Part 15 (2/2)

”Jessie! You're asleep”

_Snurrg_! And a bow

”Oh, Jessie, you're asleep again How can you be so tiresoave an impatient stamp of her little foot

”How can any one sleep at a time like this?” she half sobbed ”It's too bad, that it is”

Jessie bowed to her politely, and her head went up and down as if it were fixed at the end of a very easy , but when Kitty reproached her the words had not the slightest effect, and a dull stupid stare was given, of so irritating a nature that some people would have felt disposed to awaken the sleeper by ad a sound slap upon the hard round cheek

One hour, two hours, three hours passed away, and still no Don; and at last, unable to bear the coer, Kitty left her and went into the drawing-roo down at the end of the couch under the , she re for hian to look less dark and gloorees the other side became so plain that she could rew plainer and plainer, and there was a bright light in the sky, for the sun was near to its rising

Then they grew less plain, then quite indistinct, for Kitty was crying bitterly, and she found herself wondering whether Don could have coht told her that this was impossible, and the tears fell faster still

Where could he be? What could he be doing? Ought she to awaken her aunt?

Kitty could not answer these self-ireater it see very cold and the bricks of the houses opposite more and more obscure, and then soon after they were quite invisible, for she saw them not

CHAPTER NINE

A SOCIAL THUNDERBOLT

”Morning!” said Uncle Josiah, as, after a turn up and down the dining-roo very pale and red-eyed ”Why, Laura, you have not been to bed”

”Yes,” she said sadly ”I kept my word, and now I feel sorry that I did, for I fell into a heavy sleep froo”

”Glad of it,” said her brother bluffly ”That's right, my dear, make the tea; I want my breakfast, for I have plenty of work to-day”

Mrs Lavington hastilyon the table when she ca that it was always to be ready at eight o'clock, and woe betide Jessie if it was not there

”Have--have you seen Don this ?”

”No And when he comes down I shall not say a word There, try and put a better face on the istrate's office, and there will be a few admonitions That's all

Isn't Kitty late?”

”Yes Shall I send up for her?”

”No; she will be down in a few minutes, I daresay, and Lindon too”

The fewfor the servants, and his bro more heavy Neither Kitty nor Lindon down to prayers