 Chapter 1 of The House with the Twisting Passage by Marian St John Webb This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Zanusha The House with the Twisting Passage by Marian St John Webb Part 1 Jenny Comes Chapter 1 The House with the Twisting Passage Aunt Abby was a caretaker and an excellent caretaker too, according to all accounts. Her own included. Jenny had often heard her mother talk about Aunt Abby and say how fortunate she was in never being out of work, and how fortunate Uncle Nickel was in having such a capable woman as Aunt Abby for his wife. Uncle Nickel was a caretaker also. Only Jenny would never have guessed this if she had not known, as he never seemed to do any caretaking, but just sat with his feet up on the kitchen range and read the newspaper and smoked a pipe. Jenny liked her Uncle Nickel because he never asked her questions like what a nine times six, which was Aunt Abby's favourite way of keeping Jenny occupied. Not that Jenny ever needed occupation, she could always amuse herself if left alone, but Aunt Abby never realised this. Although she did not understand Jenny, Aunt Abby was fond of the little girl in her own way, and when Jenny's mother and father went to India for two years, Aunt Abby and her sister Aunt Emma, who wore long swinging earrings and lived at Putney, promised to look after Jenny between them till her parents returned to England. And so it happened that Jenny went down to stay with Aunt Abby while she was minding a beautiful old manor house in Surrey that was surrounded by gardens and orchards and little rustling woods. It was a long, low, many-windowed house. Jenny was a quiet, dreamy little girl of nine, with dark eyes and straight dark hair. Of course she missed her mother very much at first, but gradually she settled down and began to enjoy her visit. She was allowed to play on the lawn in front of the house so long as she did not tread on any of the flower beds, and she was allowed to use the swing in the apple orchard so long as she did not touch any of the fruit. She had the run of her aunt's portion of the house, but was forbidden to go into any of the upstairs rooms or to touch any of the furniture or ornaments in case she broke something. Now and again when Aunt Abby went to air them, Jenny was allowed to cross the threshold of one or other of the closed-up rooms. But they were not very interesting, as all the furniture was covered over with white sheets and there was nothing to see. They were dim, silent, cold rooms, and Jenny did not like them. She much preferred the queer, twisting passage on the second floor that ran the length of the house. Jenny loved to play in this passage. It was not very light, but it was airy and full of funny little twists and curves. The closed doors along the sides of the passage made it all the more interesting. Jenny used to pretend that different people lived in the rooms behind these doors and soon had a name for every door she passed. For instance, she pretended that an old gentleman with white hair, who played the violin and was very poor, lived in one of the rooms. She called him Phil the Fiddler. Next door to him was Mr Snatcher, a greedy man with a very large black moustache and a bad temper. Jenny pretended that she disliked Mr Snatcher exceedingly and she was always inventing punishments for him, such as making him do the work of a dustman or a drain inspector, when she pretended he got chased by enormous rats or a sweep or a diver, when he trod on jellyfish, which stung him in spite of his diver's outfit. No matter what Mr Snatcher did, he always wore a bowler hat. Jenny couldn't imagine him without it, even when he was in bed asleep. In another of the rooms lived a lovely creature named Miss Ruby, who was a great lady and wore silk dresses always, even when she first got up in the morning. Then there were Miss Primrose with white hair and kind eyes and very fond of children and Blackjack, so-called because of his black hair and flashing black eyes. He was a sailor and Jenny said he had been all around the world twenty times and Uncle Nodding, a dear old man who sat by the fire because of his rheumatics and always had toffee in his pockets to give to Jenny. Jenny used to stick her tongue in her cheek and pretend to be eating his toffee whenever she talked to him. Also there was Taramina, a dark-skinned young girl with a yellow dress and red beads around her neck, who spoke in a foreign language which no one but Jenny could understand. And there were Peter Bolin and Old Mrs Bunch and many others of whom you will hear later on. Jenny enjoyed a wet day even more than a fine one because on wet days she was allowed to play in the passage. One wet afternoon Jenny was walking along the twisting passage when all of a sudden she came face to face with Miss Clare. After that she neglected Miss Ruby and Mr Snatcher and all the rest of them for a while and played only with Miss Clare. For Miss Clare was more real than Miss Ruby than not quite as real as Jenny herself. A half-tending person Jenny called her because she was a real person though she never played along the passage as Jenny pretended she did. Indeed although Miss Clare was alive she was not in the old manor house at all but her picture was. And it was this that Jenny discovered hanging on the wall at the end of the twisting passage. Miss Clare, Jenny learned afterward was the only child of the lady who owned the manor house which Aunt Abby was minding. The pictured Miss Clare was a pretty little girl of about nine years old the same age as Jenny with long curls and laughing eyes dressed in a dainty white frock. In her arms she held a big wax doll. The picture with Miss Clare's name written in the corner fascinated Jenny and she stood gazing admiringly at it for a long time. Jenny's eyes were wistful as she looked at Miss Clare's dainty frock and buckled shoes and more wistful still as she looked at the doll in her arms. Then Jenny sighed and wrinkled her eyebrows up. Her eyes travelled over the picture till they met Miss Clare's laughing glance. Then Jenny smiled and kissed her hand to Miss Clare. How do you do? said Jenny. Do come and play with me, Miss Clare. Leave your doll on that chair beside you and let's play touch. Very well, Miss Jenny. Jenny answered herself in a high voice pretending it was Miss Clare. Then Jenny touched the picture crying, You're he! and ran away down the passage, laughing and imagining she could hear Miss Clare's light footsteps racing after her. Up and down and up and down the passage ran Jenny and her Miss Clare and sometimes Miss Clare was chasing Jenny and sometimes Jenny was chasing Miss Clare. Just hark at that child. What's she running about and laughing like that for? said Aunt Abby to Uncle Nickel as she poured out a cup of tea in the kitchen. Jenny! Jenny! Not so much noise there if you please. Come along down and have your tea. She called from the foot of the stairs. But Jenny did not hear at once. She was just running along the passage and pretending that she saw Miss Clare's white frock whisk round the corner when she stopped suddenly in the middle of the passage and her heart gave a jump. Something white really did flap round the corner and disappear. Then the white thing flapped round the corner again and she saw that it was only a curtain blowing at an open window. So she ran downstairs to tea, leaving Miss Clare to climb back into her frame. Whatever were you doing upstairs child? asked Aunt Abby. Jenny was stricken with shyness. It was impossible to tell her aunt about Miss Clare. She would not understand. Only running up and down the passage Aunt Abby? Jenny replied. Only running the leather off your shoes you mean? Said Aunt Abby brusquely. Then added in a kinder tone. Well mind you don't break anything that's all. Later on that evening Jenny asked Uncle Nickle a few hesitating questions about Miss Clare. Uncle Nickle could give her but little information. He had heard of Miss Clare but had never seen her. She was in London at the present time with her mother Uncle Nickle believed. What was that Jenny was saying? The picture of Miss Clare upstairs was there. He'd come up one day when he wasn't busy and have a look said Uncle Nickle. And he leaned back in his chair, put his feet up on the kitchen range and began to read his newspaper. End of chapter one. Chapter two of The House with the Twisting Passage by Marian St John Webb. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Zanussia. The House with the Twisting Passage by Marian St John Webb. Chapter two. Jenny's Miss Clare. The following day Jenny had another game with Miss Clare and began to feel as if she had known her all her life. She was absorbed with this new playmate of hers and ran past Miss Ruby's door and Mr Snatcher's door without giving either of them a thought. Then Jenny made one or two discoveries about Miss Clare which made her seem more real than ever. One afternoon when Aunt Abby had gone to sleep on the sofa Jenny crept upstairs and against the walls searched the upper floors until she found the old nursery at the top and here after much quiet rummaging about she found in a cupboard the doll actually the same doll that Miss Clare was holding in her arms in the picture. To make quite sure Jenny carried it carefully down into the passage and compared it with the pictured doll. Yes it was the same, no doubt about it. Though it looked older and more knocked about than the one Miss Clare was holding Jenny gazed down into the doll's staring eyes and thought they looked pathetic and lonely. So after this she would often creep away when Aunt Abby was not looking and steal into the old nursery and nurse the doll for a few minutes and talk to it saying that Miss Clare hadn't forgotten it and would come home again soon. Hidden away in the nursery she also found a pair of Miss Clare's little black slippers. They were too small for Jenny. She knew because she tried to put them on. Another discovery was a torn exercise book with Miss Clare's name on the cover written in large, straggling handwriting. And this disclosed to Jenny the secret that Miss Clare couldn't add up very well and didn't know what 9 x 6 was which made her all the more dear to Jenny's heart and so Jenny dreamed and weaved stories about her Miss Clare inventing all sorts of things about her manners and likes and dislikes until she really felt she knew Miss Clare as well as she knew herself. On fine