the ladder, he pulled the cloth away, throwing it back, making it easy for her to descend.

“Now are ter comin’?” he asked.

“No!” she shook her head violently, in a pet.

Geoffrey felt slightly contemptuous of her. But Maurice waited.

“Are ter comin’?” he called again.

“No,” she flashed, like a wild cat.

“All right, then I’m going.”

He descended. At the bottom, he stood holding the ladder.

“Come on, while I hold it steady,” he said.

There was no reply.