f you do a single thing
that displeases me, you shall be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of
the law."

Juliet longed to scream, or kick, or run away; but she did not dare to
move. "The utmost rigour of the law" might mean something awful: it
might mean being hanged, or being shot by Mrs. Bosher's brother. The
passage was almost dark, and Juliet stood trembling beside her
dreadful mistress. Oh, if only it were possible to be back once more
at the lock! Oh, if only she could escape from this new situation!
Locked doors, and windows shuttered on the outside, made this cottage
a very prison. The man with the gun living-next door, the unknown
rigour of the law hanging over her head, Mrs. Bosher glaring through
the twilight--how endure them even for a night? And how get away from
them in the morning?

She was pushed into a kitchen and bidden to wash up some cups and
saucers. "And woe betide you if you break one of them!" said Mrs.
Bosher, her bonnet nodding so strangely that it seemed to be the
speaker rather than its wearer.

Juliet was so fearful lest she might let slip a cup or saucer that she
spent about half an hour in washing the crockery. While she did this
at a side table, Mrs. Bosher was ironing linen at the table in the
middle of the room. From time to time the sharp, sensible eyes of the
woman rested upon the face of the girl, and at such moments the top of
the black bonnet nodded as if it were alive.

When Juliet had finished her task Mrs. Bosher said, "Now, you shall
have bread-and-milk for supper, and then go to bed."

"I don't like bread-and-milk," returned Juliet, "and it is too early
to go to bed."

"Indeed. What do you like for supper? And at what hour do you prefer
to go to bed?"

"I like bread and cheese; and we went to bed at ten o'clock when
uncle's work was done."

The bonnet nodded faster than before.

"You will eat bread-and-milk or nothing, and if your aunt let you sit
up till ten o'clock I am not so foolish."

A basin of the food which Juliet declined to eat was set before her.
She was very hungry, but having refused it already she let it lie
untasted. Meanwhile Mrs. Bosher lighted a lamp.

"It is nearly nine o'clock. Now you go to bed. Come along."

There was a door which Mrs. Bosher opened, revealing a flight of
stairs. She pushed Juliet up them, and though the girl would have
liked to rebel, she did not dare to do so. In fact, she thought the
wisest plan would be to go quietly