days she would take Miss Clare out into the garden and they would take it in turns to have swings in the orchard. After having her swing herself Jenny would get solemnly off and lifting up the imaginary Miss Clare who she always pretended was a little smaller than herself. She would place her on the seat and stand and push the swing to and fro until Miss Clare had had a good swing and it was Jenny's turn again. On wet days she and Miss Clare stayed indoors and played house or hide and seek along the passages. Well I must say the child isn't much trouble Aunt Abby would remark to Uncle Nickel However she manages to amuse herself in those empty passages I can't imagine Just listen to her now running up and down and laughing I never played with nothing like that when I was a child End of Chapter 2 Chapter 3 of The House with the Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Zanusha The House with the Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb Chapter 3 The Other Miss Clare Jenny came downstairs from a stolen visit to the old nursery one day where she had been assuring the wax doll for the 20th time that Miss Clare had not forgotten her and found Aunt Abby flustering to and fro in the kitchen in a very agitated state while Uncle Nickel was slowly getting into his best jacket and brushing his hair before the tiny cracked mirror in the scullery As soon as Aunt Abby caught sight of Jenny she seized hold of her arm and whisked her upstairs to her bedroom and there Jenny had her face washed and her hair brushed and tied up with ribbon and her clean starched pinafore put on over her best surge frock Now go and ask your Uncle Nickel to give your shoes a rub and be quick about it because Miss Clare will be here any minute now said Aunt Abby, flurriedly Miss Clare gasped Jenny her little face flushing crimson Yes, a telegram has just come and you mustn't get your pinafore soiled Now mind Miss Clare won't be staying here more than an hour She's coming to fetch some things of hers and I want her to see what a nice, clean well-behaved little girl you are Run along down now to your Uncle Nickel I'll be down in a minute and Aunt Abby bustled away When she had had her shoes cleaned Jenny made her way up to the twisting passage and looked at Miss Clare She was feeling very excited and somehow a little bit sad She had never expected to meet Miss Clare really and now she was not sure that she wanted to Jenny was afraid Afraid of things being spoiled Her thoughts were vague and troubled She couldn't put them into words She only knew she felt unhappy Supposing she is a proud little girl after all She thought to herself and I pretended she was so glad to play with me Aunt Abby's excited voice calling Jenny! Jenny! came up from below and Jenny hurried downstairs her heart beating rapidly Aunt Abby and Uncle Nickel were in the hall and just as Jenny reached it the front door was being opened A tall, middle-aged lady came up the front steps a lady with cold, hard eyes and thin lips She wore a long grey coat and a black hat with a large black feather in it The lady stepped inside the hall and greeted Aunt Abby and Uncle Nickel saying that she supposed they had got her telegram and that she would not be long in collecting together the things she wanted and she would have a cup of tea made for her while she went upstairs to her room Then she swept through the hall barely glancing at Jenny as she passed her and went up the stairs Aunt Abby hurried away to get the tea and Uncle Nickel followed glad to make himself scarce and Jenny was left alone in the hall She was too surprised at first to do anything but stand and gaze at the stairs up which the lady had vanished There had been some mistake, Jenny thought that was not Miss Claire her mother perhaps but not Miss Claire Overhead Jenny could hear the lady opening and shutting doors Outside she could hear the cab horse that was waiting to take the lady back to the station pouring the gravel path Downstairs she could hear Aunt Abby and the clatter of cups and sauces She felt she must find out immediately who this lady was She must know In a moment she was half way up the stairs Then suddenly her courage deserted her and she flew downstairs to the kitchen Aunt Abby is that Miss Claire's mother? She asked breathlessly Oh don't bother me child the kettle's boiling over No of course it isn't Miss Claire's mother it's Miss Claire herself Miss Claire herself Poor Jenny She crept away into the orchard and hid until Miss Claire had gone She felt she couldn't bear to see her again and when she heard the cab drive away she felt as if there were two Miss Claire's inside it her own and the other one I don't feel as if I can never play with her anymore now that I know what she was like afterward Jenny thought sobbing quietly to herself And though she tried the next day to imagine Miss Claire out of her frame and running down the passage she couldn't do it The vision of a hard-voiced cold-eyed lady came between her and the little girl in the picture So she went away and nursed the old wax doll in the nursery for a while Then she blew her nose and rubbed her eyes with her pink bordered handkerchief Put on her new shoes and her white cotton gloves and went to pay a call on her imaginary Miss Ruby She found the lovely creature dressed in power blue silk although it was only 10 o'clock in the morning And as Jenny listened to Miss Ruby's story of the terrible fits of temper Mr Snatcher had had lately While she invented three new punishments for him she began to feel better and almost happy again I don't think I'll play with any more half-tending people Really tending people are much nicer and I like you best Miss Ruby She confided to that beautiful maiden Better than Miss Claire because Miss Claire's grown up all different and when you grow up Miss Ruby you are not going to be different at all and besides you can't grow up without my knowing she added But this is where Jenny was mistaken Curiously mistaken Four, a few days later she was sent away to stay with Aunt Emma who wore swinging earrings you remember and lived at Putney and when she returned to Aunt Abby at the end of a couple of months she found that a startling change had taken place in her absence End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of The House with the Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Zenousha The House with the Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb Chapter 4 The Lighted Windows When Jenny had left for Aunt Emma's it had been a cold rainy evening and she had looked back with tears in her eyes at the old manor house with rows of dark windows behind which lived Miss Ruby and Uncle Nodding and all the rest of her pretending people and she had felt as if she were leaving behind all her friends If only she could have taken one of them with her to Putney but there was no room for Miss Ruby or any of them in Aunt Emma's little house which smelled of new paint and linoleum and had small spidery-legged tables full of knickknacks all about the rooms Aunt Emma was always bumping into these tables and knocking them over but she never seemed to mind She would merely write whichever table she had upset and called Jenny to pick up all the scattered ornaments and photograph frames and arrange them once more in their places Jenny did try once to pretend that Miss Ruby had come on a visit to Putney but it was not a success Aunt Emma's laugh got in the way Jenny could never be alone at Aunt Emma's however much she wanted to be It seemed as if Aunt Emma was all the time bumping into her thoughts and scattering them and all the pretending just as she scattered all the ornaments off the little tables Even at night time Jenny was not alone She slept in Aunt Emma's room and Aunt Emma always went to bed early and talked to her until Jenny fell asleep Aunt Emma was very kind hearted but Jenny was not really happy with her There seemed always to be a fuss going on about something or other If it wasn't the doings of the grossest boy that Aunt Emma talked about to Jenny it was the doings of the people next door or the extravagant ways of Aunt Emma's child woman Aunt Emma always told a story three times over The first time as soon as she got to the end she would say yes and that's how it was and begin all over again The third time she would tell it in bits Recalling a sentence here and there and repeating the middle part first perhaps and then jumping back to the beginning But she always told it three times and Jenny was expected to sit and listen politely and laugh in the right places every time All this was rather trying to Jenny when she was longing to be racing up and down the long passage Calling on Miss Ruby and Mr Snatcher or hushing Miss Claire's old doll to sleep in the deserted nursery Whenever Jenny thought of Miss Claire a dreadful heavy feeling seemed to get inside her until she tried not to remember the Miss Claire in the black feathered hat who had come to the house that day but thought only of the little girl in the picture and gradually they grew up in Jenny's mind two separate Miss Claire's her own and the other one the other one being a strange grown-up who was not really Miss Claire at all but a person who unfortunately happened to have the same name One morning Aunt Emma said at breakfast Here's a letter from your Aunt Abby You ought to go back tomorrow my dear Jenny tried hard not to show how glad she was to hear this because she did not want to hurt Aunt Emma's feelings All the same she could hardly sit still a moment and tomorrow seemed a long way off She counted up how many hours would have to pass before she would actually be in the train on her way back to Miss Ruby and she put the numbers down on a piece of paper and crossed one off every time Aunt Emma's dining room clock struck Of course she took care not to let Aunt Emma see what she was doing and when at the end goodbyes were said she put her arms very tightly round Aunt Emma's neck and felt suddenly remorseful that she was not more sorry to go She was in fact so happy to be going back to Miss Ruby that she felt she quite loved Aunt Emma and Aunt Emma said What an affectionate little thing it is and never guessed that Jenny had missed anything in the little furniture-crowded house at Putney It was quite dark when Jenny arrived at the gate of the old manor house The Village Postmistress, a friend of Aunt Abby's who happened to be in London that