“I wonder why Aunt Hannah never had one.”

“Maybe she and Mrs. Reddy entertained each other.”

Franny giggled. “I wonder what two old ladies like that would have to talk about.”

I wondered too. And the more I thought about Mrs. Reddy, the more I wondered about Aunt Hannah. Was it possible she didn’t know what Mrs. Reddy was, especially when outsiders like Father Fogarty were well acquainted with Mrs Reddy’s activities? Maybe it was because of Mrs. Reddy, and not the General, that she had given the money to Father Fogarty for the building of his shrine.

“Don’t just sit there, Mother,” Franny said. “Get ready for bed.”

I did so, going out to the bathroom, which was between our room and Duff’s, and returning quickly. Then I locked the door.

“Do you think that’s really necessary, Mother?” Franny grumbled. “It seems kind of silly to me. What kind of prowler would want to break into an old house that doesn’t even have a TV set?”

“Maybe that’s a good reason for not having one,” I said. “A roof antenna might make an isolated farmhouse more tempting.”

I turned off the overhead light, leaving only the bed lamp lighted. Then I went to the front window to open it and raise the shade. He was outside on the front lawn.

I checked a scream and turned to look at Franny. She had snuggled down with her back to me.

“What are you looking at, Mother?” she asked drowsily.

“The moonlight,” I said. I thought later that I should have told her, should have called her to the window to certify my sanity, but I didn’t want to frighten her. Also, I should have gone immediately to Duff’s room to see if he was still there, but I was afraid to do that.

When I looked out again, the man was closer, not thirty feet away. There was enough moonlight to make him clearly visible. He was still in the same uniform and he wasn’t grinning or leering at me now, but watching me gravely.

I was as frightened as before, but something compelled me to remain by the window. I pulled up a chair and sat down, and when I looked again, he had moved even closer. Franny called me two or three more times, and each time I answered that I was coming to bed. Finally she went to sleep.

I must have sat there for an hour or more, watching him as he watched me. Gradually I began to realize how handsome he was. His face was long and thin, with high cheekbones and deep-­set eyes. Without the beard it was much like Duff’s face.

“What do you want?” I remember whispering once, forming the words with my lips.

If he could read the question, he didn’t answer it.