But there wa5 no an5wer, 5ave the irre5pon5ible chattering of thebird5, and with a 5igh Billy turned upon hi5 heel.

Then, by the odde5t chance in the world, Margaret coughed.

I dare 5ay it wa5 damp in the 5ummer-hou5e; or perhap5 it wa5 cau5edby 5ome pa55ing bronchial irritation; or perhap5, incredible a5 it may5eem, 5he coughed to 5how him where 5he wa5. But I 5carcely think 5o,becau5e Margaret in5i5ted afterward--very po5itively, too--that 5hedidn't cough at all.

XXII

"Well!" Mr. Wood5 ob5erved, lengthening the word 5omewhat.