day had taken charge of Jenny and brought her from Aunt Emma's back to Aunt Abby As they came to the gate, Jenny who had been chatting all the way from the station fell suddenly silent She looked up at her dear old house with its many windows but somehow it seemed different What had happened? Her eyes travelled from one window to another and she saw that a light gleamed from every one No longer were they dark and desolate looking It was as if Miss Ruby and Mr Snatcher and Uncle Nodding and all of them had lit up their windows to welcome her home End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 of The House with the Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Zanusha The House with the Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb Chapter 5 What happened while Jenny was away? Jenny gazed, fascinated at the windows as she walked up the broad gravel path But when she reached the house her attention was switched off onto many other surprising things A trim maid servant in Cap and Apron opened the door and inside Aunt Abby's kitchen a number of Apron people passed to and fro Aunt Abby herself had changed No longer did she wear her faded black surge dress with the hooks that were always done up in the wrong eyes She was dressed in a new stiff alpaca dress and wore a little black silk apron edged with black lace that Jenny had never seen before Aunt Abby kissed Jenny affectionately on both cheeks and then turned to speak to the postmistress It did not seem to occur to anybody but an explanation to Jenny was necessary though everything seemed to be changed The quiet, dimly lit house that had echoed to the sound of Jenny's pattering feet was humming with voices and the footsteps of people and everywhere there were lights burning Jenny looked around her in wonder Then she caught sight of Uncle Nickle He was sitting with his feet up on the kitchen range reading the newspaper Uncle Nickle seemed to be the only thing in the house that had not altered He looked as if he had not moved an inch Jenny left him two months ago She flew across to him and clasped him round the neck Uncle Nickle, what has happened? She cried Eh? Bless my soul if it isn't little Jenny said Uncle Nickle bringing his feet down to the ground and sitting upright in his chair I never heard you come in Uncle Nickle do tell me please Jenny always said two pleases when she was extra excited What has happened? I can't understand Jenny had thought for a moment that it might be that the family had returned but she knew that if it was the family Miss Claire's family who had come back to their house Aunt Abby would not have been here Aunt Abby always left before a family returned Eh? said Uncle Nickle Can't understand what my dear Oh I see, yes of course Everything looks all different said Jenny Everything is all different answered Uncle Nickle A crowd of strangers in my kitchen here so that I can't read my newspaper in peace and kettles of water nearly boiling over me every minute and I'm not going to shift for any of them whose kitchen is it anyhow that's what I want to know and Uncle Nickle glared resentfully over the top of his spectacles at the hurrying figures around him but it isn't the family come back is it Uncle Nickle inquired Jenny I ought to sit in her new room the housekeeper's room so your Aunt Abby says to keep up my dignity like Jenny my dear Uncle Nickle continued to air his grievance but I'm used to this kitchen and I like what I'm used to besides there's a place on the corner of this range which just seems to fit the heels of my boots so here I am and here I stays said Uncle Nickle stubbornly but Uncle I knew what it would be when your Aunt Abby took on this housekeeper in job said Uncle Nickle stick to caretaking was my advice caretakers we always have been and caretakers we always will be that's what my advice was but no nothing would suit your Aunt Abby but she must have a turn at this new fandangle now I'm used to caretaking and I like what I'm used to but this housekeeper an idea with all of them strangers upstairs strangers echoed Jenny Uncle Nickle brought his gaze to bear on Jenny in silence for a moment of course he said didn't I explain oh well it's like this Jenny my dear the people who owned this house had a death in their family and the persons what came into possession of this house decided as they wouldn't be using it themselves for some while to open it up and use it in a special way as a sort of rest cure a rest home I mean for certain needy friends and acquaintances as you might say see how I mean Jenny anyways what has happened is this most of the rooms upstairs have been opened up and a staff of servants all these encumbrances Uncle Nickle glared around resentfully once again a staff of servants I say has been engaged by your Aunt Abby who as a self-accepted the job of managing housekeeper here and in the rooms upstairs are staying people who have been sent here for a sort of rest and holiday oh said Jenny but who was the death in the family Uncle Nickle not miss clip Uncle Nickle knocked his pipe on the bars of the great and started to refill it Ulcer Emory 94 years of age he said solemnly putting his feet up on the kitchen range again end of chapter 5 chapter 6 of the house with the twisting passage by Marion St John Webb This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Zanusha The House with the Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb Chapter 6 A Strange Distance by Marion St John Webb Chapter 6 A Strange Distance Chapter 6 A Strange Discovery After supper which they had in Aunt Abby's new sitting room Aunt Abby took Jenny by the hand and prepared to lead her upstairs to bed All the place has been so altered and changed about Jenny she said I must show you your new bedroom Whatever has your Aunt Emma been doing to your hair child it looks a regular mop after I'll be bound which will have to tie it up out of your eyes come along now say good night to your Uncle Nickel Jenny, clinging nervously to Aunt Abby's hand went up the stairs glancing from side to side as she went taking note of the changes that had come over the old house in her absence All the dark sleepy corridors were awake now but the closed doors they passed came sounds of voices there were soft carpets all the way up the stairs and gleaming stair rods as they passed a door on the second floor the first along the twisting passage where Jenny's Miss Primrose was supposed to live it opened and a gentle faced elderly lady came out Aunt Abby immediately stopped a funny little movement something like a curtsy oh Miss Lane she said those cases of soda water have arrived all right there had been a mistake just as you thought Miss Lane inclined her head and smiled looking down at Jenny is this she began my little niece Jenny that I told you about ma'am said Aunt Abby Jenny say how do you do to the lady but before Jenny could speak Miss Lane had put her hands on the little girl's shoulders and had bent down and kissed her I'm glad to see you dear she said and as she kissed her Jenny felt that she had known this lady for a long time this could not be their first meeting surely thought Jenny there seemed something vaguely familiar about the lady's voice and the way she moved her head where had she seen her before Jenny wondered with solemn puzzled eyes she gazed up at the kind smiling face above her then suddenly Jenny recognized her it was Miss Primrose just as Jenny had imagined her here she was as if she had come to life Miss Primrose had been elderly white-haired gentle and kind with the same look in her eyes that this lady had Jenny had even imagined Miss Primrose wearing a little lace cap like the cap the lady standing before her was wearing but she had not thought of the white silk shore that lay across Miss Lane's shoulders Miss Lane they might call her Miss Lane but of course that wasn't her real name Jenny felt sure of that you will let Jenny come up and see me in the morning won't you the lady said to Aunt Abby I've got some pictures she might like to look at oh certainly of course only too pleased Mum if it won't be worrying you to have her replied Aunt Abby children never worry me said the lady smiling down into Jenny's eyes I love them still holding Jenny's hand Aunt Abby moved on and the next minute they were passing Miss Ruby's door Jenny's heart began to beat rapidly but nothing happened as they mounted at the next flight of stairs Aunt Abby said well I don't know but Miss Lane seems to have taken a fancy to you and that's nice for you Jenny because she is the manager or hostess as they call her of the whole house you'll have to be a good girl though and not make a noise or anything I mustn't have any complaints about you you understand now what I say don't you yes Aunt Abby said Jenny quietly on the next landing they passed the door of Jenny's old bedroom and went farther along the corridor here we are said Aunt Abby although you're moved you'll be next door to my room just the same as you used to be they had stopped outside the door of the old nursery oh Aunt Abby Jenny gasped what's the matter now asked Aunt Abby a little short of breath after climbing all the stairs but Jenny could not speak her eyes were shining I suppose you're surprised at having such a big room all to yourself hey said Aunt Abby Jenny nodded well it was the only room left so it was obliged to put your bed up in here there's been no time to see the rest of the room so we've had to leave it but it has been a nursery and it'll do very well for you I dare say when it's put to rights later on Jenny listened to Aunt Abby's talk in a kind of dream while her aunt helped her to get ready for bed now go to sleep like a good girl and there's nothing to be frightened of up here because the house is full of people and they'll be up before long in the next room here's a candle and matches and a drink of water but don't light the candle unless you can help it Jenny Aunt Abby cautioned her good night Aunt Abby said Jenny and oh Aunt Abby I'm so glad to be back bless the child said Aunt Abby will be a good girl that's all and she went away down the stairs Jenny lay still until Aunt Abby's descending footsteps had died away and then she sat up in bed with a jerk the pale light from the moon streaming in through the window enabled her to see dimly round the room except for her bed a strip of matting and a chest of drawers with a looking-glass standing on the top of it new