e top from invading cats. "Compose yourself,
Miss," said Toff, "if she tries to get over the gate, she will stick on
the spikes." In another moment, the sound of retiring carriage-wheels
announced the defeat of the matron, and settled the serious question of
receiving Sally for the night.

She sat silent by the window, when Toff had left the room, holding back
the curtains and looking out at the murky sky.

"What are you looking for?" Amelius asked.

"I was looking for the stars."

Amelius joined her at the window. "There are no stars to be seen
tonight."

She let the curtain fall to again. "I was thinking of night-time at the
Home," she said. "You see, I got on pretty well, in the day, with my
reading and writing. I wanted so to improve myself. My mind was troubled
with the fear of your despising such an ignorant creature as I am; so I
kept on at my lessons. I thought I might surprise you by writing you a
pretty letter some day. One of the teachers (she's gone away ill) was
very good to me. I used to talk to her; and, when I said a wrong word,
she took me up, and told me the right one. She said you would think
better of me when you heard me speak properly--and I do speak better,
don't I? All this was in the day. It was the night that was the hard
time to get through--when the other girls were all asleep, and I had
nothing to think of but how far away I was from you. I used to get
up, and put the counterpane round me, and stand at the window. On
fine nights the stars were company to me. There were two stars, near
together, that I got to know. Don't laugh at me--I used to think one of
them was you, and one of them me. I wondered whether you would die, or
I should die, before I saw you again. And, most always, it was my star
that went out first. Lord, how I used to cry! It got into my poor stupid
head that I should never see you again. I do believe I ran away because
of that. You won't tell anybody, will you? It was so foolish, I am
ashamed of it now. I wanted to see your star and my star tonight. I
don't know why. Oh, I'm so fond of you!" She dropped on her knees, and
took his hand, and put it on her head. "It's burning hot," she said,
"and your kind hand cools it."

Amelius raised her gently, and led her to the door of her room. "My poor
Sally, you are quite worn out. You want rest and sleep. Let us say good
night."

"I will do anything you tell me," she answered. "If Mrs. Payson comes
tomorrow, you won't let h