, 1859-01-15

&
ing what was to come Of all thia misery. It
seemed to her very long before they did re-
turn yet it was hardly eleven O'Clock. She
heard the loud Lancashire voice On the stairs,
and, for the first time, she understood the
contrast of the desolation Of the poor man
who had 60 lately gone forth In lonely des-
pair.
It almost put her out OF patience to zee Mrs.
Openahaw come In, calmly smiling, hand
some1y dressed, happy, easy, to inquire after
her children.
"Did Ailsie 60 to sleep comfortably ?" she
whispered to Norah.
ayes"
Her mother bent over her, looking at her
s}umbeEs with the 1oft eyes Of love. How
little she dreamed who had looked on her
last! Then she went TO Edwin, with, per-
haps, less wiattul anxiety in her countenance,
but more Of pride. She took other things to
20 down to supper. Norah saw her no more
that night
Besides the door into the passage, the
eleeping.nursey opened out Of Mr. OpenEhaw's
room, in order that they might have the chill
dren more Immediately under their OWL eyes.
EARLY the next summer morning Mrs. Open.
shaw was awakened by Aileie's startled call
of Smother! mother - She sprang up,
put on her dressing: gown, and went 10 her
child. Ailsie was only half awake, and in a
not uncommon state OF terror.
"Who was be, mother7 Tell me :"
"Who, ny darling? No one is here, You
have been dreaming, love. Waken up quite.
See, it is broad daylight"
"Yes," said Ailsie, looking round her;
/ then clnging to her mother, said. but q
man was here in the night, mother"
"Nopsense, little goose. No man has ever
come near You |"
ayes be did. He stood there. Just by
Eorah. Aman with hair and beard. And
be knelt down and said his prayers. Norah
knows he was here, mother" (hnlf angry, az
hrs. OpenEhaw Ehook her head in smiling in-
| credulity.)
aWeill we will ask Norah when she
COMES" said Mrs. Openshaw, soothingly.
" But we won't talk any more atout him now.
it is not five o'clock it is too early for you
to ret up. Shall fetch you book and read
toyq1n 1ap,t =, ,..xo mo n,ot,e, " s,,a tho o,;,a
| c!Ingipg to her. So Mrs. Openshaw safe on
! the bedside talking to Aiisie, and telling
her of what they had done at Richmond the
evening before, until the little girls eyes
slowlv closed and she once moro fell asleep.
"What was the matter ," asked Mr. Open
shaw, as his wife returned to bed.
"Ailsie, wakened up in fright, with Zone
story Of d man having been ia the Toom to
ray prayers-a dream, sappose.n And no
more was said at tue time.
Mrs.. Openshaw had almost forgotten the
whole affair when she got up about seven
O'Clock. But, byand.by, she heard sharp
alteration going Oh in the nursery. Norah
speaking angri]y to Ailste, most unusual
thing Both Mr.. aud Mrs. Openshaw listened
in astonixhmcnt
"Hold your tongue, Ailzie! let me hear
none Of your dreams never let rue hear
you tell taat story again !" Ailsie began to
cry.
Mr. Openshaw opened the door Of CON-
munication before his wife could SAY word.
"Ncrah, come here !"
Tue nurse stood at the door, defiant. She
perceived she had been heard, but she was
desperate
'Don't let me- hear you speak in that man.
ner to Ailsie again. he said, sternly, and shut
the door.
Norah was infinitely relieved for she had
dreaded some questioning; and little
blame for sharp speaking was what she
could we'll bear, If cross examination WAS lefi
| alone.