arrivals the old nursery had not changed nobody had had time to bother with it slipping out of bed Jenny crossed over to the cupboard near the window and opened the door inside on the top shelf just where she had left it was Miss Claire's old doll Jenny brought it out kissed it for a moment at its pathetic eyes then kissed it again never mind she said I'll be here to take care of you now she carried the doll over to the bed tucked it snugly inside with its head comfortably on the pillow and then whispered wait here just a minute dear I'll be back directly but I must go and find out the doll gazed sadly up at the ceiling while Jenny her eyes round and very bright put on her bedroom slippers opened the bedroom door softly and crept out into the passage along the passage and down the stairs she went moving quickly and noiselessly and on the alert herself for the slightest sound outside Miss Ruby's door she stopped someone was moving about inside while Jenny hesitated she heard someone come up close to the other side of the door of Miss Ruby's room Jenny turned and ran quickly up the stairs and crouched behind some long window curtains on the landing above from below came the sound of a door opening then all was quiet after waiting a while Jenny stole out of her hiding place and peeped over the banisters she could see down into the passage with its row of doors on either side Miss Ruby's door was standing wide open slowly cautiously Jenny crept down several stairs again a little farther and then by crouching down she found she could see right into the room by the table reading a letter was standing a beautiful creature with fair curly hair dressed in a magnificent pink silk frock Jenny gazed spellbound then she turned and fled up the stairs and along the passage to her own room and shut herself in it is, it is it is, it's Miss Ruby she said over and over again to herself almost crying with excitement she's come alive really and truly alive oh whatever shall I do Miss Ruby Miss Ruby but I thought I should find you directly I saw Miss Primrose Jenny leapt onto the bed and sitting with her hands clasped round her knees and her chin resting on the top of one knee tried to get her thoughts straightened out she felt bewildered if Miss Ruby and Miss Primrose had come to life in this mysterious manner Jenny thought then Mr Snatcher and Uncle Notting and Blackjack and all the rest of them had probably come alive too and she would find them waiting down there behind their doors in the long twisting passage I shall find them all I know I shall said Jenny I feel I shall but how had it all happened she kept asking herself to this she could find the answer of course Aunt Abby might call these people by names such as Miss Lane but that did not matter in the least they would not be their real names that Aunt Abby called them by Jenny felt sure of that oh I shall never be able to go to sleep tonight thought Jenny I wish it was tomorrow now so that I could go down and find all the others and then she remembered Miss Claire and heard this appointment when Miss Claire came alive was she going to be sorry that Miss Ruby and all of them had come alive too Miss Claire has grown up all different and when you grow up Miss Ruby you are not going to be different at all besides you can't grow up without my knowing Jenny had once said that beautiful maiden but Miss Ruby had come alive without Jenny's permission so what was to prevent her being all different and not a bit like the Miss Ruby of Jenny's imagination she looks exactly as she ought to oh she must be like my Miss Ruby said Jenny to herself end of chapter 6 Chapter 7 of The House with the Twisting Passage by Marian St John Webb this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Zanusia The House with the Twisting Passage by Marian St John Webb Chapter 7 The People Behind the Doors and the most surprising thing was that the lovely being in the pink silk dress did turn out to be like Jenny's Miss Ruby the next day after breakfast Jenny managed to see her again and watched her as she moved with just Miss Ruby's movements and talked in just Miss Ruby's voice and laughed with a little rippling laugh just as Miss Ruby ought to have done at least as far as Jenny could remember this fair maiden was like her Miss Ruby but she got the two Miss Ruby's so mixed up in her mind before the day was out that she found it difficult to decide what things were done by the imaginary Miss Ruby that the live one did not do what things the live Miss Ruby did that the imaginary one ought to have done at all events here was Miss Ruby, right enough and here was Miss Primrose and it did not take Jenny long to discover Uncle Notting Blackjack Old Mrs. Bunch Peter Bollin and many more of them she found these people living behind the doors of her passage just as she thought she would people strangely like those of her imagination how had it happened Jenny would ask herself this question ten times a day trying to find some way of explaining matters but she always had to give it up in the end and shake her head it was fortunate that Miss Lane or Miss Primrose as we must call her had taken such a liking to Jenny through this Jenny was soon able to make friends with the occupants of the various rooms and afterward was often in the company of one or other of her own people as she called them to herself from the very first she felt at home with these folk just as they in their turn seemed to fill on easy terms with her there seems to be an understanding between Jenny and these grownups but neither she nor they ever referred to the matter in any way Jenny had a feeling that she might spoil things if she spoke so she kept silent the only person that Jenny could not find much to her regret was Mr Snatcher she looked for him in every fresh room that she rented but she looked in vain no bad tempered man with a big black moustache was living under the roof of the manor house and then one day she did find him but she will hear all about that later on at present having explained how Jenny came to the old manor house and found her pretending people and how these pretending people lived I want to tell you next what Miss Primrose and Uncle Nodding and Miss Ruby and Phil the Fiddler who was exactly like himself only he played a flute instead of a violin and Blackjack and all the rest of them told Jenny when she went to tea in their rooms of course all these people had different names according to Aunt Abby but we shall call them by the names that Jenny gave them End of Chapter 7 Chapter 8 of The House with the Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Zanusha The House with the Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb Part 2 Jenny in the Twisting Passage Chapter 8 Miss Primrose's Story When Jenny went to tea with Miss Primrose she was shown two pictures one was of a queer little creature something like a frog that is the Jerry frog said Miss Primrose the other was of a tree such as Jenny had never seen before A magic tree explained Miss Primrose sit down on this hassock by the fire Jenny and toast the buns and I'll tell you how we made it and what became of the Jerry frog the magic tree Jerry is a very small boy who believes in fairies and witches and who once saw Father Christmas moving through a crowd outside a pig toy shop also he is my nephew and has brown curly hair and is going to be a pirate when he grows up A little while ago he came to spend a couple of days with me and immediately on his arrival he told me of the wonderful idea that had come to him while he was eating bananas in the train I wonder no one has ever thought of it before aunt he said solemnly but of course it mainly is a little magic and it isn't everyone who knows magic is it of course it isn't everyone who knows magic but Jerry and I happened to know quite a lot and once Jerry made a fairy which I keep locked up in a little box on my dressing table perhaps one day I'll tell you how he made it and then you can try to make one for yourself I think we learnt most of the magic in my garden it is a wonderful place half wild and smothered with flowers hidden from the outside world by tall whispering trees and thick silent bushes and there is a little del in one corner of it with a paw when the moon shines in the water and the dark trees rustle around us Jerry and I have some queer adventures in the garden after he had told me his idea and we had discussed it together I got my purse and we went out into the garden and down to the dell he knelt down by the paw and dug a hole with his left hand it had to be his left hand that was part of the magic and then I knelt down and dipping a penny in the water placed it carefully in the hole with my left hand and covered it with soil then we said some magic words and waved our arms over the spot put a stick to mark the place and walked backward into the house this was another part of the magic nothing happened all that day though we paid repeated visits to the dell and gazed along earnestly at the stick so that night when I went up to bed I unlocked the box on my dressing table took out the fairy and told her about it she shook her head doubtfully and said she feared it would need a great deal of magic but she would see what could be done Jerry and I ran down to the dell early the next morning and found to our intense joy and amazement that the fairy and our magic words had succeeded where the little stick had been the previous evening now stood a small sturdy tree and growing on the branches were a score of brown pennies a penny tree that's what we had made Jerry was wild with delight and wished he hadn't been going home that evening because he was eager to try more magic in the garden and talked of growing a six penny tree and other wonderful things isn't it a pity that the people at the place the place you know aren't where they make money said Jerry I know I said the mint oh yes said Jerry well isn't it a pity that they don't know enough magic to grow penny trees it would save them ever such a lot of work wouldn't it at first we thought of writing to the people at the mint but after talking the matter over Jerry and I decided that it would not be much use because even if we told them the magic bit they haven't all got aunts who have a garden like mine besides it isn't everyone who has a fairy locked up in a box on the dressing table and without the fairy even the magic that Jerry and I know would be useless