nted at a possibility of
release in the future. It was with a joyful heart that he carried the
news home to Christabel, and found her Aunt Tabitha sitting with her.

"O Father, how delightsome!" cried Christie, clapping her hands. "Now
if those ill men will only let dear Aunt Alice come home--"

"When the sky falleth, we may catch many larks," said Tabitha, in her
usual grim fashion. "Have you told him?"

"Whom?--Edward Benden? No, I'm in no haste to go near him."

"I would, if I knew it should vex him."

"Tabitha!" said Roger, with gentle reproval.

"Roger Hall, if you'd had to stand up to King Ahab, you'd have made a
downright poor Elijah!"

"Very like, Tabitha. I dare say you'd have done better."

"Father," said Christie, "did you hear what should come of Master White,
and Mistress Final, and all the rest."

"No, my dear heart: I could hear nought, save only that they were had up
afore my Lord of Dover, and that he was very round with them, but all
they stood firm."

"What, Sens Bradbridge and all?" said Tabitha. "I'd have gone bail that
poor sely hare should have cried off at the first shot of Dick o'
Dover's arrow. Stood _she_ firm, trow?"

"All of them, I heard. Why, Tabitha, the Lord's grace could hold up
Sens Bradbridge as well as Tabitha Hall."

"There'd be a vast sight more wanted, I promise you!" said Tabitha
self-righteously. "There isn't a poorer creature in all this 'varsal
world, nor one with fewer wits in her head than Sens Bradbridge. I
marvel how Benedick stood her; but, dear heart! men are that stupid!
Christie, don't you never go to marry a man. I'll cut you off with a
shilling an' you do."

"Cut me off what, Aunt Tabitha?" inquired Christie, with some alarm in
her tone.

"Off my good-will and favour, child."

"Thank you, Aunt Tabitha, for telling me I didn't know I was on," said
Christie simply.

"Good lack!" exclaimed Tabitha, in a tone which was a mixture of
amusement and annoyance. "Did the child think I cared nought about her,
forsooth?"

"O Aunt Tabitha, do you?" demanded Christie, in a voice of innocent
astonishment. "I am so glad. Look you, whenever you come, you always
find fault with me for something, so I thought you didn't."

"Bless the babe! Dost think I should take all that trouble to amend
thee, if I loved thee not?"

"Well, perhaps--" said Christie hesitatingly.

"But Aunt Alice always tried to mend me, and so does Father: but somehow
they don