He hurriedly stepped back into the room, just as a small striped-stockinged foot was as hastily drawn up above the top of the window with the feminine exclamation, "Good gracious me!" Lingering for an instant, only to assure himself that the fair speaker had secured her foothold and was in no danger of falling, Courtland snatched up his hat, which had providentially fallen inside the room, and retreated ingloriously to the other end of the parlor.

The voice came again from the window, and struck him as being very sweet and clear:-- "Sophy, is that YOU ?" Courtland discreetly retired to the hall.

To his great relief a voice from the outside answered, "Whar, Miss Sally ?" "What did yo' move the ladder for?
Yo' might have killed me." "Fo' God, Miss Sally, I didn't move no ladder!" "Don't tell me, but go down and get my slipper.

And bring up some more nails." Courtland waited silently in the hall.

In a few moments he heard a heavy footstep outside the rear window.