Question: CHAPTER VI

AN OPPORTUNE ARRIVAL

With his feet to the sea, and his head pillowed by many cushions, Rowan lay in a long invalid chair at the edge of the little strip of shingle which separated the tower of Rakney from the sea. Every limb was at rest, every nerve seemed lulled into quiescence. The sun and wind had left their traces upon his hollow cheeks. It seemed, indeed, as though Death had lifted her hand from his forehead. It was only when one looked closer that one realized his terrible weakness, realized how slender, indeed, the thread was by which he held on to life. There was scarcely a breath of wind stirring. The sun was high in the heavens, and the whole country seemed lulled into a state of almost unnatural repose. The distant trees were motionless, as though, indeed, they were simply painted things against that background of deep blue sky. The smoke from the little cluster of cottages crept upwards, straight as a ruled line. The cattle in the fields seemed all asleep, exhausted by the unexpected heat. The sea was like a lake, unruffled, almost unrippled.

The man dozed, and Winifred sat by his side, with her eyes fixed steadily and yet absently upon the distant horizon. A week, at most, the doctor had given him, and after that--what? She looked backwards to the window,--the window through which she had entered on that wild night earlier in the year. She looked away again uneasily. She was afraid of such moments as these. It was to escape from them that she had protested so vehemently against their accepting Deane's offer of his cottage. 1. who was in a chair?
2. what kind of chair?
3. where at?
4. was he relaxed?
5. where were his feet?
6. were the trees moving?
7. where was the sun?
8. what was in the fields?
9. doing what?
10. why?
11. from what?
12. who was with him?
13. was Rowan ill?
14. what did the Dr say?
15. how did Winifred feel?
16. what did she protest?
17. for what?
18. what was she looking at?
19. what did she look back to?
20. and why did she look away? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Rowan
2. an invalid chair
3. at the edge of the little strip of shingle
4. yes
5. to the sea
6. no
7. high in the heavens
8. cattle
9. sleeping
10. they were exhausted
11. the unexpected heat
12. Winifred
13. yes
14. that he had a week, at most
15. afraid
16. their accepting Deane's offer
17. his cottage
18. the distant horizon
19. the window
20. she was uneasy

Question: CHAPTER XXV

MARCHING ORDERS

A silence followed. To Mike, lying in bed, holding his breath, it seemed a long silence. As a matter of fact it lasted for perhaps ten seconds. Then Mr. Wain spoke.

"You have been out, James?"

It is curious how in the more dramatic moments of life the inane remark is the first that comes to us.

"Yes, sir," said Wyatt.

"I am astonished. Exceedingly astonished."

"I got a bit of a start myself," said Wyatt.

"I shall talk to you in my study. Follow me there."

"Yes, sir."

He left the room, and Wyatt suddenly began to chuckle.

"I say, Wyatt!" said Mike, completely thrown off his balance by the events of the night.

Wyatt continued to giggle helplessly. He flung himself down on his bed, rolling with laughter. Mike began to get alarmed.

"It's all right," said Wyatt at last, speaking with difficulty. "But, I say, how long had he been sitting there?"

"It seemed hours. About an hour, I suppose, really."

"It's the funniest thing I've ever struck. Me sweating to get in quietly, and all the time him camping out on my bed!"

"But look here, what'll happen?"

Wyatt sat up.

"That reminds me. Suppose I'd better go down."

"What'll he do, do you think?"

"Ah, now, what!"

"But, I say, it's awful. What'll happen?"

"That's for him to decide. Speaking at a venture, I should say----"

"You don't think----?"

"The boot. The swift and sudden boot. I shall be sorry to part with you, but I'm afraid it's a case of 'Au revoir, my little Hyacinth.' We shall meet at Philippi. This is my Moscow. To-morrow I shall go out into the night with one long, choking sob. Years hence a white-haired bank-clerk will tap at your door when you're a prosperous professional cricketer with your photograph in _Wisden_. That'll be me. Well, I suppose I'd better go down. We'd better all get to bed _some_ time to-night. Don't go to sleep." 1. Where was Mike lying?
2. What was he doing?
3. What did this seem like?
4. A long or short one?
5. How long did it go on?
6. Who said something after it?
7. Was he surprised by something?
8. By what?
9. Where did he want to talk to Wyatt?
10. What did Wyatt do after he left the room?
11. Did he do this for a while?
12. Where did he plop down?
13. How long did Mike say the man had been sitting there?
14. Where were the guys to meet?
15. What did one of the boys say they would go out in the night with?
16. What kind?
17. Who will knock at the door?
18. What kind?
19. What did one of the guys tell the other not to do?
20. How was Wyatt trying to get in? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. In bed
2. Holding his breath
3. Silence
4. Long
5. Perhaps ten seconds.
6. Mr. Wain
7. Yes
8. That Wyatt said he'd been out
9. In his study
10. Began to chuckle
11. Yes
12. On his bed
13. About an hour
14. Philippi
15. A sob
16. Long, choking
17. Bank-clerk
18. A white-haired one
19. Go to sleep.
20. Quietly

Question: The stinker was that no one let the elf in. He had waited at the door for four whole hours, but was afraid to knock in case the noise would wake the humans. This elf was the tooth fairy's helper, but one day hoped to work in the North Pole. That would never happen if he couldn't even help the tooth fairy with teeth on his first day working for her.

It was almost morning now. Soon the children would wake up and run out the front door with their books for school. Inside, the tooth fairy would be wondering what was keeping him. "It's too dangerous to stay at this door," the elf thought, "The children might see me."

Just then he heard the alarm clocks go off inside. He dove into a nearby bush and hid, hoping that his green uniform would help him match the color of the bush's leaves. 1. Who was helping someone?
2. Who was he helping?
3. What was he worried about?
4. Why was he waiting?
5. how long did he wait?
6. Where did he want to work?
7. Had he been helping the tooth fairy for long?
8. how long had he?
9. What time of day was it?
10. What did he hear inside?
11. Where did the children have to go?
12. Did he hide?
13. In a box?
14. Where at?
15. Why there?
16. What would the children take to school?
17. Was it safe at the door? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. An elf
2. he was the tooth fairy's helper,
3. That the humans would wake if he knocked.
4. no one let him in
5. for four whole hours
6. the North Pole.
7. no
8. It was his first day.
9. almost morning
10. the alarm clocks go off
11. school.
12. yes
13. no
14. a nearby bush
15. he hoped he would match the leaves.
16. their books
17. no