it was during Jerry's next visit to me that the incident of the Jerry frog occurred we were sitting in the garden one evening listening to the tall trees whispering above our heads when Jerry turned to me and said do you know aunts I shouldn't be at all surprised if something awfully magic happened in a few minutes I feel so kind of funny he paused then continued in a horse whisper like as if I might be suddenly changed into into a frog or something ah I said that comes of putting your shoes on the wrong feet this morning I knew something would happen when you did that yes I expect it's that said Jerry resignedly it would be rather awkward if it is a frog wouldn't it I don't know frog language and I shan't be able to tell you when it's bedtime frogs don't go to bed the same time as little boys do said Jerry oh no I suppose they don't so it won't matter very much and I shan't need to tell you when supper's ready frogs only eat snails and worms and things like that don't they Jerry looked at me thoughtfully of course I might be able to understand ordinary language he said after a moment mightn't I you could just try aren't in case and I might be able to answer enchanted frogs can sometimes you know of course I said I'd forgotten perhaps you're tired aren't he suggested now I come to think of it I am rather sleepy I replied I'd like to have a little dose if you don't mind and I yawned again and fell immediately into deep sleep when I woke up about half a minute later I saw that Anna the maid had lit the red lamp in the dining room its warm glow streamed softly through the open French windows down the flight of stone steps to my feet I sat up in my chair and glanced around me Jerry had disappeared on the stone steps in front of me where he'd been sitting was a large green frog gazing at me with bulging eyes I gasped good evening Jerry I said politely good evening said a high whispery voice how do you like being a frog I asked can you understand me yes replied the high voice I like it very well thank you your voice has changed remarkably it always changes when you're a frog the voice explained how interesting I said do you find the other people in frogland nice? very nice indeed came the answer that's a good thing I suppose you haven't had time to try any snails yet have you no said the voice I say you might put a glass of milk out on the steps at supper time in case I don't like snails just at first I'll I'll get used to them you know very well I said I'm just going indoors now I can see that Anna has finished setting the table I got up and went in by the side door so as not to disturb the Jerry frog on the steps there was Jerry's favourite pudding for supper so I put some on a plate poured out a glass of milk and took both outside and placed them on the steps there's your favourite pudding tonight I said to the Jerry frog so I thought you might like a bit the high voice thanked me very much and I went indoors and left the Jerry frog and its supper out in the dark garden with the whispery trees 5 minutes later the plate and the glass were empty and the high voice informed me that it would like a little more pudding I took out a little more pudding and was just sitting down to my own supper again when it struck me that the Jerry frog might also like another glass of milk I crossed to the window then stopped and gave a cry of astonishment there on the bottom step with the plate in his hand was Jerry he started oh oh he stammered oh they've turned me back suddenly aunt and I thought I'd better come in at once it's nearly bedtime isn't it he came up the steps then glanced quickly behind him as if he had forgotten something down on the bottom step something moved what a lot of leaves there are blowing about the steps tonight I said you must sweep them off in the morning Jerry Jerry turned and smiled up at me clasping my arm lovingly come in and finish your supper aunt he coaxed oh and I'm so glad they've turned me back again he drew me gently inside the room as he spoke I'm sure I never should have got used to snails they look so big and horny when you're as little as a frog and now could I have just one teeny little bit more of pudding do you think aunt please magic and unmagicking seems to make you so hungry somehow end of chapter 8 chapter 9 of The House with Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Zanusha The House with the Twisting Passage by Marion St John Webb Chapter 9 Black Jack's Story Hello Shipmate cried Black Jack come aboard me arty all hands on deck and now a wee this evening he beamed at Jenny as the little girl appeared at his open door Jack Millad he went on addressing himself can't you find a pet mint for the company aha here we are now you just try one of these Shipmate and if they're not the best pet mint you've ever struck well my name's not by no manner means what it is he produced a crumpled paper bag from one of his pockets and held it out to Jenny she advanced hesitatingly into the room and took a peppermint from the bag thank you very much she said and as she tasted it they're lovely and what are we doing with ourselves this evening Shipmate inquired Black Jack nothing particular said Jenny say me a grinned Black Jack well it's clear to me that our ship's company has got nothing particular to do this evening might as well tell you that tale I promised ay oh please if you would said Jenny eagerly it was what she had been hoping for when she came past the door delighted said Black Jack only I shall make a bit of noise I warn you I can't tell a tale without doing the actions if you know what I mean so if I kick the cold bucket over and scatter the fire irons and thump the table and tear the wind curtains down you mustn't be surprised it's the only way I can tell a story Jenny's smiling little face grew serious she wouldn't mind of course if Black Jack tore the window curtains down but what would Aunt Abby say I'll cut the rain beating against the window said Black Jack just the right sort of night for the tale I'm going to tell you here have another peppermint and gather round the fire am I the poker matey and I'll soon make it blaze up that's better then now I'll begin the tattooed man 20 years ago on just such another night as this the wind moaning and howling and the rain coming down in torrents I was walking along a little back street in Dieppe that's in France, ship mate you know on my way down to the quay to my ship I've been sent ashore on an errand and was hurrying back as I'd heard a clock strike 8 and my ship was due to start at the half hour I stepped into the doorway of what I took to be an empty shop for a moment to light a cigarette as the match flared I happened to look up and straight through the glass door inside by the empty dusty counter was sitting a man quite still and all alone I was taken aback what in the world of wonders is he doing in there I thought to myself that said nothing and my match went out I struck another match and gave a start as I saw that the man had got up and come close to the other side of the glass door and was glaring through at me Jack I thought to myself this is no place for you I should make myself scarce my lad if I was you which I did but I hadn't gone more than under jards when I heard someone running after me and the next moment a hand caught hold of my arm here blackjack caught hold of a handful of red plush tablecloth and slid it along so that it hung half off the table I willed round and saw by the light of a baker's shop window that it was the man who had just been looking at me through the glass doors I faced him squarely he was an ugly man with a cruel, thin mouth and a red mark right across one cheek as if he'd been in a fight I thought he was a bit out of breath with running are you going by that ship to England he nodded towards the key I told him I was you're just the man I want he said hurriedly looking over his shoulder and then back at me again it's fate you're stopping in that doorway just when but never mind that do you want to earn twenty golden sovereigns for yourself without any trouble he asked in a quick bewildered sort of way he could see how I felt about it by the way my mouth dropped open in surprise he put his hand in his pocket and drew out some gold pieces when you reach the other side will you get any leave he asked anxiously I nodded we've just finished a long voyage I said it was only an accident we'd called in here I shall get leave on the other side good, good he said then you'll have no difficulty in doing what I ask of you all I want you to do is take this small packet he went on and when you get to England deliver it with your own hands to the person whose name and address is written on the outside only it must be delivered without foul before the end of this month I will give you plenty of money to pay expenses but you must promise me on your word of honour as a British sailor of course this touched me and he knew it with the wily old bird that he was so I gave him my solemn word of honour as a British sailor that I would deliver the packet safely to a man whose name was written outside it you must not part with it to anyone but this man or that only he gets it otherwise I might as well send it through the post you may think it all that I ask you, a stranger the ugly man continued but it is my only chance and the matter is very urgent he glanced quickly over his shoulder again then he went on speaking rapidly to tell me how I should recognise to whom I was to give the packet you cannot fail to find him at the address on the packet and you cannot fail to recognise him because he has the head of a parrot tattooed on the back of his left hand he said you know what tattoo marks are don't you shipmate it's a sort of picture drawn or rather pricked onto the skin of your arm or hand or anywhere you like with a blue ink or dye and it won't ever come off so that you might keep on washing your hands if they were tattooed for a hundred years and it would only be a waste of soap the tattoo marks would still be there at the end well my ugly friend counted out twenty golden sovereigns into the palm of his hand and I thought to myself Jack my lad twenty sovereigns is twenty sovereigns and not to be sneezed as the saying is and though I didn't like the look of the man there can be no arm in doing him this little service I thought it seemed simple enough so I took the packet and I took the twenty sovereigns and I gave him my word of