Part 15 (1/2)

”Jessie, Jessie!”

No reply

”Jessie, Jessie!”

”T and one stale,” said the maid

”Oh, how tiresome! Jessie, Jessie!”

”Slack baked”

”Jessie!” and this time there was a shake of thestartled

”Lor, Miss Kitty, how you frightened me!”

”You were asleep”

”Sleep? Me, miss? That I'm sure I wasn't”

”You were, Jessie, and I heard father tell you to sit up till Cousin Lindon came home”

”Well, that's what I'm a-doin' of, miss, as plain as I can,” said Jessie

She spoke in an ill-used tone, for it had been a busy day consequent upon a certain a, but Kitty did not notice it

”I shall stay till I hear my cousin's knock,” she said; ”and then run upstairs I hope he will not be long”

”So do I, Miss Kitty,” said the woman with a yawn ”What's made him so late? Is it because of the trouble at the yard?”

”Yes, Jessie; but you must not talk about it”

”But I heerd as Master Don took sonantly ”There isn't a word of truth in it My Cousin Lindon couldn't have done such a thing It's all a mistake, and I want to see him come in, poor boy, and tell him that I don't believe it I'll whisper it to hi up to bed, and it will ainst hi_!

The sound was very gentle, and Kitty did not hear it, for she was looking intently toward the door in the belief that she had heard Don's footstep

But it was only that of some passer on his way home, and Kitty went on,--

”You reat trouble, and aunt is nearly heart-broken, and--”

_Snurg-urg_!

This ti a sound that Kitty turned sharply upon themistress the most polite of bows