woods, and the
distant sea shining like frosted silver.

"Oh, I do wish it was a wet, cloudy morning!" I said at last.

"Why?"

"Because everything looks so beautiful, and makes you long to be out of
doors."

We relapsed into silence again, with our punishment growing more painful
every moment, till our thoughts were chased away by the ringing of the
breakfast-bell.

"Ah, at last!" cried Mercer, and he turned to listen for footsteps.

"I say," he cried crossly, "ain't they going to let us go down to
breakfast?"

"No; we're prisoners," I said bitterly.

"Yes; but they don't starve prisoners to death," cried Mercer; "and I
want something to eat."

In spite of my misery, I too felt very hungry, for we had gone through a
great deal since our evening meal on the previous day, and I was
standing watching my companion as he marched up and down the bedroom
like an animal in a cage, when we heard steps on the stairs.

"Here's breakfast," cried Mercer joyfully, but his face changed as the
door was opened, and Mr Rebble appeared, followed by one of the maids
bearing a tray, which she set down on a little table and went away,
leaving Mr Rebble looking at us grimly, but with the suggestion of a
sneering laugh at the corners of his cleanly-shaven lips.

We both glanced at the tray, which bore a jug and two mugs and a plate
with a couple of big hunches of bread. Then Mercer looked up half
reproachfully at Mr Rebble, who was moving toward the door.

"They've forgotten the butter, sir," he said.

"No, my boy, no," replied the usher; "butter is a luxury reserved for
the good. The Doctor will send for you both by and by."

He went out and locked the door, while we stood listening till the steps
had died away.

"It's a jolly shame!" cried Mercer. "I'm not going to stop here and eat
dry bread."

"Never mind," I said; "I don't mind for once;" and, taking one of the
pieces of bread, I lifted the jug to fill a mug, but set it down again
without pouring any out.

"What's the matter?"

"Look," I said.

Mercer darted to the table, looked into the jug, poured out a little of
its contents, and set the vessel down, speechless for the moment with
rage.

"Water!" he cried at last, and dashing to the table again, he ran with
it to the window, and threw both jug and contents flying out into the
shrubbery below.

"Oh!" he ejaculated, directly after; "I didn't know you were there."

I ran to the window now, and looked do