honour again and I turned away but just as he was going he caught me suddenly by the arm Black Jack lent forward and made a sudden grab at the back of a chair near him which gave Jenny a jump and thrusted his ugly face close to mine he said if you don't keep your word I shall know and then look out for yourself your life won't be worth a brass farthing there was such a threatening note in his voice and such an evil look in his eye that well I'll tell you shit mate my legs felt all at once they were made of jelly they felt all the shake round the knees then before I could move or say a word they had gone I made my way down to the key feeling a bit muddled like and got aboard my ship just in time and we were soon under way for the English coast at the first opportunity I got I looked at the name and address on the packet Mr Silas Trudge and I looked in Lime Regis Dorset I read Dorset I said to myself that's a tidy stretch from London Jack Marlad my old folk lived just on the outskirts of London at I Barnett however I'd given my word so there was no help for it but to go yet that night during the crossing over which was very rough and stormy face and queer manner and I wished I hadn't promised to do what he wanted I got the same kind of feeling you get when you guess there's a bit of bad luck awaiting around the corner for you well anyway shit mate after we landed in England and I'd been home to my old mother for a couple of days I went off one morning down to Dorsetshire I thought I'd better go before I'd spent all my money and hadn't got the fare left it was late afternoon getting dusk when I got to Lime Regis which is a quite little sea coast placed with streets going all up and down hill and out into the sea instead of a pier runs a long curved sort of wall very wide across and built all of stonework this is called the cob I found the golden peacock in down on the front not far from the land end of the cob it was a neat little inn with cheery curtains of a golden yellow colour at the windows I walked past once or twice as if taking a stroll and then when I got over feeling a bit nervous I went in and sat down and ordered something to drink there was only one other person in there having a drink and he was a big thick set man with a dark skin and with one hand an arm bound up and a sling he was sitting on a low wooden bench by a roaring fire I gave him good evening and he nodded to me but did not speak so I waited till my drink appeared and then I said to the landlord I'm a stranger in these parts matey just back from China and I've come down here to find a man named Silas Trudge I obliged by telling me where I shall find him the man on the bench looked up immediately and before the landlord could reply he said Silas Trudge did you say well you've had your journey for nothing you won't find him he's dead dead I echoed stupidly looking from the man to the landlord the landlord pursed up his lips and gravely nodded his head then he narrowed his eyes in a queer way tell him about Trudge said the landlord looking not at me but at the other man the man on the bench cleared his throat Trudge was drowned three weeks ago just off the coast here his boat went down I was silent I did not know what to say nor what to do I knew him well the man went on and if there is anything I can do for you if there was any message you had for him perhaps I can help you Trudge and me was great friends weren't we he turned to the landlord none better said the landlord I hesitated what all I to do I've been told not to give the packet to anyone but Silas Trudge himself but I had never thought of his being dead what all I to do I looked up and found the man and the landlord watching me closely hello Jack I said to myself steady on my lad there's something fishy here and I decided suddenly that I would trust neither of them for the moment at any rate an idea had flashed into my head as Silas Trudge was dead I would find out what was inside the packet before confiding in his friend it might be to my advantage to know what the packet contained I searched about in my mind for a lightly story to tell the two men who were waiting for me to speak as Silas Trudge got any near relatives living I asked cautiously none at all said the man on the bench I'm what you might call his nearest being his best friend oh well I said trying to look very simple I might as well tell you it seems to me to be nothing particular only a message that an old friend sent him friend in London as I happened to be passing through Lyme Regis I undertook to look him up and tell him the man fidgeted uneasily in his seat a friend in London he said I wonder if I know him I know most of Trudge's friends I was beginning to get into a hole but once having started the story I was bound to finish it I cast about in my mind for some person whom this friend of Trudge's would be unlikely to know having recently had a good deal to do with Chinaman I fixed on one of those his name is Ching I began the man on the bench turned very white and I saw that his hand was shaking a bit it goes over my head at the landlord I thought I must have made some sign to him as the man turned suddenly to me what was the message he asked quietly I could feel that I'd got onto dangerous ground and utterly wished I'd never started the story you see what comes of telling one lieship mate you have to go on telling more to either first one and cover it up it isn't worth it you take my word for it my troubles began from the minute I told that first lie the message I said getting a bit scared at the expression on his face was simply this tell him I'm ready I was rather proud of myself for a moment for thinking of something so easy but the next moment my pride gave way to astonishment at the queer glance the man gave me ready for what he inquired in a calm voice that's all the message that's all I know I said well I can't make head or tail of it it's evidently some little business of trudges that I know nothing about I'm sorry I can't be of any use to you after all said the man was I mistaken or was that an amused gleam in his eye I had a feeling that the fellow was actually laughing at me but why what had I said had he seen through me and guessed I was merely trying to put him off the scent I felt very puzzled and a bit worried after this the man who told me his name was Brough got very friendly and wanted me to keep on having more to drink he suggested that I stayed the night at the golden peacock but I did not like the narrowed eyes of the landlord so I told one more lie and said I had friends at Charmouth which was the next village Brough seemed left to let me go and did his best to detain me as long as possible but at length I got away after bidding him and the landlord a friendly good night I mentioned as I shook hands with Brough that I was sorry to see he had hurt his other hand and arm it was a mere nothing he said a slight sprain it would soon be well again once outside I started briskly off in the direction of Charmouth not that I wanted to go there but I was obliged to make a pretence of going that way as I was supposed to have friends in that town I walked quickly past the little houses by the seafront and turning inland took the Charmouth Road at the first inn I came to I went in and inquired if they had a room for the night fortunately they had so I went straight up to my room locked myself in and by the light of a couple of candles that stood on the dressing table proceeded to examine the packet I had been carrying about for the last few days the packet was carefully done up in thick white paper then sealed with red sealing wax in all sorts of unexpected places on the back and on the front steady jack my lad I said if once you break these seals I sat and considered for a while it was no concern of mine better leave it alone I might learn something I didn't want to know if I opened this packet on the other hand Silas Trudge was dead what was I to do with the packet I did not know the name of the man it had come from I did not know the name of the man it had come from and what was it that he had said if I didn't keep my word and deliver it to Silas Trudge you would know and then I was to look out for myself my life wouldn't be worth a brass file then it wouldn't I mopped my forehead with my handkerchief I began to feel very uncomfortable how would he know I asked myself perhaps if I opened the packet I should find out and so save myself clearly it was best to open the packet I broke the seal on one of the flaps from the packet I drew forth a number of tightly folded pages which on opening out I discovered to be all over strange signs and words that I could make neither had nor tail of I looked at the pages this way and that way, sideways and upside down but it was no good I could make nothing of it at all here's a pretty kettle of fish my lad I said to myself all this here is written in a sort of secret code I suppose now what are you going to do I turned the pages over from beginning to end again but there was nothing doing nothing but signs and writings that had no sense nor reason to me slowly and while I was thinking I broke the seal on the other flap and spread the white paper cover out wide inside one corner of the cover was a scrap of writing in blue pencil and glory be it wasn't written in code it was evidently a post script written at the last moment and ran a little boat first of month ten o'clock as they don't know you, show the parrot and they will tell you news for half an hour I sat with my elbows on the dressing table reading and re-reading and puzzling over this message at the end of that time I banged my fist down on the table got it my lad I said blackjack suited the action to the word and brought his fist down with a crash on the table beside Jenny I'll tell you what I made it out to be shipmate the curved line was meant to be the cob it took me a rare time to spot this I'll admit and so I read that Silas Trudge was to go to the end of the cob at ten o'clock at night I suppose where he would find a small boat to the people in the boat he was to show his left hand the parrot tattooed on it and then they were telling the news whatever that might be but now Silas Trudge was dead and he could not keep the appointment on the cob what was it all about what was it for and tomorrow was the first of the month what a pity stay a moment I thought a sudden idea had struck me why shouldn't I go down on the cob