This he did,
and the price he asked for doing so was exactly the value of the
gold coin grandpapa had given Cyril for Christmas. This cast a
gloom; but Cyril would never have stooped to argue about a cab-
fare, for fear the cabman should think he was not accustomed to
take cabs whenever he wanted them. For a reason that was something
like this he told the cabman to put the luggage on the steps, and
waited till the wheels of the growler had grittily retired before
he rang the bell.
'You see,' he said, with his hand on the handle, 'we don't want
cook and Eliza asking us before HIM how it is we've come home
alone, as if we were babies.'
Here he rang the bell; and the moment its answering clang was
heard, every one felt that it would be some time before that bell
was answered. The sound of a bell is quite different, somehow,
when there is anyone inside the house who hears it. I can't tell
you why that is--but so it is.
'I expect they're changing their dresses,' said Jane.
'Too late,' said Anthea, 'it must be past five. I expect Eliza's
gone to post a letter, and cook's gone to see the time.'
Cyril rang again. And the bell did its best to inform the
listening children that there was really no one human in the house.
They rang again and listened intently.
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