so!"

When the house was full of lodgers the Bryants stowed themselves away in
any odd corners. At this time Lydia occupied a large cupboard--by
courtesy called a small room--close to their stuffy little back parlor.
Lisle would go to the yard behind the house, which was common to two or
three besides No. 13, and with one foot on a projecting bit of
brick-work could get his hand on the sill and make his signal.

"Some day the police'll take you for a burglar," said Lydia
encouragingly. "Well, go and enjoy yourself."

"It _is_ a shame to keep you up so long, isn't it? What do you do all
the time, eh, Lydia?"

"Sit in the dark, mostly, and think what a fool I'm making of myself."

"Don't do that. Think how good you are to a poor fellow in trouble. That
will be better--won't it? But I must be off. Good-bye, you kind Lydia."

He stooped forward and kissed her, taking her hands in his. He found it
convenient to pay his debt in this coin, his creditor being passably
pretty. Not that Bertie had any taste for indiscriminate kissing. Had he
had five thousand a year, and had Lydia rendered him a service, he would
have recompensed her with some of his superfluous gold. But as he only
had his salary as organist and what he could make by giving
music-lessons, he paid her with kisses instead. He had no particular
objection, and was it not his duty to be economical, for Judith's sake
as well as his own?

"Go along with you!" said Lydia; and the young man, who had achieved his
purpose and had no reason for prolonging the interview, stole laughingly
down stairs, waving a farewell as he vanished round the corner. Lydia
stood as if she were rooted to the ground, listening intently. She heard
the door opened very gently and closed with infinite precautions. She
still stood till she had counted a hundred under her breath, and then,
judging that Mrs. Bryant had not been disturbed by his stealthy exit,
she went down to fasten it. She was prepared with an answer if she
should be caught in the act, but she was glad to get away undetected,
for an excuse which is perfectly satisfactory at the time may be very
unsatisfactory indeed when viewed by the light of later events. So Lydia
rejoiced when she found herself safe in her own room, though she pursued
her usual train of meditation in that refuge. She appraised Lisle's
gratitude and kisses pretty accurately, and was angry with herself that
she should care to have them, knowing that they w