Marble Hill press., 1901-05-22
CHAPTER x.

MIS-. CONVEY looked exceedingly
guilty when her lord and master en-
tered; but he, being full of his own
business, did not observe it. He laid
aside his wrappings, called for hot
water and the spirit case, and sat
down by the fire with an air of a man
who had earned his repose and meant
thoroughly to enjoy it.
Have you been alarmed in any way
since l went, Mrs CT" he asked when
his toddy was thoroughly mixed.
"No, my dear" she replied briskly;
which was gross tib, as we know, be-
cause the unexpected arrival of her
nephew and his wife had nearly sent
her into a fit of Mysteries. But that
was only one of the white lies that
are perfectly allowable, and even
praiseworthy, when the head of the
household is in question. If British
matrons hesitated long over a tara
diddle," there would be little peace,
fear, in many British home.
"Not alarmed, eh!" said Mr.. Cowley
slipping at his glass. well, Pm glad
you are getting so brave. l have been
to see the agent, and there is no rea-
son why we should not rent the house
for another year. Mr.. Vernon will not
want it, and the agent evidently looks
upon it as one of the best speculations
he ever made"
Another year! Mercy preserve us!"
said Mrs. Cowley, holding up her
hands in horror.
"And why not, pray?" was the sharp
reply. "If we go sooner we shall have
done no good. People will think we
are frightened away, after all; where
as II we stay for fifteen or sixteen
months they cannot have the face to
hint at such thing"
Mrs Cowley groaned.
Besides, l have been talking with
the agent about the drains, and he has
given me leave to have them set to
rights. A capital dodge that, isn't 1t,
my dear?"
10 SoWiCy OhLy olSHCl.
Don't you see? While the men are
at work, I'll make them take up the
floor of that pantry. Depend on It,,
there is nothing there but rats"
Can rats rock cradle, Mr. Cow
ley?" asked his better half, severely.
II dare say they could II they tried"
"And sing?"
"There are plenty Of singing mice
in the world; perhaps ours belongs to
that breed, my dear. However, what
l mean to say Is this: That the house
being old, is in all probability swarm
Ing with the brutes; and that, in some
of their antics in the pantry, they con-
trive to initiate the rocking Of era
die and to make a sound which will
pass muster as human voice. So
I'll have the floor up, and we'll put n
stop to their fun at once"
ut was human voice!" said Mrs.
Cowley, Indignantly "The idea of
trying to explain it in that way! /
never heard of anything so absurd In
"iA any iAAS' Diu thu dbOuL OilcE you
any refreshment, my dear?"
Mr.. .Cowley wagged his head good
humoredly.
Il see what you are driving at; but
was never more sober in my life,
Mrs. G. And we'll have the floor up
tomorrow, and you shall see II, during
the rest OF the year. we hear anything
more Of the cradle"
Mrs. Cowley held her peace. Expe-
rience had taught her that argument
In O. case like this would be OF no use.
But II In her heart ahe had harbored
any little sweet scruple as TO the pro-
prlety OF tho plan by which tho young
people intended 10 dialodge her lord
ana master from the strange home he
had chosen. Il vanished from that hour
and she stood az deeply committed 10
the ghost scheme AZ any one among
them all
Where Ia ROsef" asked Mr. Cow.
Icy. looking up suddenly.
Hrs, cowley bluahed up 10 lhe eyes.