t six in t seemed still t to me, for my dle of course o notains    out. , came knog at my door, I t I    Lant Street. I ers filed free by Mr Ibbs. t imes; and sometimes times te villains. Once a man put a ko Mr Ibbss t, because    too sloarted from t, O I meant to be    to , I could not tell you; a. S    ter for me, and s my fire; took t, aied it into    of

        slops, and         her apron.

        I o     tip my piddle into , I    sure I liked it. But I said, t—t; for s and tossed o say, hanking her?

        Servants. Sake my breakfast in Mrs Stiless pantry. turned a me—getting a quick look, I t, at my frod my srunk, on the way.

        I ed for to take, t oo cold to    t in, I sao see t before, by t treaked bro tained we.

        From t-door room t saying, Yes, miss. tting of a door.

        t doo my breakfast—first losing my    ttom of ts stairs, and finding myself in t. ttles, and ted panes. Gentleman    t, too, about ts. iless pantry at last togs, and . t o Mr Lilly for forty-five years, .    ts, . e    hey say Londoners    lush!

        Mr ay said o me, but spoke to Mrs Stiles about ter to    left; and wold he Dunravens, of

        reet, Mayfair,    o s a humbug he was.

        off at seven. Mrs Stiles    leave table before    up. hen she did she said,

        You o    Miss Maud slept well.

        I didnt knoo say to t. S on, anyway:

        Miss Maud rises early. S you be sent to o wasicular.

        My o me; but I le stone sink sry.

        I felt t drunk it. I ain I so it again.

        I was nervous.

        Sook me up. e , as before, by ts stairs, but truck out into a    led to one or t one of t catc came, but suppose s. Sraigurhe iron handle, and led me in.

        ts s floor—rifling turkey carpets, t    ables about, and one or ts mout branctled in their frames.

        ttle spluttering fire in a vast old grate, and before tanding gazing into t turning as sep, and starting, and blinking—tress of t all our plot    on.

        I ed    Gentleman o be quite out of t s t—at least, I did not tudied    aller t very fair—and er. , for I liked to bite my oo be s young-looking; but as to t— to udied Maud Lilly as sood before me no, s ked, as I ook a step or to meet me, and opped, and put ly, at . t—I     onis in a    of velvet. On    toned up tig t. She said,

        Miss Smito be my maid, from London! And may I call you Susan? I    at Briar, Susan; and I    muco like, i do it very easily— very easily, indeed.

        S, s, ing voice, tilting    me, still quite crimson at t Lant Street, and gripped my skirt and made a curtsey. And w sook my hand in hers.

        S Mrs Stiles, he door.

        You need not stay, Mrs Stiles, s you    my eye. Youve    I am an orpo

        Briar as a c all to care for me. I ot tell you all tiles    a mot time.

        Silted iles    catch her

        gaze, but a bit of colour struggled into tered. I s , myself; but servants groimental over take my .

        Anye; and t us. Maud smiled again, and led me to one of t o t beside me. Ser my journey—e supposed you lost! ser my room. Did I like my bed? Did I like my breakfast?

        And     anyone    Lant Street—as if I mig t s in a different sort of    in a gaping try    in a notig, o o .

        Of course, I t I kneas.

        sold me all ties I so do,     tidy her gowns. She lowered her eyes.

        Youll see    of t Briar, s matters little, I suppose, since . But you, of course, o t styles of London.

        I t of Daintys . Pretty used, I said.

        And your last mistress, s on te a fine lady? So look at me, I expect!

        Sill , and again looked from me; and again I t, You pigeon!

        But    Lady Alice— Gentleman oo kind to laug anyone,

        and    grand clot not    ougo be judged. All in all, I t, it ty clever to say; and so too, for w s me in a new way and    down, and sook my hink. I said, Lady Alice always said so, miss.

        ter t Gentleman ten for me, and t t be t to present it. I took it from my pocket and    over. So to o t. Sood a long time looking at t me; and my    beat a little fast to t iced somet it    t: for I sa last t rembled; and I guessed t s a proper cer    w she should say.

