ong
reason to believe these persons to be Popish recusants, and the last to
whom my father would have confided us, had he known their real
character. They have not used any of us so kindly that I need spare
them out of any tenderness."

"I thank you, Miss Bracewell," said my Uncle Charles, who also, I
thought, was showing qualities that I had not known to be in him. (How
scenes like these do bring one's faculties out!) "I rather thought there
was some sort of Jesuitry at work. Madam," he turned to Mrs Crossland,
"I am sure there is no necessity for me to recall the penal laws to your
mind. So long as these young ladies are left undisturbed in my care, in
any way,--so long, Madam,--they will not be put in force against you.
You understand me, I feel sure. Now, girls, let us go."

So, we three girls walking, and Hatty in the chair, with Dobson and
Caesar as a guard behind, we reached Bloomsbury Square.

"Charles, what is it all about?" said Grandmamma, taking a bigger pinch
than usual, and spilling some of it on her lace stomacher.

"A spider's web, Madam, from which I have been freeing four flies. But
one was a blue-bottle, and broke some of the threads," said my Uncle
Charles, laughing, and patting my shoulder.

"Really!" said Grandmamma. "I am pleased to see you, young ladies.
Hester, my dear, are you sure you are quite well?"

"I shall be better now," Hatty tried to say, in a trembling voice,--and
fainted away.

There was a great commotion then, four or five talking at once, making
impossible recommendations, and getting in each other's way; but at the
end of it all we got poor Hatty into bed in my chamber, and even
Grandmamma said that rest was the best thing for her. My Aunt Dorothea
mixed a cordial draught, which she gave her to take; and as Hatty's head
sank on the pillow, she said to my surprise,--

"Oh, the rest of being free again! Cary, I never expected you to be the
heroine of the family."

"I think you are the heroine, Hatty."

"Most people would have thought I should be. But I have proved weak as
water--yet not till after long suffering and hard pressure. You will
never see the old Hatty again, Cary."

"Oh yes, dear!" said I. "Wait a few days, till you have had a good
rest, and we have fed you up. You will feel quite different a week
hence."

"My body will, I dare say, but me--that inside feeling and thinking
machine--that will never be the same again. I want to tell you
everyt