He frowned and looked around, and put his finger to his lips, and I remembered that Peter was still an outlaw. “I don’t know anything about that,” he muttered. “He’s a wild one, that boy.”

The clock on the church struck seven.

“Isn’t there anyone about?” I said. “Are they all still in bed?”

“Where was you last night, then? Didn’t you hear all that to-do up yonder?”

“Where was that?” I said innocently.

“All Souls’ Eve, last night, it was. You be thankful you was out of it, my girl. You don’t want to go wandering about on All Souls’ Eve—you want to stay indoors and say your prayers.”

“Well, I’m here now. Is Ma up? She’s surely not still in bed?”

“You know your ma better than that. You’d better go and give her a hand—she’s got a houseful of guests to feed. I don’t know what you’re coming to—getting dismissed from a good position like what you had up there, and then wandering about all night. You’ll be the death of her, you will, you and that rascal of a brother….”

I left him to his grumbling and hurried to the kitchen. Ma was stirring some eggs in a big pan, and Hannerl was heating some water for coffee. As soon as they saw me, they each gave a little cry, dropped what they were doing, and ran to me. I felt oddly embarrassed.

“Oh, Hildi, darling! You’re safe! Thank God, thank God!”

That was Ma, pressing me to her breast and nearly stifling me. And Hannerl clasped her hands and just looked at me, with a big dumb question in her big blue eyes—and I had to shrug, as best I could in that soft imprisonment.

“He hasn’t come back yet, then?” I said as soon as she set me free.

“You haven’t seen him either?” said Ma, and her expression was all anxiety.

I shook my head. “He’ll be back before long,” I said. “And he’ll want a big breakfast, too.”

“Oh, Lord—the eggs,” said Ma, and rushed to the fire, just in time to save them from a scorching doom.

“D’you think he’s safe, Hildi?” said Hannerl.

“I know he is. I don’t know where he is now, but I know he’s not….” I trailed off, not wanting to say dead. But did I know? I’d heard the terrible voice of the Demon say that the hunting lodge was empty, but what did that prove? He might have enjoyed his first helping so much that he’d come back for another. I just spread my hands, and Hannerl sniffed and blinked before going back to her work.