The Legend of the Irish Castle by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner [Warner, Gertrude Chandler]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-5040-3159-2
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2014-02-03T22:46:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

A Creature in the Forest

The Aldens didn’t fall asleep until almost one in the morning, so the next day they slept later than usual. Violet woke up first, and roused Jessie and her brothers so they’d have enough time to get dressed and into the dining room before they missed breakfast.

The promise of more eggs and bacon made Benny get ready faster than anyone else. While the others tied their shoes, he looked out the window.

“The meadow is gone,” Benny said.

“Gone?” asked Henry.

“And the woods too, and the garden,” Benny said. “It’s all gone.”

Jessie gave Violet a funny look, and they joined Benny at the window. In a way, the youngest Alden was right. From where they stood, they could no longer see anything that was more than a few feet away from the window.

“Benny, I can see why you’d think that, but don’t worry. The meadow is still there. We just can’t see it because of the fog.” Jessie said.

“It’s the thickest fog I’ve ever seen!” Henry said.

Benny remembered their lunch on the pier at Howth when they’d first arrived. “Now I can see why those ships needed the lighthouse,” he said. “You can’t see anything out there.”

“We’d better go,” Jessie said after checking her watch. “It’s nearly ten o’clock.” The children hurried down the stairs and into the main hall. Mrs. Davison stood at the front desk, and Grandfather and Mr. Davison were just coming back inside after loading the Davisons’ luggage in their car. Mrs. Davison was wearing a large yellow hat and sunglasses.

“Oh, just look at these little darlings,” Mrs. Davison said to her husband. “Could they be any cuter?” Jessie tried not to let the comment bother her. She knew that Mrs. Davison had good intentions, but some people just didn’t know how to talk to children.

“Well, kids,” Mr. Davison said. “This is good-bye.” He shook Grandfather’s hand and gave the children high fives. “We’re off to Galway this morning.”

“In a convertible!” Mrs. Davison said.

“I hope you enjoy the rest of your honeymoon,” said Violet. “May I take your picture for my scrapbook?”

The couple posed together. “I hope you find the banshee,” Mrs. Davison said as she smiled for the picture. “Make sure to keep us posted!” She wrote down her email address on a slip of paper and gave it to Jessie, who stuck it inside the pages of her notebook.

Erin was behind the desk checking out the Davisons. She gave them a receipt. “Thank you very much for staying at Duncarraig Castle. Please be careful driving in this terrible fog!”

The Davisons went out to the circle drive in front, where a yellow convertible was parked. It was so bright they had no trouble seeing it in the fog.

“The car matches Mrs. Davison’s hat,” Benny said.

Jessie laughed. “It sure does!” Grandfather and the children waved to the newlyweds as they drove away.

Henry glanced in Erin’s direction and noticed that the bright smile she’d had while saying good-bye had fallen away, and her forehead was once again creased with worry.

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