well," I answered, "John knows what he is doing." For John
Fry was a kind of foreman now, and it would not do to say anything that
might lessen his authority. However, I made up my mind to rope him, when
I should catch him by himself, without peril to his dignity.

But when I came home in the evening, late and almost weary, there was no
Annie cooking my supper, nor Lizzie by the fire reading, nor even little
Ruth Huckaback watching the shadows and pondering. Upon this, I went to
the girls' room, not in the very best of tempers, and there I found all
three of them in the little place set apart for Annie, eagerly listening
to John Fry, who was telling some great adventure. John had a great jug
of ale beside him, and a horn well drained; and he clearly looked upon
himself as a hero, and the maids seemed to be of the same opinion.

"Well done, John," my sister was saying, "capitally done, John Fry. How
very brave you have been, John. Now quick, let us hear the rest of it."

"What does all this nonsense mean?" I said, in a voice which frightened
them, as I could see by the light of our own mutton candles: "John Fry,
you be off to your wife at once, or you shall have what I owe you now,
instead of to-morrow morning."

John made no answer, but scratched his head, and looked at the maidens
to take his part.

"It is you that must be off, I think," said Lizzie, looking straight at
me with all the impudence in the world; "what right have you to come in
here to the young ladies' room, without an invitation even?"

"Very well, Miss Lizzie, I suppose mother has some right here." And with
that, I was going away to fetch her, knowing that she always took my
side, and never would allow the house to be turned upside down in that
manner. But Annie caught hold of me by the arm, and little Ruth stood in
the doorway; and Lizzie said, "Don't be a fool, John. We know things of
you, you know; a great deal more than you dream of."

Upon this I glanced at Annie, to learn whether she had been telling,
but her pure true face reassured me at once, and then she said very
gently,--

"Lizzie, you talk too fast, my child. No one knows anything of our John
which he need be ashamed of; and working as he does from light to dusk,
and earning the living of all of us, he is entitled to choose his own
good time for going out and for coming in, without consulting a little
girl five years younger than himself. Now, John, sit down, and you shall
know all