And that Susan proceeded to do at once. She and Phil and Gentilla spent a long and happy day together.
But that night, with Gentilla tucked snugly in the big spare-room bed across the hall, Susan was so excited she couldn’t sleep. She twisted and turned and tossed, and at last pattered downstairs for a drink of water.
In the kitchen, to her surprise, she found Grandfather feeding Snuff, who had been missing all day. Snuff ate his good supper as if he were starving. He was covered with mud, an old rope was tied round his neck, and he was so stiff and lame he could scarcely hobble.
Susan waited until Grandfather had seen Snuff safely at rest upon a comfortable bed of straw in the barn. Then upstairs they went together, and Grandfather lay down on the outside of Susan’s bed beside her and took her hand in his.
“Where do you think Snuff was all day, Grandfather?” began Susan. “I wish he could talk and tell us.”
“So do I,” said Grandfather heartily, “Did I ever tell you about a dog I had when I was a little boy—”
“Yes, you did,” interrupted Susan. “Thank you, Grandfather, but I know all about him. His name was Nick and he was black all over with not a white spot anywhere. Grandfather, do you think Mr. James Lee took the stove from the schoolhouse?”
“I think he did,” answered Grandfather briefly.
“But they didn’t belong to him?” questioned Susan.
“Then he stole!” exclaimed Susan, pulling her hand from Grandfather’s so that she might shake an accusing finger in his face.
“It looks that way,” admitted Mr. Whiting.
“I hope not,” returned Grandfather. “But you must remember, Susan, that the gypsies don’t go to school or to church, and so they don’t know the difference between right and wrong as well as the people who do.”
“They ought to go,” said Susan morally. “I go. Everybody ought to go. I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to teach Gentilla Bible stories right away to-morrow. How long will she stay here? Forever?”
“No, not forever. I don’t know how long. Now you must go to sleep, or Grandmother will be up here after us.”
“I will,” promised Susan drowsily. “But, you know, Grandfather, I think they took Snuffy, too, and that is where he was all day. Don’t you?”
Grandfather nodded in the darkness. He had been thinking the same thought, but he tiptoed out of the room without another word, and a moment later Susan fell asleep.