        I t it almost a s, t sher.

        ell, sting it inside , Lady Alice does indeed speak    o leave her house.

        Pretty sorry, miss, I said. But to India. I ther fierce.

        S. Strong lig.

        Seete. I smiled, but kept my lips s—for my oeet are yelloo say quite yellohem yellower.

        S, miss.

        library. t library, of its kind, in all of England. I dare say you    soon.

        t hing, miss, Im sure.

        So read, of course?

        I so read, miss? Sing. Pretty muc last. t is, I am sure I so be shown.

        Sared.

        to learn, I mean, I said.

        Sared, even , disbelieving sort of laug mean, you ot read? Not really? Not a    a letter? tle table . Still ook t to me. Go on, s. Read me any part, I s mind if you stumble.

        I    beginning to s. I ope and looked at a page. It . I tried anot one    Mauds gaze, like a flame against my    face. I felt tter. take a c.

        Our Fatried, w in heaven—

        But t t. I closed t my lip, and looked at t, very bitterly, ell,     a maid t t read e fancy letters in a curling ed my eyes to hers and said,

        I migaug, miss. I am t willing. Im sure I could learn, in half a wink—

        But shing.

        Be taugly taking back t allo. Not read! Ao live in t t meant. You should know, indeed!

        Sill ill smiling, tolling of t    times; and then her smile fell.

        No go to Mr Lilly; and wrikes one I shall be free again.

        S—sounding, I t, just like a girl in a story. Arent tories, s, and s? She said,

        e to me, Susan, at my uncles e.

        I will, miss, I said.

        S racted kind of    to it, and put o o c goed at the bad showed her calves.

        S my eye in tsey.

        Shall I go, miss? I said.

        Sepped back. Stay, s my rooms in order, will you?

        S to t topped. She said,

        I . I , in London,    miss you too greatly. It , I t Mr Rivers mentioned? Se well, when you saw him?

        S tion fall, like it o o make all t. As if sy!

        I said,    s.

        S. Did ruly? she said.

        truly, miss.

        S    tly.

        I remembered ting at t kitcticoat, saying, You s bitch.

        Im sure hes very kind, miss, I said.

        tinkling of a little urned and ran, leaving tairs as s down.

        I ed a sed, tepped to t my foot to it, and kicked it s. I    to t te    Street. I lifted my    Maud    my o my freckled ceeto as Gentleman it over    t as , and tor be standing ready rait-coat at the madhouse door.

        ts , after seeing hen.

        But I t it in a distented sort of o admit,    e iller t se, ttling of panes of glass. I    to t tle red sand-bags laid upon to keep it out, but t    , and    my o one, and my finger came aood and s t a vie    plain grass and trees. A fehe lawn. I wondered which way London was.

        I er. I arnish.

        t of somet my rooms in order, Maud    I supposed must be    be anot in    house were all of dark oak panelling,

        very gloomy on t so pat in t spot t I looked ood, I sa me, plain as daylight.

        It o    as I , t o my o before and listened for    seemed a very fooliso    I sa. For it    very grand, but grand enoug, s smell to it, and a ed bed ains and a opy of old moreen. I    sure t sleeping in a bed like t    make me sneeze: I t of all t and dead flies and spiders t must be gat looked as t    been taken doy years. t a nig—I folded t it beo te. So muc t aged looking-glass, s t e black . I s ladies    leaves in t , for it    go no made t ened. Seeing t, I t again    Maud ainly    rid of a stuff like ter someto te and dainty.

        But o Lant Street teacy goods. I got    and girlis, t to    flat; after t, t to. ther was a

        dressing-table. t re tles

        and pinst—I tidied too—and fitted be of fancy

        drae ones, in top dratens in

        t.

        t t    I guessed spelled out Mauds name. I so    t, h scissors and a pin.

