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"Mrs Endfield?"

The silence was confusing I knew I had heard a voice on the other side of the door I waited and then, I decided to knock once more, a little harder When I did, the door opened a few inches

"Mrs Endfield?"

Again, I was greeted with silence I leaned forward and peered into the roo chair with her back toin her are, strong hand grab my shoulder and spin me around

It was Boggs Before he spoke, he reached past me for the doorknob and closed the door sharply

"How dare you go snooping around like this?" he asked in a hoarse whisper

"I wasn't snooping I knocked and I called for Mrs Endfield The door swung open so I looked in for her, that's ail," I protested Surely by now reat-aunt had heard the coht I hoped she would, for Boggs was towering over me with eyes that shot fire at my face

"What do you want 'ere? I thought you were going out for the day," he said

"First, if youand second, I wanted to see if she wanted me back to help with dinner," I explained

"You don't ask 'er that You ask me Don't you listen? You was told that already I already told 'er you was goin' out for the day," he said "And as for your services, if you were required to be 'ere, I'd a told you that, too You don't 'afta worry about that"

"Fine," I said "Then I'"

His eyes followed me closely as I walked around him and to the stairs I didn't look back, but I bleas standing right there, watchingand a cold sweat had broken out over my brow and down the back of my neck I practically ran out of the house

Randall, as leaning against the garden wall, straightened up immediately I hurried to him

"Everything all right?" he asked

"No Let's just go," I said "Quickly"