id was now sitting in Antonia's room mending a long rent in
that young lady's brown Liberty velveteen evening dress.

"You have made an awfully jagged rent, Miss Antonia," said the girl.

"Have I?" said Antonia; "why mend it, then? I never expect to have my
clothes mended. Of course, if you are good enough to occupy your time
over me, Pinkerton, I am much obliged to you, but I don't expect your
services, so clearly understand the position."

"Lor'!" answered Pinkerton, who had a round, country face and a somewhat
brusque manner, "what a show you'd be, Miss Antonia, if someone didn't
make you and mend you."

Antonia went over to the open window, and, flopping herself down on her
knees, leant her two elbows on the window-sill and looked out.

"I wish you'd let me know if Miss Drummond is having forty winks in her
room," she said suddenly. "She generally does go to her own room about
this hour, does she not?"

"I believe so, miss. I'll inquire if she's there now."

Pinkerton soon returned with the information that Miss Drummond's door
was locked, that she could not see her maid anywhere, but that she heard
sounds proceeding from within the room which led her to infer that the
forty winks were being enjoyed.

"But there's no use in your going to her, Miss Antonia," said Pinkerton,
"for she won't hear you however hard you knock."

"I'll see about that," said Antonia. "Do you happen to know, Pinkerton,
if Miss Drummond's window is open?"

"Sure to be, miss; every window in the house is kept open during this
sultry weather."

"There's no time to be lost," murmured Antonia; "I must scale the wall."

She left her own bedroom in a hurry, and ran downstairs.

"Nan," she shouted, catching sight of Nan's white frock in the distance,
"come here."

Nan ran up to her rather unwillingly. Antonia was detestable in her eyes
as belonging to the dreadful new stepmother.

"Why do you frown at me like that, child?" said Antonia; "it isn't
pretty."

"Tell-tale tit," answered Nan rudely; "you'll be making up stories of me
in the future, won't you?"

"I?" said Antonia, with a careless rise of her brows. "No; I shan't have
time. Now, can you tell me if there's a ladder about?"

"No, I can't," answered Nan.

"Are there no ladders to be found in this benighted and over-cultivated
region?"

"Plenty; but I can't tell you where they are."

Antonia knitted her brows. Nan gazed at her curiously. It was really
interesting to ha