ust
make your choice to-day. You have given me trouble enough, and have
made far too many excuses. I shall wait no longer."

"Oh, once more!--only once more!" was the answer, interrupted by
heartrending sobs,--in whose voice I rather guessed than heard.

Neither would I wait any longer. I never thought about ceremony and
gentility, any more than about the possible dangers, known and unknown,
which I might be running. I opened the door and walked straight in.

Mr Crossland stood on the hearth, clad in a queer long black gown, and
a black cap upon his head. On a chair near him sat a girl, her head
bowed down in her hands upon the table, weeping bitterly. Her long dark
hair was partly unfastened, and falling over her shoulder: what I could
see of her face was white as death. Was this white, cowed creature our
once pert, bright Hatty?

"What do you want?" said Mr Crossland, angrily, as he caught sight of
me. "Oh, I beg pardon, Miss Caroline. Your poor sister is suffering so
much to-day. I have been trying to divert her a little, but her pain is
so great. How very good of you to come! Was no one here to show you
anywhere, that you had to come by yourself?"

The bowed head had been lifted up, and the face that met my eyes was one
of the extremest misery. She held out her arms to me with a low, sad,
wailing cry--

"O Cary, Cary, save me! Cannot you save me?"

I walked past that black-robed wretch, and took poor Hatty in my arms,
drawing her head to lie on my bosom.

"Yes, my dear, you shall be saved," I said,--I hope, God said through
me. "Mr Crossland, will you have the goodness to leave my sister to
me?"

If looks had power to kill, I think I should never have spoken again in
this world. Mr Crossland turned on his heel, and walked out of the
room without another word. The moment he was gone, I made a rush at the
door, drew out the key (which was on the outside), locked it, and put
the key on the table. Then I went back to Hatty.

"My poor darling, what have they done to you?"

Somehow, I felt as if I were older than she that day.

But she could not tell me at first. "O Cary, Cary!" seemed to be all
that she could say. I rang the bell, and when somebody tried the door,
I asked the unknown helper to send Miss Amelia Bracewell.

"I beg your pardon, Madam, I dare not," answered a girl's voice.
"Nobody is allowed to enter this chamber but my mistress and Fa--and my
master."

It seemed as if a