rs screaming with it often. Nearly every day some of
them die. They say it is worse for the young, and I know my
grandfather dreads that I may take it. He looks at me often very
sadly, or he did when I first came. Always then at nightfall he grew
sad. But, latterly, we have been so comfortable together that I think
he hath forgot his fears. When the evenings darken, and he can no
longer read or write, we sit and watch the stars. Then if I can
persuade him to tell me stories of what he hath undergone, that doth
turn his thoughts, and afterwards he will fall asleep, and sleep well
the whole night through.'

'Thou art a comfort to him, sure enough,' her aunt answered. 'It is
wonderful how much brighter he hath been since he had thee, though he
hath never smiled since my mother's death. But thou thyself must
surely grow tired of the prison and its bare stone walls? Thou must
long to be back at play with thy sisters in the Bedfordshire meadows?'

'That do I no longer,' little Mary Samm made answer firmly. 'I love my
sisters dearly, dearly,' she raised her voice unconsciously as she
spoke, and a chaffinch on a branch overhead filled in the pause with
an answering chirp, 'I love my mother too. Didst thou really say thou
wert expecting her to visit thee right soon? My dear, dear mother! But
I love my dear grandfather best of all, for he hath nobody but me to
care for him. At least, of course, he hath thee, Aunt Joan,' she added
hastily, noticing a slight shade pass over her aunt's face. 'And what
should we do without thee to bake bread for us, and go to the farm to
fetch him fresh eggs, and butter, and cheese, and sweet, new milk? He
would soon starve on the filthy prison fare. See, I have the milk
bottle safe hidden under my flowers.'

'Aye, thou wast ever a careful maid,' answered her aunt; 'but, tell
me, hath the Governor indeed grown gentler of late, and hath he given
my father more liberty, and a better room?'

'That he hath indeed. He patted my head this very morn, and said I
might have permission to come out and walk with thee for the first
time,' Mary answered. 'He saith, too, that the gaol is no place for a
child like me, and that thou shalt come and see us in a se'nnight from
now; then haply thou wilt bring my mother with thee! The room my
grandfather hath now is small in truth, but he can lie down at length,
and I have a little cupboard within the wall where I can also lie and
hear if he needs me. Doth he but sti