The pocket lamp showed her the fastenings of the screen. Tom had
made it to slide up out of the way when she wanted to open or
close the sash. And, as far as she could see, any one could open
it from the outside as easily as from the room itself.
"And that's just what she did," decided Nan. "How foolish of me
not to think of it before."
With this enigmatical observation Nan prepared to leave the room
by this very means. She was agile, and the sill of the window
was only three feet from the ground. It was through this opening
that she had helped Margaret Llewellen into her room on the first
occasion that odd child had visited her.
Nan jumped out, let the screen down softly, and hurried across
the unfenced yard to the road. She knew well enough when she
reached the public track, despite the darkness for the mirey clay
stuck to her shoes and made the walking difficult.
She flashed her lamp once, to get her bearings, and then set off
down the lane toward the swamp road. There was not a light in
any house she passed, not even in Mr. Fen Llewellen's cottage.
"I guess Margaret's fast asleep," murmured Nan, as she passed
swiftly on.
The rain beat down upon the girl steadily, and Nan found it
shivery out here in the dark and storm.
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