nothing more or less than a very
large patchwork quilt, suspended on a line across the entire attic, from
the other side of which came the sounds in question. It was clear, both
from the melody and the voice, that she could not be a servant; and
somewhat curious to know more of my fair neighbor, I rose gently, and
slipping on my clothes, approached the boundary of my territory with
noiseless step.

A kind of whistling noise interrupted every now and then the lady's
song, and an occasional outbreak of impatience would burst forth in the
middle of the "Arrah, will you marry me, dear Alley Croker?" by some
malediction on a "black knot" or a broken string. I peeped over the
"drop," and beheld the figure of a young, plump, and pretty girl, busily
engaged in lacing her stays,--an occupation which accounted equally
for the noise of the rushing staylace and the bit of peevishness I had
heard. I quite forgot how inadvisable was the indulgence of my curiosity
in my admiration of my fair neighbor, whose buxom figure, not the less
attractive for the shortness of her drapery, showed itself to peculiar
advantage as she bent to one side and the other in her efforts to fasten
the impracticable bodice. A mass of rich brown hair, on which the sun
was playing, fell over her neck and on her shoulders, and half concealed
her round, well-turned arms as they plied their busy task.

[Illustration: Peeping Tom 166]

"Well, ain't my heart broke with you, entirely?" exclaimed she, as a
stubborn knot stopped all further progress.

At this moment the cord, on which through inadvertence I had leaned
somewhat too heavily, gave way, and down came the curtain with a squash
to the floor. She sprang back with a bound, and, while a slight but
momentary blush flushed her cheek, stared at me half angrily, and then
cried out,--"Well, I hope you like me?"

"Yes, that I do," said I, readily;--"and who wouldn't that saw you?"

Whether it was the naivete of my confession, or my youth, or both, I
can't well say, but she laughed heartily at my speech, and threw herself
into a chair to indulge her mirth.

"So we were neighbors, it seems," said I.

"And if we were," said she, roguishly, "I think it's a very
unceremonious way you 've opened the acquaintance."

"You forget, apparently, I haven't left my own territory."

"Well, I 'm sure I wish you would, if you 're any good at a black knot;
my heart and my nails are both broke with one here."

I didn't w