se's legs and spoiled the game by
throwing him headlong.

She did not see, or at least did not notice, but hastening on, entered
the fields. In coming to town that morning she had seen everything; now,
returning in her anger and annoyance, she took no heed of anything; she
was so absorbed that when a man--one of those she met going to the fair
for the evening--turned back and followed her some way, she did not
observe him. Finding that she walked steadily on, the fellow soon ceased
to pursue.

The gloom had settled when she reached home, and the candles were lit.
She gave her father the sovereign, and was leaving the room, hoping to
escape questioning, when Mrs. Iden asked who had the prize-guinea.

"I did," said Amaryllis, very quietly and reluctantly.

"Where is it? Why didn't you say so? Let me see," said Mrs. Iden.

"I--I--I lost it," said Amaryllis.

"You lost it! Lost a guinea! A spade-guinea!"

"What!" said Iden in his sternest tones. "Show it immediately."

"I can't; I lost it."

"Lost it!"

And they poured upon her a cross-fire of anger: a careless, wasteful
hussy, an idle wretch; what did she do for her living that she could
throw away spade-guineas? what would her grandfather say? how did she
suppose they were to keep her, and she not earn the value of a
bonnet-string? time she was apprenticed to a dressmaker; the quantity
she ate, and never could touch any fat--dear me, so fine--bacon was not
good enough for her--she could throw away spade-guineas.

Poor Amaryllis stood by the half-open door, her hat in her hand, her
bosom heaving, her lips apart and pouting, not with indignation but
sheer misery; her head drooped, her form seemed to lose its firmness and
sink till she stooped; she could not face them as she would have done
others, because you see she loved them, and she had done her best that
day till too sorely tried.

The storm raged on; finally Iden growled "Better get out of sight." Then
she went to her bedroom, and sat on the bed; presently she lay down, and
sobbed silently on the pillow, after which she fell asleep, quite worn
out, dark circles under her eyes. In the silence of the house, the
tom-tom and blare of brazen instruments blown at the fair two miles away
was audible.

CHAPTER XIX.

So there was tribulation in three houses. Next morning she scarcely
dared come in to breakfast, and opened the door timidly, expecting heavy
looks, and to be snapped up if she spoke. Inst