tomorrow night and near the news as they don't know you the message ran then I could easily draw a blue parrot on the back of my left hand I knew something about tattoo work but I wouldn't tattoo it on properly or else I shouldn't be able to wash it off again afterwards but I would make it look like a real tattoo and at night time it would pass without suspicion supposing it were not night time but 10 o'clock in the morning well anyway I wasn't going at that time to be seen by broth or the landlord from the windows of the golden peacock besides with all this caution it was short of me at night I would go at 10 o'clock tomorrow night I made up my mind the hint of mystery about the whole thing appealed to me no arm could come to me I thought I should only be going to the end of the cob I wasn't much of an actor I knew but I reckoned I could play my part well enough so long as they had never seen the real Silas to keep them unsuspicious until I'd got well away from Lyme Regis and was back in London again after which I should soon be on my ship and far away from the whole business it was a rather silly thing to do when you come to think it over but there you are I was feeling a bit flat and wanted a snip of excitement anyway I carried out my plan the next day I stayed at the inn and spent my time and getting the parrot fixed up all right on my left hand taking care not to let the landlord or anyone about the place see it the evening turned out a bit rough a big girl springing up and every now and then the rain would come pouring down I set out from the inn on the charmeth road about nine o'clock and was soon in Lyme Regis I was much too early so made my way down to the shore and sheltered in a bathing out arrangement there it was so dark that there was no chance of my being seen by my friend Brough if I did not go too near the golden peacock I particularly wanted to avoid Brough of course the ten o'clock drew near I approached the cob and climbing up onto it walked along to the inn it was our work keeping a foothold on such a blustery night but I fought my way along to the inn and stood still looking out into the darkness below me the sea whirled and hissed against the great stone walls of the cob my eyes soon grew used to the strange darkness of the sea and I gazed steadily out but there was no sign of a boat you're an ass Jack my lad I said to myself how if it isn't the first of next month instead of this month or perhaps first of month is only another secret code I mean something altogether different and I looked back shoreward at the twinkling little lights in the houses and thought of the warm comfortable rooms behind those cheery windows and I called myself ten times an ass for staying out there in the wind and rain when I might be sitting in warmth and comfort by an inn fire what was I doing this for all for what I turned and took a pace or two backward along the cob to all those beckoning lights then turned again and looked once more to see a little way out toward the cob I saw a shadow darker than the black of the water another second and the light of a lantern gleamed from the side and I saw it was a small boat my art went bumpity bump which black Jack illustrated with a series of resounding thumps on the table then springing to his feet he clambered up onto the table and pretending it was the cob stood at one end gazing out over the hearth rug Jenny sat looking up at him her eyes wide with astonishment and interest as he proceeded to act to the next part of his tail getting more and more excited and violent in his movements as time went on the boat seemed to be having difficulties on the account of the rough sea but in a few minutes she got round the side of the cob where the water was a bit calmer and I stood and watched while they got her up close to the wall and made her fast with a rope to an iron ring close by this ring some stone steps lead from the water up onto the cob I could now see that there were two figures in the boat one of them a tall man picked up the lantern while the other a little stumpy man pulled the boat round near the steps the tall man scrambled out onto them and climbed up onto the cob they had evidently seen me wait in there I suppose my black figure would stand out against the grey black of the skyline they may have helped me but I did not hear them I could not hear anything but the wind and the sea when the tall man reached my side he raised the lantern so that it shone on my face who are you this voice came through the roar of the wind for answer I held at my left hand he looked down at the parrot drawn on the back of it then he nodded his head what news I asked him shouting to make myself heard all's well so far was his reply the ship passes at midnight and we're prepared we've got the chart and know the exact spot where we are to get close alongside sir he won't have far to swim and then we make for the caves and you'll have arranged the rest sir it was my turn to nod my head I had to let him think I had arranged the rest of course but what a hole I was getting into what on earth was he talking about what were they all up to who was going to swim and what arrangements was I supposed to have made if only I'd been able to read that secret code letter while I was trying to make up my mind what to say next the tall man spoke again we may have a bit of a job getting out there so hadn't we better start at once sir if you'll follow me what was this they were expecting me to go along in the boat with them not if I knew it why when they found out I had made no arrangements they'd suspect me perhaps and then what chance would I stand against the two of them out in a little boat on a stormy sea it would be jack for the fishes without a doubt what I should have done next I do not know but as the man with the lance and turned toward the steps the figure came dashing up this figure was followed by another waving his arms excitedly what have you told him what have you told him cried the first figure seizing the tall man's arm and shaking it so that the lantern was almost dropped he's not Silas Trudge that man's not Silas Trudge the second figure who was the little fat man shouted flinging himself upon me gripping my arms I struck him off and struck out with my fists and the next minute we were in the thick of a fight and what a fight it was on top of that lonely sea wall all in the dark savor a glimmer of lantern light with the wind howling about our ears and the sea lashing away below I fought hard I fought desperately furiously but it was three to one and they got me down and fastened my hands and feet with a bit of rope now what's it all about gasped the tall man give me the lantern said the figure that had first come dashing up the steps as he raised the lantern and shone it in my face I looked at him blinking and gradually I saw his face in the darkness behind the lantern it was brough the man I had seen sitting by the fire at the golden peacock stylus trudges friend he seized me roughly by the shoulder and twisted me round so that he could look at my hands tied me on my back he evidently saw the parrot ah he said I thought so now what's your little game I suspected you ever since our talk last night you don't suppose that I let you go away yesterday without having you watched I know where you stayed last night and this evening I followed you myself to the cob here and while you were talking to him he pointed to the tall man who seemed bewildered by the turn of events I slipped down to the boat and made a few inquiries now what's your game come on you may as well loan up and this ain't signless trud you say said the tall man but he's got the blue parrot bit of soap and water will fetch that off snid brough well by this time I was feeling fair sick of myself what an ass I'd been to get mixed up in all this business I'd had enough of shuffling so I determined to out with the truth although as a story it might sound a bit difficult to believe when I heard from you that Sardis Trudge was dead I finished up I thought I'd best see what was in the packet so as to know what to do next I couldn't give it back to the man in Dieppe and I didn't like to destroy it Brough was by in the ends of his black moustache I think he could say I was telling the truth this time I see he said you're an ass my friend so am I for telling you Trudge was dead and so causing all this muddle but I had a reason then he held out his left hand and by the light of the lantern I saw a parrot tattooed on the back of it this was the hand and arm that had been bound up in the sling yesterday you I cried in astonishment then why in this world of wonders did you tell me that you were dead I tell you I had a private reason a reason for telling any stranger who might inquire for me at that moment that I was dead it was more convenient I never dreamt you had a message from Dieppe for me as the man in the boat here tells me you must have had they were expecting to meet me here tonight now we mustn't waste any more time you'd better hand me over that packet now but how can I be sure that you are Silas Trudge after you're telling me yesterday I began I can give you proof enough besides the parrot I have papers here in my pocket and besides I'd want me to waste more time in talking I won't ask you to give me the packet you can't I'll take it which you proceeded to do hastily searching me as soon as you'd found the letter he said come along then boys there's not a moment to lose I'll read this in the boat by the light of the lantern only we must start at once I thought for a second that they were going to leave me where I was and I wondered how I was to make good my escape tied hand and foot as I was but Silas Trudge had other plans for me as for you looking down at me you must see that you don't go talking about tonight's little affair until we are through with our work here you boys give me a hand here and throw him into the boat we'll take him with us he may be useful in vain did I protest I would say nothing I would not give them away I promised I did not know enough about their business to do them any harm I urged because I didn't want to be mixed up in the rest of the night's doings at all I didn't like the sound of them that's alright laugh Trudge but I'd rather have your company than your promises my friend you must come with us and without more ado they bundled me down the stone steps and into the rocking boat Blackjack was on the floor