He'd sneaked back, but he
could tell from seeing your car outside that you was there, and he asked
me to go up and get the bag and set it outside the kitchen door for him.
I said I wouldn't do it; it was too risky."
"Then you were pretending to be asleep when I entered your room?"
"Yes, I was! But I _had_ been asleep before Mr. Sprague called me. While
you was ding-donging at me about Nita burning my face I heard Mr.
Sprague open the kitchen door. He had a key Nita had give him, so's he
could slip in unnoticed if he happened to come when Nita had other
company. He didn't hardly make any noise at all, but I heard it, because
I was listening for it.... You'd left the door to the basement stairs
open, and my door, too, so I heard him."
"Did you hear him come down?"
"Yes, I did! There's a board on the backstairs that squeaks, and I heard
it plain, while you was still at me, hammer and tongs," Lydia answered.
"He was in the house not more'n two minutes, all told, and when I
figured he was safely out, I went upstairs with you to show you the
presents I'd give Nita after she burnt me, to prove I'd forgive her."
"Why didn't you tell me, Lydia? Why did you protect Sprague? I know you
don't like him," Dundee puzzled.
"I wasn't thinking about him," Lydia told him flatly.
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