THE OPEN WINDOW

"My aunt will come soon, Mr. Nuttel," said a very self-sure young lady of fifteen. "Do you know many people here?" asked the niece. "Hardly anybody," said Mr. Nuttel. "My sister was staying here some four years ago, and she recommended me to come here to have a rest." "Then you know nothing about my aunt? " continued the girl. "Only her name and address," answered Mr. Nuttel. "Her great tragedy happened just 3 years ago," said die child. "Her tragedy?" asked Mr. Nuttel. "You may wonder why we keep that window wide open on an October afternoon," said the niece. "Out through that window three years ago my aunt's husband and her two young brothers went hunting. They never came back. They drowned in the marsh. Poor aunt always thinks that they will come back some day, they and the little brown spaniel that was lost with them, too."

It was a relief for Mr. Nuttel when the aunt hurried into the room with many apologies for being late. "I hope you don't mind the open window," the aunt said, "my husband and brothers will soon come back from hunting and they always come through this window."

She talked cheerfully about hunting, to Mr. Nuttel it was all horrible. He announced that doctors advised him a complete rest in a quiet country place and that he should avoid any excitement.

"Here they are at last," cried the aunt. Mr. Nuttel shivered slightly and looked through the window. Three figures were walking across the lawn, they all carried guns, a tired brown spaniel followed them. Mr. Nuttel took his stick and hat and rushed out quickly.

"Here we are, my dear," said the aunt's husband. "Who was that man who rushed out as we came up?"

"A most strange man," said the aunt. "He could speak only about his illness, and that he came to have a rest here, and ran away without saying good-bye, as if he had seen a ghost."

"I think it was the spaniel," said the niece calmly, "he told me he had a horror of dogs. Once in India he was hunted by wild dogs and he had to spend a night in a newly dug grave."

Her hobby was making up tales.

1. Where did Mr. Nuttel go?

2. Why did he go there?

3. Who met him?

4. What did he know about the lady he went to visit?

5. What was her tragedy?

6. What did poor aunt always think about?

7. What did the aunt say when she came?

8. What did Mr. Nuttel speak all the time about?

9. Who was coming across the lawn?

10. What did Mr. Nuttel do when he saw the coming men?

11. What did the aunt think about Mr. Nuttel?

12. How did the niece explain his rushing out of the house?

13. What was the niece's hobby?