hich was Mr. Dill's own
peculiar sanctum. Here he saw clients when Mr. Carlyle was out or
engaged, and here he issued private orders. A little window, not larger
than a pane of glass, looked out from the clerk's office; they called
it old Dill's peep-hole and wished it anywhere else, for his spectacles
might be discerned at it more frequently than was agreeable. The old
gentleman had a desk, also, in their office, and there he frequently
sat. He was sitting there, in state, this same morning, keeping a sharp
lookout around him, when the door timidly opened, and the pretty face of
Barbara Hare appeared at it, rosy with blushes.

"Can I see Mr. Carlyle?"

Mr. Dill rose from his seat and shook hands with her. She drew him into
the passage and he closed the door. Perhaps he felt surprised, for it
was _not_ the custom for ladies, young and single, to come there after
Mr. Carlyle.

"Presently, Miss Barbara. He is engaged just now. The justices are with
him."

"The justices!" uttered Barbara, in alarm; "and papa one? Whatever
shall I do? He must not see me. I would not have him see me here for the
world."

An ominous sound of talking; the justices were evidently coming forth.
Mr. Dill laid hold of Barbara, whisked her through the clerks' room,
not daring to take her the other way, lest he should encounter them, and
shut her in his own. "What the plague brought papa here at this moment?"
thought Barbara, whose face was crimson.

A few minutes and Mr. Dill opened the door again. "They are gone now,
and the coast's clear, Miss Barbara."

"I don't know what opinion you must form of me, Mr. Dill," she
whispered, "but I will tell you, in confidence, that I am here on some
private business for mamma, who was not well enough to come herself. It
is a little private matter that she does not wish papa to know of."

"Child," answered the manager, "a lawyer receives visits from many
people; and it is not the place of those about him to 'think.'"

He opened the door as he spoke, ushered her into the presence of Mr.
Carlyle, and left her. The latter rose in astonishment.

"You must regard me as a client, and pardon my intrusion," said Barbara,
with a forced laugh, to hide her agitation. "I am here on the part of
mamma--and I nearly met papa in your passage, which terrified me out of
my senses. Mr. Dill shut me into his room."

Mr. Carlyle motioned to Barbara to seat herself, then resumed his own
seat, beside his table. Barbara