Read The Gargoyle at the Gates for Free Online Page B

he could.
    He could see a problem arising.
    Cassandra had invited him for tea this afternoon after school. Last night, she’d very clearly said, “Come by my store tomorrow after school for tea.” He didn’t want to disappoint her if she was waiting for him. He didn’t want to appear rude, and he DID want to know more about the gargoyles. He’d been thinking about them all day. He couldn’t STOP thinking about them. The whole class had laughed their heads off when the teacher asked him a question in math class and he answered, “Gargoyle.” He wasn’t paying attention, and when he opened his mouth to answer, that’s what popped out. Luckily, Katherine wasn’t in class at that moment.
    He was invited to Candles by Daye for tea, and he wanted to go. But Katherine was obviously visiting Cassandra’s store today, too. They would both be there …
    â€¦ and he was pretty sure Katherine would disapprove.
    He bit his lip and glanced down the streetcar, which was empty except for the two of them. Katherine was busy reading.
    His heart was pounding when he got off the streetcar. He let Katherine go first, and she zipped ahead of him along the sidewalk, then darted through the green door of Candles by Daye. Christopher heard the doorbell tinkle, caught the scent of cinnamon, then watched the door slam behind her.
    What was he going to do?
    He stood for a while on the sidewalk in front of the store, fiddling with his backpack strap and scratching the top of his foot against his calf. He pushed his glasses up his nose. He glanced across the street at his house, but no one was home. Claire came home and walked the dog at lunch every day now, so Marbles was taken care of, at least for the moment.
    Christopher took a deep breath, reached for the door handle … then heard a crash inside the store. Suddenly someone was shouting.
    â€œYou’re the thief!” someone yelled. “Now get out!” The door burst open and a man with thick glasses, a white straw hat, and a large brown coat barrelled onto the sidewalk, banged into Christopher and stormed off down the street muttering. He seemed very angry.
    Christopher was astonished.
    â€œCome in, Christopher!” Cassandra said pleasantly from the doorway. She was quite calm for someone who was just yelling at a customer.
    â€œWho … who was that? ” Christopher croaked.
    â€œDon’t worry about him, he’s just a nasty person who drops by from time to time. Tea?”
    She seemed so nice that Christopher could only smile and nod. He really couldn’t believe such angry words had come out of this pleasant, calm lady. Maybe yelling at the customers was just another thing that he’d have to get used to about Toronto? As Cassandra poured the tea, Christopher looked around.
    It was a strange store, filled with statues, incense, candles, and books about yoga. There were healing chime balls (whatever those were) and strings of beads and crystals hanging from the ceiling, along with dream catchers, bandanas, and Toronto tourist postcards. It was like an antique store, but with more stuff in it. He could tell it was really, really old.
    He reached forward to take a sip of tea … and froze.
    Someone was coming down the stairs at the back of the store. The stairs must have gone up to the roof, because a few September leaves blew down into the store with the walker.
    It was Katherine.

Chapter Fourteen
    The Stone Lion Stands
    It was James’s last day in England, and his grandfather had woken that morning determined to go on a road trip. James was delighted! He hadn’t seen much of England at all since he’d been there, nothing really except London on the day he landed and his grandfather’s beautiful old garden and thatched cottage ever since. He wanted to see at least some of the country before leaving for home.
    He was excited at the thought of going for a drive through the countryside,