f parting company with the head it adorned. The gruesome noise he was
emitting did not really affect us otherwise than aesthetically. To
one who has tried both, the wail of genuine physical anguish is easy
distinguishable from the pumped-up ad misericordiam blubber. Harold's
could clearly be recognised as belonging to the latter class. "Now, you
young--" (whelp, _I_ think it was, but Edward stoutly maintains it was
devil), said the curate, sternly; "tell us what you mean by it!"

"Well, leggo of my ear then!" shrilled Harold, "and I'll tell you the
solemn truth!"

"Very well," agreed the curate, releasing him; "now go ahead, and don't
lie more than you can help."

We abode the promised disclosure without the least misgiving; but even
we had hardly given Harold due credit for his fertility of resource and
powers of imagination.

"I had just finished saying my prayers," began that young gentleman,
slowly, "when I happened to look out of the window, and on the lawn I
saw a sight which froze the marrow in my veins! A burglar was
approaching the house with snake-like tread! He had a scowl and a dark
lantern, and he was armed to the teeth!"

We listened with interest. The style, though unlike Harold's native
notes, seemed strangely familiar.

"Go on," said the curate, grimly.

"Pausing in his stealthy career," continued Harold, "he gave a low
whistle. Instantly the signal was responded to, and from the adjacent
shadows two more figures glided forth. The miscreants were both armed to
the teeth."

"Excellent," said the curate; "proceed."

"The robber chief," pursued Harold, warming to his work, "joined
his nefarious comrades, and conversed with them in silent tones. His
expression was truly ferocious, and I ought to have said that he was
armed to the t--"

"There, never mind his teeth," interrupted the curate, rudely; "there's
too much jaw about you altogether. Hurry up and have done."

"I was in a frightful funk," continued the narrator, warily guarding his
ear with his hand, "but just then the drawing-room window opened, and
you and Aunt Maria came out--I mean emerged. The burglars vanished
silently into the laurels, with horrid implications!"

The curate looked slightly puzzled. The tale was well sustained, and
certainly circumstantial. After all, the boy might have really seen
something. How was the poor man to know--though the chaste and lofty
diction might have supplied a hint--that the whole yarn was a fre