Part 16 (2/2)

”Nonsense! Go and knock at his door Tell hiton excitedly; ”let ton hurried out into the hall, and then upstairs

”Slipped in while you were half asleep,” said the oldcarefully all night”

”Humph! There's half a crown for you to buy a hat ribbon, Jessie

Well,” he continued as his sister entered hastily, ”what does he say?”

”Josiah!” cried the tre woman, ”what does this , and he has not been to his rooht”

”What?”

”Neither has Kitty been to hers”

Uncle Josiah thrust back his chair, and left his half-eaten breakfast

”Look here,” he exclaimed in a hoarse voice; ”what nonsense is this?”

”No nonsense, Josiah,” cried Mrs Lavington ”I felt a presentirily ”Kitty not in her room?

Kitty not been to bed? Here, Jessie!”

”Yes, sir”

”You did go to sleep, didn't you?”

”Ye-e-e-s, sir!”

”I thought as much, and,”--here tut-tut-tut--”that would not explain it

Hullo, what do you want?”

This was to the cook, who tapped, opened the door, and then held up her hand as if to co here?” she said softly Mrs Lavington ran to the door, followed the woman across the hall, unaware of the fact that the old merchant was close at her heels

They paused as soon as they were inside the drawing-roo, half lying, and fast asleep, with the tears on her cheeks still wet, as if she had wept as she lay there unconscious, was Kitty, for the bricks on the opposite wall had been too indistinct for her to see

”Don't wake her,” said Uncle Josiah softly, and he signed to theo back into the hall, where he turned to Jessie

”Did you see Miss Kitty last night?”

”Ye-es, sir”