OPE Ww A French window is a large glass door. It usually opens onto a garden at the back of the house: As you will see, a French window plays an important part in this wellknown story by Saki. ‘TRRORINUREL as stung in a chair when the young lay entered the room, “My aunt will be down in ten minutes,” the young lady told Framton very calmly. “She asked me to wait here with you until then.” 5 Framton wondered what to say to the fifteen-year-old girl. He felt nervous, very netvous. Strangers always made him feel nervous, Waiting made hima feel nervous. Talking made him feel nervous. Everything made him feel nervous. In fact, he had come to the country to calm his nerves, » His sister had given him some advice. “I know just what you need,” she had said. “Get away from the city for a while, A week in ‘the country will be good for you. I'll give you the names of some nice people you can visit while you're there. Otherwise you'll stay in your room all the time. You won't say a word to anyone, Then your nerves 1 will get worse than ever.” ‘one of the “nice people” she recommenced. Now Framton waited for her to come down from upstairs. “Do you know many people around here?” the young lady finally asked, Her words broke a long silence. » “I don't know any of the people around here,” Framton replied, “My sister visited this part of the country four years ago. She met your aunt, Mrs. Sappleton, then. My sister said that Mrs. Sappleton was... . very nice.” “Then you don't know anything about my aunt?" the calm young, 6 lady asked. “Only her name and address,” adnitted Mr: Nuttel. He looked round the room and wondered whether or not Mrs. Sappleton was 26. Tue Oren Winpow i | i‘married. Something about the room suggested that a man lived there. “Her terrible tragedy happened exactly three years ago today!” said the gir. “Three years ago today. That was after your sister was here.” “Her tragedy?” asked Framton, nervously. It didn't seem possible that terrible things could happen in this quiet, peaceful place. ‘The niece pointed to a large French window that opened like a big door onto the lawn She said, “You are probably wondering why we keep that window wide open on a day in October.” “Its very warm for this time of the year” said Franton. “But does ‘that window have anything to do with the tragedy?” “Yes,” sald the girl “Just three years ago today, her husband and - _ her two brothers went out through that window. They were going Inuiting, They never caine back! AIF hres drow in a wwannpy feat ‘been a very rainy summer, you know, and places that had always been ‘safe suddenly became dangerous. Their bodies were never found. That ‘was the worst part of it” Here the gir’s voice began to crack. “Poor, dear aunt,” said the girl “She has never been able to get over what happened. She sill believes ‘that they will all come back some day—they and the little brown dog ‘that went with them, She thinks. they will walk in through that window. _the way they always di Thats why that window is kept open every day until gets dare” “The gil shook her head sadly. “Poor aunt, she has often told me how they went out. Her husband had his white raincoat over his shoulder. And Ronnie, her younger brother, was singing, ‘London Bridge is falling down, falling down.’ He always sang that to tease her because she sald it got on her nerves. Do you know, sometimes, on ‘quiet evenings like this, I geta strange feeling that they will all walk in ‘through that window—" ‘The gil suddenly began to shake, and she Stopped talking. Framton was very glad to see the aunt enter the room, ‘Tue. Oren Wixpow 27“Tm $0 sorry I'm late,” the aunt apologized to Framton. “! hope that you enjoyed talking to Vera, my niece,” “She has been... uh... very interesting,” said Framton, “Lhope you don't mind the open window," Mrs. Sappleton said 8 cheerfully. “My husband and my brothers will be back soon from ‘hunting: They always like to come in through that window. They've been hunting in the swamp today, 50 they're sure to have mud on. their boots.” Mrs. Sappleton smiled and added, “They'll get mud all over my beautiful carpets. But that's the way you men are, —aren'tyou?” She began to talk happily about hunting, To Framton it was ‘ieadful. He wax getting more and more nervous. He tied again ‘and again to change the conversation to a different subject. But Mrs. Sappleton was not really listening to him. She was keeping an 5 eye on the open window and the lawn beyond it. It was certainly unlucky that he had come to visit that very day-just three years to the day when the awful accident took place, Framton was talking to Mrs. Sappleton. “The doctors all agree that I should rest completely,” Framton was saying. “Nothing should 2 upset me or make me fiervous. I need to be calm and avoid excitement.” Framton paused and then added, “The doctors do ‘not agree about what foods I should eat.” “Really?” said Mrs. Sappleton, beginning to yawn. Then suddenly ‘she sat up straight in her chair and looked bright and alert. But it 25 was not because of what Framton was saying, “Here they are at last!” she exclaimed. “They're just in time to have tea. And, as I thought, they have mud all over their boots.” Framton shivered slightly. He shook his head sadly and turned. ‘to the niece to give her a look of pity. 0 But the girl was staring out through the open window. Her eyes ‘were wide with horror. A chill went up Framton’s back as he turned 36. THE Oren Wixpowaround in fear, He looked out the open window. In the dim light, three figures were walking across the lawn ‘toward the window, They all carried guns under their arms, and one ‘of them had a white raincoat around his shoulders. A tired brown dog stayed close to their heels. Without making a sound, they moved closer to the house. Then a young voice began to sing, “London Bridge is falling down, falling down. ...” Framton grabbed his hat and ran wildly out of the house. ‘Someone riding a bicycle had to drive into a bush to keep from hitting bi, “Here we are, my dear,” said the man with the white raincoat, ‘as he came in the window. “I don't think that we're too muddy. Who ‘was that man who rushed out as we came by?” “A very strange man, a Mr. Nuttel,” said Mrs. Sappleton. “He could only talk about how ill he was. Then he ran away without saying a word when you arrived, One would think he had seen a ghost!” “I think I know the reason,” Vera said very calmly. “Itwas probably the dog. He told ine he had a terrible fear of dogs. He said he was once chased into a cemetery by a pack of hungry dogs. He said he had to spend the night in a newly dug grave while the dogs stood a few feet above him barking and snarling and growling. That ‘would make anyone nervous.” “That's true,” said the aunt Vera loved to make up stories. As you can see, she was very good at doing that! ‘Tae Oren Winpow 37