Year: 1869

: sullen moods always ended in an on.
burst of hysterical sobs and tears
which did not cease till her littl
strength was utterly exhausted. whel
she would lapse into deep. deathlik
sleep as she lav on the floor, sleel


which would last for twelve or fourteen
: hours after which she would awake a
light and happy as a child, and call 70
food and brandy, and begin to dress he
dolls again, and to sing her little love
songs, as though she had not care il
J the world.


Peg and Madame had not been to


gethcr all this time without learning t


like one another, each in her own pecu


liar way. Peg. while being the mos


faithful and incorruptible ofjailers, still


contrived to secure for her charge many


little indnlgences, chiefly in the way o


food; for Madame had always beer


nice in her eating. and the fare at White


Grange was ordinarily of the coarsesl


kind. Madame was not ungrateful


and in her calmer and saner moments


would do her best TO reciprocate the


girl's kindness. Thus she taught Peg 70


improve her appearance by compress.


ing her waist, and keeping her shoulder


blades in their proper place, thereby


necessitating an upright carriage of the


person and as Madame prided herself
on her taste. aul was dexterous with
her needle. she so altered and improv-
ed Pegs SUNDAY frock-lengthcnin
the body and putting the sleeves. and
imparting 10 it such Il graceful fall be-
hlnd-that that young person felt she
had never cut such fashionable figure
before. Then she taught Peg how TO
4 dress her hair in q more elegant style.
and gave her the recipe for wash that
was warranted to beautify the com
/ pleXion, however tanned or frecklei it
might BE- Pegs heart was finally won
when Madame presented her with the
rings out Of her own ears only Peg
I was afraid 10 wear them. least her
I greedy Old father should force her 10
give them up, that he might pawn or
sell them.


Sometimes, in mild. open weather,
there would come over Madame a
desire 70 exchange her close shu,-up
room for the fresh air oltsid.. At
such times, she would induce Peg to
ask permission from the o.d man for
them 10 walk in the orchard for half an
hour. Sometimes the permission was
given, sometimes 1t was not. When
the answer was favourable, Madame
would wrap a thick shawl round her,
and taking Pegs arm, would pace till
she was tired the gravelled walk which
ran from end TO end of the neglected
strip Of ground which, by some strange
pervcr,ion of terms, was known ~ the
orchard Mad though Madame might
bc on soina points, She was never nad
enough 10 attempt to escape while
taking her outdoor exercise In "A
personal encounter. She would have
stool no chance against the stalwart
Peg and the tlcet-iooted farmers
daughter would have run her down be-
fore she hal got twenty yard, away


II was while taking one of these quiet
walks in charge Of Pcg that Madame's
sharp eyes caught sight of something
unusual lying halt-conceaIel among
the thick grass. She repasscd it again
and again before she could make out
clearly that it was nothing more than "A
rusty old knife. and then she could
have screamed aloud with all a maniac's
feaIful JOY a, sight Of such a priceless
treasure. But how To secure il with
on, being seen: Discngaging her arm
suddenly from Pegs she seated herself
on the grass close 10 the knife, 50 that
a fold OF her shawl hid it from view.
Alter that, II was easy TO push 1t un-
observed up her sleeve. When she got
back to her own room, and the key was
turned on her for the night, she brought
forth her treasure, and kissed il, and
stuffed her handke chief into her mouth
TO smother the wild bursts Of laughter
that would not be kept back when She
thought how cleverly she had deceived
them all, and what pretty things il was
possible To accomplish even with such
an ugly weapon as II rusty knife. There
was little bit broken away from the
under-part Of one Of the window-scats
leaving a small cavity between the
woodwork and the bricks aud there,
after much painful cogltation, she hid
her treasure.


Madame was in one Of her better
moods this wintry afternoon, bnt hard
La N 70 % -
shadows outside grew deeper, Peg.
too, became mute. and the silence was
bro ken only by the whir of the spin
ming wheel, or the weird muttering of
the wind in the wide old chimney.
At length Marie flung down her sew
ing with petulant air. There | can
see no long r. she exclaim.d so Elise.
poor darling, will have To go without
her petticoat tonight, for | can't ber
stitching by candle-light. Do. my
dear child, 20 down stairs. and bring
me upa cup oftea and a candle She
listened inteatly without starring till
Pegs footsteps had died away down
Stairs then she rose. and crossing the
floor with quick. Doiseless steps. drew
the knife frof its hlding,place. A few
more nights. and shall be Free she
<auttered to herself. The bar is nearly
through, and soon the elge will he emp
ty and the bird flown. Another windy
night she added, peering with white
face and straining eyes into the gather
ing gloom outside. The wind is
Marie's friend like the sound of his
rough voice like to hear him rattling
the doors and windows, and shaking
the crazy old house in his burly arms.
He comes across the waste at mid
night TO summon me to nv task.