The secret of the Mansion

looked back over my shoulder quickly, and I saw a face at one of the windows." She shivered slightly. "I’ll bet that house is haunted!"
     

Through the Hedge • 2
     
    TRIXIE HOOTED with laughter. "You’re just imagining things," she said. "I never heard of anything so silly." Honey bit her lip. "Naturally, I don’t really believe in ghosts," she said in a hurt voice, "but I did see a face at the window."
    "Oh, skip it," Trixie said impatiently. "If you’re really scared, I’ll explore up there myself some other time. Right now, I can hardly wait to get on a horse." She gave Honey a little push. "Go on and change into dungarees."
    Honey stared at her. "I haven’t any dungarees," she said slowly. "I always wear a habit and boots when I ride."
    What difference does it make what you wear?"
    Trixie interrupted. She wheeled around to where Bobby was rolling in the grass with the puppy. "Go on home now," she wheedled. "If you’re a good boy this morning, I’ll play with you all afternoon. It’s a promise."
    Bobby giggled as the puppy licked his face. "Don’t want to go home. Want to stay here and play with the puppy. Hey, what’s his name, anyway?" he asked Honey.
    "Bud." Honey smiled. "Bobby doesn’t have to go home, Trixie," she said quietly. "He can stay here with my governess. Miss Trask won’t mind keeping an eye on him. She’s really very nice, you know. She’s not like the other ones, who were perfectly horrible. Oh, here she comes now."
    Around the bend in the driveway appeared a trim middle-aged woman with very short, crisp gray hair. She was wearing a tailored slack suit and sturdy-looking brown and white oxfords. She had bright blue eyes which twinkled merrily as she caught sight of Bobby frolicking with the puppy.
    "What have we here?" she asked with a friendly smile. "So you’ve found some playmates already, Honey?"
    "Oh, yes," Honey cried. "This is Trixie Belden and her brother, Bobby. They live in that darling little farmhouse down in the hollow. We were just about to go riding."
    Trixie, slightly awed in the presence of such an unknown creature as a governess, mumbled, "How do you do?"
    Bobby scrambled to his feet. "Hey," he shouted, tossing his silky curls in Honey’s direction. "She said you’d keep an eye on me while they ’splore. Trixie’s supposed to, you know, instead of weeding, but I won’t tell if you play games with me."
    Trixie felt like shaking the little boy, but Miss Trask held out her hand to him, laughing. "Of course I’ll play games with you. Run along, Honey, and have a nice ride through the woods with your new friend." She glanced approvingly at Trixie’s dungarees. "It’s a pity you have to bother to change, Honey," she said. "Now that we’re in the country, you really ought to dress the way Trixie does. I’ll speak to your mother right away about getting you some blue jeans and loafers."
    Honey threw her arms impulsively around her governess. "Oh, Miss Trask, will you? You’re such an angel. And will you also ask her if I can have a bike, too? Trixie’s going to teach me how to ride one. I’ve wanted a bike ever since I can remember." She ran off toward the house, her pale face flushed with pleasure.
    Trixie stared after her, thinking, "Why, she’s just like a poor little rich girl in a storybook. Imagine having to ask your governess to ask your mother for something you want! It’s no wonder she acts so queer sometimes."
    Miss Trask turned to Trixie as Honey went into the house to change. As though reading Trixie’s mind, Miss Trask said quietly, "It’s truly shameful the way that child has been brought up. I mean to see to it that a lot of changes are made. She has just recovered from a long illness and is still rather nervous. I’d like her to get as tanned and strong as you are. Will you help me, Trixie?"
    Trixie looked down at the toe of her shoe, embarrassed. "Why, sure," she said huskily. "I don’t know exactly what you mean, Miss Trask, but I’ll help. Of course I will."
    "Good." Miss Trask swung Bobby’s hand as they strolled up the sloping driveway and back to the newly whitewashed stable, where tall stalks of pink and red hollyhocks grew in profusion. A broad-shouldered, pleasant-faced man was grooming a big black horse, and Miss Trask called out to him.
    "Good morning, Regan. This is Miss Trixie Belden. Will you saddle a couple of horses, so she and Honey can explore the woods?" She smiled at Trixie. "Have fun. Don’t worry about