She was living their life.

The baker came and knocked two or three times; then, opening the door,
put a loaf on the table, and went away. Then presently came more
knocking, and more, but none of it reached Mona's brain. She was flying
with the heroine, and enjoying hairbreadth escapes, while running away
from her wicked guardian, when her bedroom door was flung open, and Millie
Higgins--not the wicked guardian--appeared on the threshold.

Mona gave a little cry of alarm, then immediately grew angry with herself
for having let Millie see that she had startled her.

"What are you doing up here?" she demanded, bluntly. "Who told you to
come up? Granny isn't in, is she?"

Millie laughed. "If your grandmother had been in I should have been at
the other end of the street by this time. I've no fancy for facing
dragons in their caves."

"Don't be rude," retorted Mona, colouring with anger. Millie always
laughed at Mrs. Barnes, because she was old-fashioned in her dress and
ways. "How did you get in, and why did you come? If granny didn't send
you up, you'd no right to come. It's like your cheek, Millie Higgins, to
go forcing your way into other people's houses!"

"It's like your carelessness to shut yourself up with a story-book and
leave your front door open. I ain't the first that has been in!
Wouldn't your grandmother be pleased if she knew how trustworthy her dear,
good little Mona was."

Mona looked frightened, and Millie noticed it. "What do you mean,
Millie?"

Millie had seen the baker come, knock, open the door, and leave again
after depositing a loaf on the table. She had also seen Mrs. Barnes
comfortably settled in Lucy Carne's kitchen, and she determined to have
some fun. She loved teasing and annoying everyone she could.

"Come down and see what they've done. At any rate, you might be civil to
anyone who comes in to warn you before any more harm is done."

Mona, still looking alarmed, slipped from the window-seat and followed
Millie down the stairs.

While she stood at the foot of them, glancing about her anxiously, Millie
stepped over and shut the house door.

"Where?--What?--I don't see anything wrong," said Mona. Millie burst into
mocking laughter. "I don't suppose you do! Silly-billy, cock-a-dilly,
how's your mother, little Mona! Why, how stupid you are! Anyone can get a
rise out of you! I only wanted to frighten you and get you downstairs.
You're going to ask me to tea now, and g