Free Octagon Magic by Andre Norton Page A

talks.”
    Lotta was at the door of the room. “If you truly believe that, Phineas McLean, you can go. The window's open.” She gave him a long look and Phin made a gesture to push away his overgrown forelock but did not answer her. Then Lotta went out.
    “Phin,” Phebe choked out between coughs. “Phin, you'se always bin powerful good t’ me. If you think Matt'll git you, you'd better go. Only I don't believe it—I don't. I think she's tellin’ it true, we'll be safe here. I feel good, real good, right here. I truly, truly do, Phin!”
    Once more he pushed back his hair, then he dropped on his knees beside Phebe and threw his arm about her shoulders.
    “I ain't goin’, girl. Leastwise, not tonight.”
    “Phin, don't you feel it, too? That this be a safe place?”
    He was looking around, a rather puzzled expression on his bruised face.
    “Maybe you is right, Phebe. Only it's right hard to believe in any place bein’ safe for the likes of us—Canal Town trash, as they is always so quick to sing out.”
    “This is.” Lotta was back. Across her arm was a quilt and a thick blanket. She nodded to the portion of the room Lor-rie could not see. “Take these. And you had better get in there for now. I'll come when it is safe. And here—” Phin had taken the coverings from her, now Lotta picked up the tablecloth bag Lorrie had watched him fill. “Take this with you, I'll bring more later.”
    Wind was rising in the trees, the light in the room winked out.... Sunlight lay in a bar across the floor and in it lay Sabina asleep. Lorrie was not crouched down outside the window but she sat on the floor beside the doll house. Once more the side of the house hung a little open. She drew it the rest of the way to look into that small space with no proper door. It was empty.
    In the kitchen the two dolls stood just as she had posed them. Carefully she took them out, knowing now who they were. Phineas McLean, no longer dirty, ragged, bruised— but she supposed that a doll would not look that way. His clothes were neat and whole, maybe this was meant to be Phineas truly safe and happy.
    And Lotta—but no, this other doll did not have Lotta's features. This was Phebe, plumper, much happier looking. So maybe the house had welcomed them and continued to be their home. Why she thought that, Lorrie did not know.
    She laid them back in their drawer and closed it. There was a click. The key on the chain—it was gone! When she tried the door again it was locked.
    Phineas and Phebe were gone and the house— Now that she looked again Lorrie saw that the side of the house was once more tightly closed. Though she searched carefully for the latch, she could not find it.
    Sabina awoke, yawned, got to her feet, stretched first front legs and then hind legs, and trotted to the door. More slowly Lorrie followed her, looking back once more at the baffling doll house.

A Collar for Sabina
    Hey Canuck—”
    Lorrie had paused at the mouth of the alley to take a tighter grip on the dress box. It was hard to manage that and her book bag too. Aunt Margaret had wanted to drive her to school this morning, but the car would not start. And Lorrie would have to hurry if she was going to get there in time.
    It was just her luck that Jimmy and his gang were also late. Of course, maybe she could take refuge in the yard of Octagon House. She was somehow sure Jimmy would not follow her there. But such a detour would make her really tardy.
    “Canuck, walks like a duck!”
    Lorrie held the box tighter. It had her Puritan dress in it, and she had sewed a lot of that herself. Aunt Margaret had been surprised at how well she could do it. And Lorrie had pressed it and folded it neatly. She must not let it get wrinkled now.
    “Canuck—”
    Lorrie stared ahead. She was not going to run and let them chase her all the way so school. Boys—mean old boys!
    She glanced to the house on her right. If only Hallie would come down to the back gate now. But every window