"We simply can't go
out."
"And it will give us something to do to explore a bit," added Mrs.
Mackson. "Come along girls. Who knows but what we may find a table all
set for us by fairy hands, as we used to read of in the story books?"
They paused for a moment. Not a sound came from the rooms and passage
about them. Only the storm raged outside.
"Well, let's--let's----" began Mollie.
"Oh, come on!" cried Betty, as her chum hesitated. "At least we have
lights."
"And I'm going to take off my wet coat," said Grace.
"Oh, if we could have a fire!"
"There's a fire place," said Betty, flashing her lamp into the room the
door of which Amy had opened. "And, I do declare, some old boards and
boxes! Why can't we have a fire?"
The idea appealed to all of them, and presently, taking heart, they
entered the room, and piling some boxes, splintered boards and papers on
the old hearth, set them ablaze.
As the ruddy flames leaped up the broad chimney they gathered about,
much cheered, though still hungry.
"If we only had something to eat," sighed Grace. "I wonder, if by chance
the former inhabitants left some morsels of food? Suppose we take a
look?"
The others hesitated a moment, and then Mollie said:
"I'm with you!"
She caught up the still-glowing auto lamp, and led the way, the others
following.
"Up stairs; or down stairs?" she challenged.
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