Night Birds On Nantucket by Joan Aiken Page B

over the island,’ Pen said wanly, looking across the rolling, shrubby moorlands to the line of the ocean. On the south shore white, mushrooming clouds of spray from breakers could be seen dimly through a belt of haze.
    â€˜What’s that white tower to the east?’
    â€˜Sankaty Head lighthouse. There’s a forest between us and it,’ Pen said with a faint glimmer of pride, ‘but you can’t see it. It’s called the Hidden Forest. That’s uncommon, isn’t it?’
    â€˜Rummy,’ agreed Dido, ‘So’s your pa’s house. Why’s it got a balcony on the roof? And why’s it standing on legs?’
    â€˜I don’t know about the legs. The balcony was for Mamma so she could look out to sea and see if Papa’sship was in sight. Look, isn’t that a man coming to call at the house? We’d better go home.’
    â€˜Race you down the hill,’ Dido said, and was astonished when Pen nodded, picked up her skirts, and darted away down the sandy track.
    But when they reached the house, panting and laughing, nobody seemed to be about. The man had vanished. They ran into the kitchen, and Dido went up to Aunt Tribulation’s room.
    â€˜Is somebody called here?’ she asked, knocking and entering. There was a sort of flurry from the bed, as Aunt Tribulation huddled down in her pillows. Two spots of crimson showed on her thin cheeks.
    â€˜Do not come in until I give you leave, miss!’ she croaked.
    â€˜Sorry, I’m sure! We were feared you mighta had to get up and answer the door.’
    â€˜I have done no such thing! Be off to your work!’
    â€˜Good land, don’t be in such a pelter. I’m just a-going,’ Dido said, injured. But in the passage outside she paused, remembering that the door next to Aunt Tribulation’s opened on an upward flight of stairs. Must lead to that fancy balcony, she thought. I’ve a good mind to step up, won’t take but a moment. She tried the door. Strangely enough it was locked now, though she was sure it had been open before.
    â€˜Why are you loitering out there, girl?’ Aunt Tribulation called angrily from her room.
    Dido shrugged and ran downstairs.
    â€˜Does that door by Aunt Trib’s room lead up to the roof, Penny?’ she asked.
    â€˜Yes, and to the attic.’
    â€˜Where’s the key kept?’
    â€˜In the door, mostly,’ Pen said in surprise. ‘But there’s a spare, because once when I was little I locked myself in there. Oh, I was scared, and so was Mamma!’
    â€˜Where’s the spare live, then?’
    â€˜On a hook at the back of the china closet. Why?’
    â€˜Just I’ve a fancy to go up there sometime,’ Dido replied calmly. She did not add that she was also curious to know what Aunt Tribulation was up to: it seemed clear that while the girls were out she had locked the attic door and taken the key. Why had she done so?
    â€˜What’ll us do now, Penny?’ she inquired.
    â€˜I suppose we’re free,’ Pen said doubtfully. ‘I’d like to do some lessons. And write my journal and sew my sampler.’
    â€˜Not on your Oliphant. There’s the old gal a-thumping again.’
    Aunt Tribulation called imperiously for Pen to bring her more gingerbread and apple sauce.
    â€˜How many sheep did you count?’ she demanded.
    â€˜Two hundred and twenty-three, Aunt Tribulation,’ Pen quavered.
    â€˜One missing! That one must be found, miss.’
    â€˜Y-y-yes, Aunt!’
    â€˜Make haste and set about it, then.’
    Pen bore up till she was downstairs, but then she burst into tears.
    â€˜Oh, I’m so tired! And look, it’s nearly dark outside. Do you think we really need go tonight, Dido? I’m sure we’d never find it. And I don’t believe I can walk another step.’
    â€˜Nor you shall,’ said Dido sturdily. ‘Be blowed to theold faggot. How does she expect