back window on the ground-floor, and opened it at the
top with some difficulty. Peeping in he gazed for some time intently,
and then exclaimed under his breath, "Ha! it's open by good luck."
Gathering a handful of gravel, he threw it into the house with
considerable force.

The result proved that he had not aimed at random, for the shower
entered the open door of Nanny's sleeping-cellar and fell smartly on her
face.

It is well-known that sailors, although capable of slumbering through
loud and continuous noises, can be awakened by the slightest touch, so
likewise Nanny. On receiving the shower of gravel she incontinently
buried her head in the blankets, drew an empty coal-scuttle over her
shoulders and began to shout thieves! and murder! at the top of her
voice. Having taken such pains to muffle it, of course no one heard her
cries. The man, if a burglar, had evidently a patient philosophical
turn of mind, for he calmly waited till the damsel was exhausted, and
when she at length peeped out to observe the effect of her heroic
efforts at self-preservation he said quietly, "Nanny, lass, don't be a
fool! It's me; open the door; I've gone an' forgot my latch-key."

"Oh la! master, it ain't you, is it? It ain't thieves and robbers, is
it?"

"No, no. Open the door like a good girl."

"And it ain't an accident, is it?" continued Nanny partially dressing in
haste. "Oh, I knows it's a accident, Missus always prophesied as a
accident would come to pass some day, which has come true. You're not
maimed, master?"

"No, no; be quick, girl!"

"Nor Willum ain't maimed, is he? He ain't dead? Oh _don't_ say Willum
is--"

"Bill Garvie's all right," said the engine-driver, as he brushed past
the girl and went up-stairs.

Now, although Mrs Marrot's ears were totally deaf to locomotives they
were alert enough to the sound of her husband's voice. When, therefore,
he entered the kitchen, he found her standing on the floor with an ample
shawl thrown round her.

"Nothing wrong?" she inquired anxiously.

"Nothing, Molly, my dear, only I got a slight bruise on the leg in the
engine-shed to-day, and I had to go up an' show it to the doctor, d'ye
see, before comin' home, which has made me later than usual."

"Are you _sure_ it's not a back hurt, father?" asked Loo, coming in at
the moment--also enveloped in a shawl, and looking anxious.

"Sure? ay, I'm sure enough; it's only a scratch. See here."

Saying this he remo