n 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. Sraigurned the 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 knearted, as I ook a step or to meet me, and opped, and put ly, at . t—I   onis in a net 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, in eit 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 cannot 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. Se