Good luck to your bargain ! '' `` Mean old thing , '' sniffed Ismay . She meant Aunt Cynthia , and , remembering our shabby furs , I did n't disagree with her . `` But there is no Fatima , '' I said , dubiously . `` How shall we account for her when Aunt Cynthia comes home ? '' `` Well , your aunt is n't coming home for a month yet . When she comes you will have to tell her that the cat -- is lost -- but you need n't say WHEN it happened . As for the rest , Fatima is your property now , so Aunt Cynthia ca n't grumble . But she will have a poorer opinion than ever of your fitness to run a house alone . '' When Max left I went to the window to watch him down the path . He was really a handsome fellow , and I was proud of him . At the gate he turned to wave me good-by , and , as he did , he glanced upward . Even at that distance I saw the look of amazement on his face . Then he came bolting back . `` Ismay , the house is on fire ! '' I shrieked , as I flew to the door . `` Sue , '' cried Max , `` I saw Fatima , or her ghost , at the garret window a moment ago ! '' `` Nonsense ! '' I cried . But Ismay was already half way up the stairs and we followed .
Straight XXXXX the garret we rushed .
ago as at down of on than to up with