r with Miss Badlam for
somethin' or other, an' I don't believe there's no good in it, for what
does the fox an' the cat be a whisperin' about, as if they was thaves
an' incind'ries, if there ain't no mischief hatchin'?"

"Why, Kitty," he said, "what mischief do you think is going on, and who
is to be harmed?"

"O Mr. Gridley," she answered, "if there ain't somebody to be chated
somehow, then I don't know an honest man and woman from two rogues. An'
have n't I heard Miss Myrtle's name whispered as if there was somethin'
goin' on agin' her, an' they was afraid the tahk would go out through
the doors, an' up through the chimbley? I don't want to tell no tales,
Mr. Gridley, nor to hurt no honest body, for I'm a poor woman, Mr.
Gridley, but I comes of dacent folks, an' I vallies my repitation an'
character as much as if I was dressed in silks and satins instead of
this mane old gown, savin' your presence, which is the best I 've got,
an' niver a dollar to buy another. But if I iver I hears a word, Mr.
Gridley, that manes any kind of a mischief to Miss Myrtle,--the Lard
bliss her soul an' keep ahl the divils away from her!--I'll be runnin'
straight down here to tell ye ahl about it,--be right sure o' that, Mr.
Gridley."

"Nothing must happen to Myrtle," he said, "that we can help. If you see
anything more that looks wrong, you had better come down here at once
and let me know, as you say you will. At once, you understand. And,
Kitty, I am a little particular about the dress of people who come to
see me, so that if you would just take the trouble to get you a tidy
pattern of gingham or calico, or whatever you like of that sort for
a gown, you would please me; and perhaps this little trifle will be a
convenience to you when you come to pay for it."

Kitty thanked him with all the national accompaniments, and trotted off
to the store, where Mr. Gifted Hopkins displayed the native amiability
of his temper by fumbling down everything in the shape of ginghams and
calicoes they had on the shelves, without a murmur at the taste of his
customer, who found it hard to get a pattern sufficiently emphatic for
her taste. She succeeded at last, and laid down a five-dollar bill as if
she were as used to the pleasing figure on its face as to the sight of
her own five digits.

Master Byles Gridley had struck a spade deeper than he knew into his
first countermine, for Kitty had none of those delicate scruples about
the means of obtaining