d parts and of strict, upright character.
Weakened as she was, the shadow of an untruth disturbed her. Her pride
ran in a different groove from that of her once over-complimented,
over-fostered sister. She was going to add a protest in words to that
expressed by her gesture, but I hastily prevented this by coming at once
to the point of my errand.

"My excuse for this early call," I said, this time addressing Miss
Thankful, "lies in an adventure which occurred to me yesterday in the
adjoining house." It was painful to see how they both started, and how
they instinctively caught each at the other's hand as they sat side
by side on the sofa, as if only thus they could bear the shock of what
might be coming next. I had to nerve myself to proceed. "You know, or
rather I gather from your kind greetings that you know that I am at
present staying with Mrs. Packard. She is very kind and we spend many
pleasant hours together; but of course some of the time I have to be
alone, and then I try to amuse myself by looking about at the various
interesting things which are scattered through the house."

A gasp from Miss Charity, a look still more expressive from Miss
Thankful. I hastened to cut their suspense short.

"You know the little cabinet they have placed in the old entrance
pointing this way? Well, I was looking at that when the whim seized
me--I hardly know how--to press one of the knobs in the molding which
runs about the doorway, when instantly everything gave way under me
and I fell into a deep hole which had been scooped out of the
alley-way--nobody knows for what."

A cry and they were on their feet, still holding hands and endeavoring
to show nothing but concern for my disaster.

"Oh, I wasn't hurt," I smiled. "I was frightened, of course, but not
so much as to lose my curiosity. When I got to my feet again, I looked
about in this surprising hole--"

"It was our uncle's way of reaching his winecellar," Miss Thankful
explained with great dignity as she and her sister sank back into their
seats. "He had some remarkable old wine, and, as he was covetous of it,
he conceived this way of securing it from everybody's knowledge but
his own. It was a strange way, but he was a little touched," she added,
laying a slow impressive finger on her forehead, "just a little touched
here."

The short, significant glance she cast at Charity as she said this,
and the little smile she gave were to give me to understand that this
wea