derstand. Mr Benden was rather short-sighted. He peered
with eyes half shut at the unknown object.

"What's that?" he said, half aloud.

_That_ responded by neither sound nor motion. It looked very like a
human being; but who could possibly be seated on his settle at this late
hour without his knowing it? Mr Benden came to the conclusion that it
would be foolish to disturb himself, and spoil an excellent supper, for
the sake of ascertaining that Mary had forgotten to put away his
fur-lined cloak, which was most likely the thing in the corner. He
would look at it after supper. He took up his spoon, and was in the act
of conveying it to his mouth, when the uncanny object suddenly changed
its attitude.

"Saints bless us and love us!" ejaculated Mr Benden, dropping the
spoon.

He really was not at all concerned about the saints loving him,
otherwise he would have behaved differently to his wife; but the words
were the first to occur to him. The unknown thing was still again, and
after another long stare, which brought him no information, Mr Benden
picked up the spoon, and this time succeeded in conveying it to his
lips.

At that moment the apparition spoke.

"Edward Benden!" it said, "do you call yourself a Christian?"

Mr Benden's first gasp of horror that the hobgoblin should address him
by name, was succeeded by a second of relief as he recognised the voice.

"Bless the saints!" he said to himself; "it's only Tabby."

His next sensation was one of resentment. What business had Tabitha to
steal into his house in this way, startling him half out of his wits as
he began his supper? These mixed sentiments lent a sulky tone to his
voice as he answered that he was under the impression he had some claim
to that character.

"Because," said the apparition coolly, "I don't."

"Never thought you were," said Mr Benden grimly, turning the tables on
the enemy, who had left him a chance to do it.

Tabitha rose and advanced to the table.

"Where is Alice?" she demanded.

"How should I know?" answered Mr Benden, hastily shovelling into his
mouth another spoonful of eggs, without a notion what they tasted like.
"In the gaol, I reckon. You are best to go and see, if you'd fain know.
I'm not her keeper."

"You're not? Did I not hear you swear an oath to God Almighty, to `keep
her in sickness and in health?' That's how you keep your vows, is it?
I've kept mine better than so. But being thus ignorant of what yo