ith her bad conduct. It is certain that this sudden
shock affected her greatly. It was, as it were, a break in her life;
her old ill-tempered, unteachable childhood went into the past, and a
gentle womanhood sprang up in the future. For the present there was a
sad, humble, penitent girl.

When she began once more to know what was going on in that room, she
found that Mrs. Webster was telling Mrs. Mitchell, in very mild
terms, of the reasons why Juliet was sent home.

"I am quite a stranger," said the lady, "and I feel myself an intruder
in your time of sorrow. You have my deepest sympathy. And I trust that
Juliet will henceforth do better. She has had some severe lessons. Do
you think your husband would be stronger if he lived in the country?"

"Yes, ma'am; the doctor at the dispensary says that country air would
do wonders for him. But then he can't leave his work; it is no use to
live in the country and have a good appetite if you have no means of
getting victuals for your appetite."

"No, of course not," said Mrs. Webster.

"We are doing better now," continued Mrs. Mitchell. "He's at work
again, and Miss Sutton--that's a kind lady--is trying to bring us
women face to face with our employers and no middleman between. But I
don't know how it will act. I've done work for Miss Sutton and her
friends, but the same people don't keep on wanting mantles. I could
have borne anything if I hadn't to make up crape for ourselves!"

Mrs. Webster pressed Mrs. Mitchell's hand kindly, and took her leave.

CHAPTER X.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE "TURKEYS PIN."

The disappearance of Juliet Mitchell from Littlebourne Lock the second
time did not surprise or frighten her relations nearly so much as her
flight had done on the first occasion.

"Oh, she'll come home," said Mrs. Rowles; "never fear. When she is
hungry she'll turn up, or someone will bring her."

But as the evening closed in, and neither meal-time nor bed-time
brought the wanderer home, some alarm began to spread through the
house. Philip had taken his boat to the place where he had left
Juliet, but she was not there. He went again and shouted for her, but
there was no reply. Then Mr. Rowles shouted from the lock in a voice
that must have been heard at half a mile's distance. Still no sign of
Juliet.

"You should not have left her there, Phil," said Mrs. Rowles.

"I've often set Emily down at the same place," was Phil's defence, "to
gather king-cups or forget