        I did no suc left tly, and I    about til I oucudied it all t muco look at; but t tle    sat upon a table beside her bed.

        took it up it gave a dull sort of rattle. t it some, you only o ss like giving brio an oyster. I used one of her hairpins.

        turned out to be lio squeak. I am not sure    to find in tleman, some keepsake, some letter, some little bill-and-coo. But ure portrait, in a frame of gold yle from ty years before, and t look muc I t it a pretty safe bet t s t, if s    Maud kept ure locked up in a box, and did not .

        I puzzled so long over turning ture, looking for marks, t took it up, like everyt t    , or Mrs Stiles—so tch me

        standing by trait in my    ba its place, and made it fast again.

        t to make a pick-lock . I s o    and t me a thief.

        to do, after I . I stood some more at t eleven oclock a maid brougray. Miss Maud isnt ea-pot; but tea    in fairy-sips, to make it last took tray back doo save t into tcared and the cook said,

        ell, I never! If you t aint quioug speak to Mrs Stiles. But Im sure, Miss Fee never called anyone idle.

        Miss Fee    sia. It seemed very cruel to be supposed prouder trying to be kind.

        But I said not, Miss Maud likes me, if you dont! For so    ime to pass, not for its o as it ake me back to her.

        At least at Briar you alruck, and to tairs and    til one of t by, and so t    floor, t you reac aircase and a    it    you t you ures ood and put my fio its little eeting to , but slo be reading to her uncle from a book.

        ted my    for me to enter.

        I sa: sting at a desk tle ly by, but s beside a s ts lig. Above s glass    upon it. All about unning amount. ories does one man need? I looked at t e gloves and drehem ba.

        So , to t, because of t see. A cross voice said,

        is it?

        I pused    sat Mr Lilly, Mauds old uncle; and to describe o tell everything.

        coat, and a velvet cap, t ub of red ting from it    ained all over    be stained obacco. e.    o    black, from w    pages.

        hem he had a pair of glasses, shaded green. he saw me and said,

        he devil are you?

        Maud    ttons at .

        tly. Miss Smith.

        Behemselves up and groer.

        Miss Smit me but talking to , like t one?

        I dont know, said Maud. I    asked , Susan?

        I didnt kno    I said, No, miss. I dont think so.

        Mr Lilly at o his hand across his ear.

        I dont care for    s? t s?

        Maud smiled. She , Uncle, she said.

        turbing me now?

        So fetch me.

        to fetche clock sound?

        o tcoat and dre an a great gold repeater, tilting o catc Maud, ill fumbling ening of ook a step, meaning to    -s came ongue.

        the finger!

        o me, and sil ter t t undere black, and so guessed en. But at t moment range, and spoke so s quite failed me. I t    be proo fits. I took anotep, and t made ill    last Maud came to me and touched my arm.

        Dont be afraid, sly.    my feet, t into t, a flat brass ing finger.

        Uncle does not care to s eyes upon    no servant advance furto this mark here.

        Soe of er.

        Does s? said her uncle.

        Yes    soe. S very ime—s you, Susan?

        Yes, miss, I said— I s; for it ainly neo me, t gazing at a line of print could spoil it. But    t? Besides    t anyt rue. Yes, miss, I said, a sed time; and then: Yes, sir.

        tsey. Mr Lilly snorted, looking    me tened uro leave him.

        Make , Maud, he door behind us.

        I will, Uncle, she murmured.

        Noook me round taircase to t of lund coffee in anot; but w Cook    up, she made a face.

        Eggs, s, like you must be.    did you think of my uncle, Susan?

        I said, Im sure hes very clever, miss.

        he is.

        And ing, I believe, a great big diary?

        Sionary, yes. A great many years labour. e are presently at F.

        So see    of t.

        Astonishing, I said.

        S a spoon to t of took its    te and yello and made anot it from    eat t eat tter.

        t k g bites of bread and sips of coffee, and once

        rubbing for a mi a spot upon    te!

        I sa mark, til t came to take tray ao e again—so    a neer, as I put coal on    t te, and they looked like gloves for a doll.

        Sainly, t you     Lant Street? I did not t ty lonely, and pretty bookis be, in a ?    to tening rain, but so go out ood at ttle black press, looking over s, s and s. t killed nearly an s w.    her hands upon mine and said,

        Be slower. o here?

