m, and that Mrs. Ducklow beat him.

"Father!" called Mrs. Ducklow to her husband, who was at the barn, "do
you know what time it is? It's nine o'clock! I wouldn't think of going
over there to-night; they'll be all locked up, and abed and asleep, like
as not."

"Wal, I s'pose I must do as you say," replied Mr. Ducklow, glad of an
excuse not to go,--Miss Beswick's visit having left him in extremely low
spirits.

Accordingly, after bedding down the horse and fastening the barn, he
returned to the kitchen; and soon the prosperous couple retired to rest.

"Why, how res'less you be!" exclaimed Mrs. Ducklow, in the middle of the
night. "What's the reason ye can't sleep?"

"I don't know," groaned Mr. Ducklow. "I can't help thinkin' o' Miss
Beswick. I never was so worked at any little thing."

"Well, well! forget it, father; and do go to sleep!"

"I feel I ought to have gone over to Reuben's! And I should have gone,
if 't hadn't been for you!"

"Now how unreasonable to blame me!" said Mrs. Ducklow. "Ye might have
gone; I only reminded ye how late it was."

Mr. Ducklow groaned, and turned over. He tried to forget Miss Beswick,
Reuben, and the bonds, and at last he fell asleep.

"Father!" whispered Mrs. Ducklow, awaking him.

"What's the matter?"

"I think--I'm pretty sure--hark! I heard something sounded like somebody
gitting into the kitchen winder!"

"It's your narvousness." Yet Mr. Ducklow listened for further
indications of burglary. "Why can't ye be quiet and go to sleep, as you
said to me?"

"I'm sure I heard something! Anybody might have looked through the
blinds and seen us putting--you know--under the carpet."

"Nonsense! 't a'n't at all likely."

But Mr. Ducklow was more alarmed than he was willing to confess. He
succeeded in quieting his wife's apprehensions; but at the same time the
burden of solicitude and wakefulness seemed to pass from her mind only
to rest upon his own. She soon after fell asleep; but he lay awake,
hearing burglars in all parts of the house for an hour longer.

"What now?" suddenly exclaimed Mrs. Ducklow, starting up in bed.

"I thought I might as well git up and satisfy myself," replied her
husband, in a low, agitated voice.

He had risen, and was groping his way to the kitchen.

"Is there anything?" she inquired, after listening long with chilling
blood, expecting at each moment to hear him knocked down or throttled.

He made no reply, but presently came gliding softly