'Come down by the beech trunk--you must leave no footprint in the border--quickly, before Robie can get back! I am the hen-wife here: I keep the key; you must go into the hen-house--for the moment.' I was by her side at once.

Both cast a hasty glance at the blank windows of the cottage and so much as was visible of the garden alleys; it seemed there was none to observe us.

She caught me by the sleeve and ran.

It was no time for compliments; hurry breathed upon our necks; and I ran along with her to the next corner of the garden, where a wired court and a board hovel standing in a grove of trees advertised my place of refuge.
She thrust me in without a word; the bulk of the fowls were at the same time emitted; and I found myself the next moment locked in alone with half a dozen sitting hens.

In the twilight of the place all fixed their eyes on me severely, and seemed to upbraid me with some crying impropriety.