ing that I do not trust you and you don't trust
me."

"What do you mean?" faltered the poor woman, who looked more agitated
now.

"You were not going to bed, but to listen for Lindon's return, and were
then going to watch whether I left my room to talk to him."

Mrs Lavington was silent.

"Guilty," said Uncle Josiah, smiling. "Come now, fair play. Will you
go to your room and promise to stay there till breakfast time to-morrow
morning, if I give you my word to do the same?"

"Yes," said the shrinking woman eagerly.

"That's agreed to, then. Good-night, Laura, my dear."

"Good-night, Josiah."

Ten minutes after all was still in the house, but matters did not turn
out quite as Uncle Josiah intended. For before he was undressed, a
bedroom door was opened very gently, and the creak it gave produced a
low ejaculation of dismay.

Then there was five minutes' interval before a slight little figure
stole gently downstairs and glided into the kitchen, where round
red-faced Jessie was seated in a window, her chair being opposite to
what looked like a lady's back, making the most careful bows from time
to time, to which the lady made no response, for it was only Jessie's
cloak hanging on a peg with her old bonnet just above.

The slight little figure stood in the kitchen doorway listening, and
then Jessie seemed to be bowing her head to the fresh comer, who did
take some notice of the courtesy, for, crossing the kitchen rapidly,
there was a quick sharp whisper.

"Jessie, Jessie!"

No reply.

"Jessie, Jessie!"

"Two new and one stale," said the maid.

"Oh, how tiresome! Jessie, Jessie!"

"Slack baked."

"Jessie!" and this time there was a shake of the maid's shoulder, and
she jumped up, looking startled.

"Lor, Miss Kitty, how you frightened me!"

"You were asleep."

"Sleep? Me, miss? That I'm sure I wasn't."

"You were, Jessie, and I heard father tell you to sit up till Cousin
Lindon came home."

"Well, that's what I'm a-doin' of, miss, as plain as I can," said
Jessie.

She spoke in an ill-used tone, for it had been a busy day consequent
upon a certain amount of extra cleaning, but Kitty did not notice it.

"I shall stay till I hear my cousin's knock," she said; "and then run
upstairs. I hope he will not be long."

"So do I, Miss Kitty," said the woman with a yawn. "What's made him so
late? Is it because of the trouble at the yard?"

"Yes, Jessie; but you must not talk about it."

"