And growing impatient, she seized the knocker with both hands and
exerting all her strength, made the welkin ring again!
This brought a response. The door was unlocked and angrily jerked
open by a short, squarely formed, beetle-browed, stern-looking
woman, clothed in a black stuff gown and having a stiff muslin cap
upon her head.
"Who are you? What do you want here?" harshly demanded this woman,
whom Capitola instinctively recognized as Dorky Knight, the morose
housekeeper of the Hidden House.
"Who am I? What do I want? Old Nick fly away with you! It's plain
enough to be seen who I am and what I want. I am a young woman
caught out in the storm and I want shelter!" said Cap, indignantly.
And her words were endorsed by a terrific burst of the tempest in
lightning, thunder, wind and rain!
"Come in then and when you ask favors learn to keep a civil tongue
in your head!" said the woman sternly, taking the guest by the hand
and pulling her in and shutting and locking the door.
"Favors! Plague on you for a bearess! I asked no favor! Every storm-
beaten traveler has a right to shelter under the first roof that
offers, and none but a curmudgeon would think of calling it a favor!
And as for keeping a civil tongue in my head, I'll do it when you
set me the example!" said Cap.
"Who are you?" again demanded the woman.
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