Down stairs they went, Mr.. Openshaw car
rying Ailsie the sturdy Edwin coming steF
bg step, right foot foremost, always holding
bis mothers hand. Each child was placed il
chair by the breakfast table, and then Mr.
aud Mrs. Openshaw stood together at tht
window. awaiting their visitors appearance
and making plans for the day. There was :
pause Suddenly Mr. Opcushaw turned tt
Ailsie, and said:
"Nfhat little goosy somebody is with hcl
| dreams, waking up poor, tired mother in tn.
| middle Of the night with story Of 4 mar
, being in the ROOM"
, "Fathcr! I'm sure saw him." said Ailsie
half crying. II don't want to make Moral
angry but was not asleep, for all she say
; | was. I had been asleep-and I awakened
up quite vide awake though was so fright
, cned. kept my eyes nearly shut, and say
the man quite plain: a great brown maj
with beart1. liz said his prayers. And thel
he looked at Edwin. And then Norah tool
| him by the arm and led him away, after the,
had whispered hit together"
"Now, my little woman must bo reasona
, ble," said Mr. Openshaw, who was always ia
tient with Ailsie. sThrre was no man in th
j house lust night at all. No mau comes iut
the house. as you koow, If you think muc
1 less goes up into the nursery. But sometime
! VIC dream something has happened, and tn
p dream is so like reality, that you are not til
i first PRISON, little woman, who has stood on
d that the thing has really happened"
: "But, indeed it was not a dream. ~ sal
Aitsie beginning to cry:
C Just then Mr.. and Mrs. Chadwick cam
( down, looking grave and discomposcd- A
/; during breakfast time they we're silent an
i uncomfortable. Az soon as the breakta
Il | things were taken away, and the children ha
Is been carried up stairs, Mt. Chadwick bega1
c in IN evidently preconcerted manner,
d | inquire if bis nephew vas certain that all b
+ servants we're honest; for, that Mrs. Chat
o wick had that morning missed very valu
t hle brooch, which she had worn the day b
fore. Sue remembered taking it off who
u she came home from Buckingham Palac
e Mr.. Openshaw's fuce contracted into ha'
e lines grew like what 1t was before he h:
% knsgn his wife and her child. He rang Il
j. bell crcn before bin uncle had done speakin
1t 1t mas answered by the housenaid.
II stMary, Wus any one here lust night Viii
we we're awaye'
h "a mau, Sir, came to speak to Norah.''
"To speak to Nornl! Who VAS he? Uc
IS. long did be stay?'
= Pm xurc | can't tell, Sir. lie came
or perhaps about nine. went up to tell Nor
j. in the nursery, and she came down to fpe
n to him. She let him out, Sir. She will kne
to who be vas, and how long he staid."
She waited q momeut to lie asked q
th more questions, but she VAS not, so she nc
u away.
er a minute afserward Openshaw made
though he were going out Of the room
10 his wife laid her hand on bis arm.
"Do not speak here before the children
to she eaid in her low, quiet voice. will go
is and question her."
les "No! | must speak to her. You MI
i'd know" said be, turning to his uncle aud au
IT, my missus has IN old servant, as faithful
er ever woman was, I do believe, as far
ire love goes, but, at the same time, Who d.
not always speak truth, as even the mis-
ed must allow. Nov, my notion is, that t
to Norah of our. has been come over by 50
,cr good-for nothing chap {for she's at the tint
an life whe nthey say wumen pray for husband:
1er any, good Lord, ny')-and has let him il
nd our house, and the chap has made off "
do your brooch, aud m'appen many anol
rs ihiugs beside. 1t's only saying that Moral
4 soft-hearted, aud does not stick ut \ whit
, is that's al, missus."
is It was curious to notice how his tone,
her | eyes, his whole fnce changed Is he spoke
an his wife but be vas the resolute n
; it through all. She knew better than to opp
aen him 50 he went up stairs, and told No
nk, her master wanted 10 speak to her, and
bod she would take care Of the children in
,d's meanwhilel
it Norah rose to 60 without word.
|, il thoughts were these:
and "If they tear me TO pieces they shall ut
7er. know through me. He may come, and
hild Just Lord have mercy upon us all, for eom
US are dead folk to certainty. But fe Z
l y = y4+