But it's true. Miss Reade and I
are the only people in Carlisle who really know the Awkward Man.
Nobody else ever got behind his shyness to find out just what sort
of a man he is."
"When are they to be married?" asked Felicity.
"In a fortnight's time. And then they are coming right back to
live at Golden Milestone. Won't it be lovely to have Miss Reade
always so near us?"
"I wonder what she'll think about the mystery of Golden
Milestone," remarked Felicity.
Golden Milestone was the beautiful name the Awkward Man had given
his home; and there was a mystery about it, as readers of the
first volume of these chronicles will recall.
"She knows all about the mystery and thinks it perfectly lovely--
and so do I," said the Story Girl.
"Do YOU know the secret of the locked room?" cried Cecily.
"Yes, the Awkward Man told me all about it last night. I told you
I'd find out the mystery some time."
"And what is it?"
"I can't tell you that either."
"I think you're hateful and mean," exclaimed Felicity. "It hasn't
anything to do with Miss Reade, so I think you might tell us."
"It has something to do with Miss Reade. It's all about her."
"Well, I don't see how that can be when the Awkward Man never saw
or heard of Miss Reade until she came to Carlisle in the spring,"
said Felicity incredulously, "and he's had that locked room for
years.
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