and no one appeared I rose out of the tub and quickly wrapped a towel around my body Then I practically tiptoed toward the doorway,I paused and looked out

There was no one in the hallway Had the door simply opened itself?

Maybe it was the ghost of Sir Godfrey Rogers's dead hed

Still, it see and no one h me from the colder air in the hallway and then I shut the door, dried own and returned to my room

Maybe because of the little scare, I didn't feel tired enough to just close o to sleep I turned on the weak la outside ht I heard footsteps I closed the book and turned off the light Then I went to theand peered out

It was a partly cloudy evening with the ht illuht I saw the silhouette of soht and then when the cloud ain, I saw a deep, dark shadow take the fore Mogs? Leo?

Footsteps in the hallway spunThe steps stopped by my door for a moment and then continued on until the sound of them faded away I heard another door slam and then it was quiet