        S her eyes were sad. I said, No, miss.

        In t on a pale grey cloak, and over tens. Stle leat ready, t tle of er, and scissors: s saying    to cut flo staircase to to ts.    outside ood blinking, our    our eyes against tery sun. t sa, at nighe

        fog and I so say it seemed less grim    seemed     nos cs roof s. It ains    t of trunks of ivy. It    front door, split do rain o press , and e sideo leave t all.

        It o see epping out of t gloomy place, like a pearl ing out of an oyster.

        It o cer s at her back.

        But t muco stay for, out in t avenue of trees, t led up to t of gravel t t in. t grely les; and an ro ttle stone    cross to tand and gaze at til s tarted a muddy la led you to a s-up old red c, quietest place I ever sao go to it, but Maud took t en. For at t oomb, t her.

        S and look at t for an    a time,    fat only for keeping do gre it; and ters of lead s o take off stains.

        Sil    me    first day, wried, she said,

        It is a daugy, to tend to t ch me.

        So I left o it, and ombs. ts made it ring. I    of my o    give graves to murderesses. t their bodies in quicklime.

        Did you ever pour salt on to do it, and to see to me once,

        Your mot. Sen me smelt it!

        again. I took up a pair of kitc to . And thing!

        I wondered    bad blood flowed in me.

        But s to ask. S, gazing    amped my feet. t last s her, passed her hand across her eyes, and drew up her hood.

        ts tle further.

        So t ran alongside a    took you to t see t landing-place tted atle upturned punt t made a kind of seat. ts er very quiet and muddy and filled ing fiso t ter. I supposed sened of s, and sat ip of it pressed against h.

        I sat beside    cold, and so quiet it    thin.

        Pretty stretcer, I said, for politeness sake.

        A barge    by. toucs. Iwaved.

        Bound    for London, said Maud, looking after them.

        London?

        S t?—-t t trifling bit of er    s t ill, t it o c folloer; t passed from sigs engine faded, ts c. till sat ip of t ook up stones and began to to ter. Sc,    every splaso the house.

        e    back to    out a bit of se    to be a tableclot. I never sac. It made me nervous. e sat togettering fire, and talked in a     greo rattle o myself, Dear God, let Gentleman e soon! I t my eye. t made me ya s ucked up    and laid o sleep.

        ts all to do til truck seven.    s o    co h her uncle.

        S took my dinner in tcs. told me

        t,    ao        read? I asked.    let s     —fears ss    keeps ime in gloves.

        ts enougiles.    . I sat and t about Mr Lilly, er, ongue; and t Maud, fro would make a girl like .

        I t I kne ening to ts talk, not saying muciles asked me, So e and take my pudding ry? I supposed I ougo. I sat gazing at ture made all of    every story—t    bulls breaking fences, or parsons making iing sermons in ciles s e a match for London, news-wise!

        Above    sound of laug .

        t ruck, and immediately after it ts bell sounded; and t meant t Mr Lilly o be seen by Mr ay into    Maud o be put by me into hers.

        I almost lost my    even so, when she saw me she said,

        Is t you, Susan? You are quicker too. I dont think a girl    be hand-

        some—__do you?— nor her. I

        so be dark, Susan!

        Sh her supper, and I had had beer. I should

        ay ipsy. Sand

        beside    t silvery glass above her fireplace, and drew my

        o o pare the

        darker, she said.

        to put o gown.

        It    muccer all. Sood sy as everye. Stripping a lady is    eel; , as I t tors speak against, t gives a girl an illness. et, ticoats and s all,    and smootter. too soft, I t er    its sood in ogs igurned, and looked at o tom,    from tatue on a pillar in a park. So pale so shine.

        But again, it roubling kind of paleness, and I o cover idied o t and ed, yao e and brush her hair.

        do    migch.

        are you tress? as her hair handsomer?

        she walked well. Do I walk well? You do, miss.

        S    beside o pare them.

        Yours is almost as , she said kindly.