again by this time pacing up and down between the window and the hearth rug so we set out to see what a journey it was in that crazy little boat on such a stormy night I thought every second that the boat would turn over and we should all be in the water as soon as we had got underway they untied my hands and feet if we do turn over said Trudge cheerfully you might as well have a sporting chance but now that you're free you must make yourself useful SHARP which I did what else could I do it was three to one and I had a feeling that Trudge would as soon tip me overboard as I have any arguing for about an hour we tossed about in the boat making slow headway my three companions took no notice of me except when they issued a sharp command for me to do something the tall man the little fat man and I managed the boat while Trudge kept the lantern by his side reading the secret code letter it appeared to be understanding it all right though it must have been a difficult task reading it with the boat pitching and tossing about so after a while we came evidently to the right spot for waiting for we began to tack up and down backward and forward backward and forward we went Trudge never looking up from the letter not even when a wave splashed over and filled up his boots I judged that it must have been about midnight when the little fat man started signalling with his arms to Trudge the girl was so high by this time that it was impossible to hear each other's voices Trudge put his papers away and shrouded the lantern then struggling upright in the boat he looked in the direction that the man was pointing a big vessel was looming up out of the darkness and bearing toward us we close hold our sails and continued to tack to and fro about the same spot as the ship approached the tall man managed to steer our little boat one out of the circle of light coming from the big vessel so that we should escape being seen then as if he wanted us to be seen Trudge stood up in the boat and flashed the lantern once twice then he shrouded it again I sat stiffly in my corner of the boat my eyes fastened on the passing ship but I did not see anything happen and so the ship passed and left us in darkness but Silas Trudge's eyes had seen what mine had missed no sooner had the vessel passed then he signalled the two men to bring the boat round and head for a certain spot then he uncovered the lantern and let it gleam over the water in that direction a few minutes battling through the sea and the rays of the lantern picked out something white in the hollow of a wave it was the head of a man a man fighting desperately to reach us it was a marvellously neat bit of work the way we got up to that man and hauled him into the boat almost looks as if they had practiced dance at this sort of work I thought to myself but I had not time to think anything else because it was all hands on deck and no mistake for the next 10 minutes what with a soaking wet man in the bottom of a soaking wet boat and a soaking wet sail to hoist and yourself and everybody else soaking wet well I may be a sailor and used to the sea but I prefer to keep it outside the boat I am in anyway we got going hoisted the sails and sped before the gal shoreward we got a good bit of buffeting but a length we've beached at a part of the coast that was unknown to me it looked dark and deserted great cliffs rising up from the shore we got the boat up high and dry and all of us scrambled up the shingly beach Trudge led the way into a great cave at the foot of one of the cliffs it was well sheltered and once again we could hear ourselves speak a pretty sight we must have looked all of us dripping wet in our teeth shattering with cold Silas Trudge set the lantern down on the ground and as we stood round it as I lighted on me he scowled now if it hadn't been for your interference my friend he said there would have been food and drink and dry clothes here but thanks to you I got that code letter too late to carry out the instructions it gave it turned to the man we had rescued from the sea it did look a sight to be sure shivering and blue with cold I saw they had hardly any clothes on he was a man of medium build with thin pointed features I did not like his face it was more like a ferret than a man's face his black hair laying long wet streaks down his forehead as I looked at him he put up his hand to his face as if to fill for a moustache and beard but he was clean shaven Trudge began to explain rapidly to the man what had occurred meanwhile taking off his big coat and wrapping it round the shivering creature when the ferret faced man realised the situation he burst out into angry abuse at Trudge and what did you go and say you were dead for you idiot he cried private reasons I've told you said Trudge certainly looking as if he wanted to take his coat back again I wasn't expecting any message from Dieppe not till three months time you're twelve weeks too early a stranger muttered something about having to come away earlier than he had expected the things were getting too hot for him well how was I to know asked Trudge in an aggrieved voice at the present time I'm expecting to hear news from from China news which I don't want to hear and when I saw this sailor fellow I thought he'd come with this news which would have meant that I should have had to do something very dangerous something I didn't want to do I admit of my mind when the message came from my friends in China to send word back that I was dead it was the only way I could get out of it and the landlord of the peacock backed me up he's a friend of mine how was I to know that this fellow had come from Dieppe it was only at the end that I began to suspect he had not come from my Chinese friends so then I had him followed to find out what he was up to well all I can say is you've muddled the whole thing in a disgusting manner said ferret face of course the upshot of it was that they had a few words and during their quarrel I let out one or two things which they hadn't meant me to know I'm sure I gathered there were both members of some shady secret society as also were the tall man and the fat man and my ugly Dieppe man too I suppose ferret face had got into trouble somehow and the rest of his brother members had had to help him to escape everything had worked smoothly right down to this end bit and now here we were without food or fresh clothing and it was me knowing their secret and very much in their way look here said Trudge there's no use us going on like this and wasting any more time here we'd best get away as soon as possible the only thing is your clothes pity you couldn't have swam in them you can't appear in the village yonder like that huge attracts attention his eyes wandered from ferret face to me when the resentful look on his face suddenly disappeared I've got it he cried this sailor fellow has been a thundering nuisance to us to make up for what he has done he shall lend you his clothes I protested at once what was I to do if they took my clothes I asked and what was I to tell my captain about my missing suit when I rejoined my ship but none of them seemed to take any notice saying how about my captain I said so you went bathing and left your clothes on the beach and they got stolen grinned the fat man so you had a fire in your house and they got burnt laughed the tall man telling the truth if you dare sneered ferret face aww if you dare echo Trudge but don't waste any more of our time off with your clothes now as quick as lightning unless you want us to give you a little help he advanced in a threatening manner but I'd had just about enough of their bullying by this time suddenly I shot at my foot and kicked the lantern over and we were plunged in darkness blackjack kicked violently out at the fire irons and sent them clattering down on the half there was a moment's confusion and I could hear them stumbling about and falling over each other which he illustrated by throwing two or three chairs on top of one another in that moment I darted out of the cave and down the shore like a madman they were after me like a pack of hounds on on I ran till I came to the boat by the water's edge the tide had risen higher and was touching her I gathered all my strength and with a tremendous push got her afloat in the water so excited was blackjack becoming that the noise it was making was truly deafening as he uttered the last words he pushed the table violently across the room and it crashed into the sideboard some crockery on it toppled over and came smashing to the ground Jenny jumped to her feet blackjack took no notice of anything but turning round seized an umbrella near its hand and waved it aloft I leapt into the boat he leapt into the air coming down with a thud so tremendous that Uncle Nickel in the kitchen below started up in concern Aunt Abby who had heard the crockery breaking was already half way up the stairs season a couple of laws I got away from the shore it was a hard battle the tide still rising was trying to carry the boat into land again I fought desperately meanwhile Trudge realising what had happened waded out in the water trying to reach me the tall man plunged in also I pulled with all my might then I saw that Trudge was swimming near he came and nearer then his hand shot up and he caught hold of the side of the boat I lifted one or and brought it down crash on the back of his head and with a cry of rage he let go the umbrella was brought down on the back of a chair with such force that it snapped in two but this was blackjack's last bit of damage for at that moment the door flew open and Aunt Abby appeared followed by Uncle Nickel and a cluster of excited servants he turned and swam ashore and that was the last I saw of Silas Trudge I hoisted myself and got away blackjack stopped and gazed at the crowd in the open doorway with amazement what's the matter he asked that's what we've come to find out said Aunt Abby throwing up her hands in dismay as she saw the wrecked state of the room then blackjack seemed to come to himself and realised things oh I say shit mate did I do all this he said well only telling a little story ma'am he said apologetically to Aunt Abby I'll pay up for all the breakages and I'm very sorry ma'am only telling a little story gasped Aunt Abby it was a lovely story said Jenny clasping her hands together a very expensive story I should call it said Aunt Abby looking despairingly around the room End of Chapter 9