        S into    care to lie in darkness. S in a tin s beside    it from t let me tie tains of    tle    s see into the room beyond.

        And you , e close your door? so. I didnt like it, before you came,    in a co call    touc your toucle.

        S o feel t of o button anote pair ba. took ucked . I pulled t perfectly smoot be all, miss?

        Yes, Susan, s like t    it back, and it snaked aht and dark and slender as a rope.

        ook my dle off, t by t    tle    furtood and rubbed my face. I    Briar only a day; but it    day of my life. My , now I had undressed her.

        At last I sat and ble my dle; and    a sound in t in     it to ttle    t up. I t, ell, I    be silent, if you t. I am softer to t of tained bed, and rait of tcrait to , and spoke soft, sad o it. t it from    t t to look in t it ly on table— touce, touc tain and ill.

        I greoo tired to y room    behem; and lay cold as a frog in my own narrow ladys maids bed.

        I ot say    for t say,        knoe or to Mauds room and sa lig I kne dreaming.    I ,    crasant of my opening my eyes, t as I lifted my    my    beat     in a ened voice. She was calling on her old maid:

        Agnes! Oh! Oh! Agnes!

        I didnt king t t still rattled, e unbroken; and to tains s all bunch her    and her

        , range.    I knes Sue, miss.

        S sound? Is t? there? A man? she said. A man? A burglar?

        At t go, Agnes! Im afraid ened, s t me try and light a dle.

        But ried to lig in a tin s get to cat, il my    eady.

        I said, You must be quiet, miss. to e and catch him.

        I took up t. Dont take t! s once. I beg you, dont!

        I said I ake it to to s and clutc t    to to    open.

        t bits of furniture sat , like ts     o be murdered by burglars. And o be a man I knew—say, one of Mr Ibbss nep do happen.

        So I stood gazing fearfully at to call out—in case t t I    of course, t    as a d t quickly to to t

        was

        , too—tig of some clock, far-off and more rattling    after all it    quite Pleasant, standing in a nig, in a great dark silent , t didnt    cer-

        tainly s. I closed t baauds oom and closed t door, and stepped to t t down.

        Shere?

        I    to ans topped. For I e te and gleaming, t    t I, t Ive a ion? I ain t t to    me. My    leapt so o my mouto taste it. I screamed, and Maud screamed, tc me and     look at me! s leave me! Dont leave me!

        And t te t to foot and almost laughed.

        For it    from    t    steps he springs bounce.

        I sa, as I say, and almost laug    o let    my    beteeto cter. I han ever.

        I said, Its noter all, its nothing. You was only dreaming.

        Dreaming, Agnes?

        S    my bosom, and sil she grew calm.

        t me put t about you, look.

        But wo lay    leave me, Agnes! she said again.

        I said, Its Sue, miss. Agnes ina, and is gone back to Cork. Remember? You must lie dooo.

        S me t ill so dark, seemed yet a little clearer.

        Dont leave me, Sue! she whispered. Im afraid, of my own dreaming!

        . er. In a feime, I t— if our plot o hen?

        So I put    only for a moment; and I clambered over    bes at    my arm about    once s me. It seemed t t I could do. I pulled    like Mrs Sucksby. Not like Mrs Sucksby, at all. Sill stle, and    my t, like featime, opped, and    again and till. She grew heavy, and warm.

        Good girl, I said, too softly to wake her.

        m I e before sroubled, and tried to .

        Did my dreams ? s meeting my gaze. Did I say foolis o e and keep me pany!

        I didnt tell    t eig off to    one I    to fetg care, time, to mind ting finger on to the river; she sewed, and dozed, and was

        rung to    iles until    nine, ime to go back up and put o bed. It    t day, ain. S, and laid ood in my room and tle box unlocked, and peeped to cake up trait, kiss it, t it away.

        And t put out my dle tes, before ly: Sue—!

        S sleep. So keep me close to ened.

        S nig after t. You dont mind? s Mayfair?

        could I tell    migress and o double up like girls.

        It    first, , quite like sisters. Quite like sisters, indeed. I aled a sister.

        tleman came.
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