ments together, and made them into a little parcel; and took from my wardrobe one change of linen, and the best stuff dress I possessed; and I picked out my stoutest boots and warmest jacket and simplest bonnet and a thick shawl, and laid them all together.

These arrangements being made, and as I considered that my cousin must by this time be in bed and asleep, I put on a pair of soft slippers, and taking my candle in my hand, crept down stairs to the library, where I hunted about until I found a Bradshaw.

Having found Bradshaw, I turned at once to the one particular page where I knew I should discover what was the first train in the morning on the Longhampton branch line to London; and I ascertained that there was one that left Longhampton as early as half-past six. It stopped also at Crawdour at five minutes to seven; but the station master at Crawdour, and the porter, who was a brother of Joe

96

Todd's, both knew me quite as well as I knew them, and that was well enough for me to recognise them in any part of the world.

Having put back Bradshaw in the place where I had found it, I returned to my own room, paying a visit to Sarah on the way.

Sarah was very fast asleep, and it was hard work to wake her; but I succeeded at last, and without arousing the kitchen-maid who shared her room.

Lawk, miss; is it you?" said Sarah, perceiving, after vigorously rubbing her eyes, that it was not a ghost who had thus intruded on her slumbers; "you give me such a start, miss!"

I wondered whether the spectres who usually visited Sarah, had to shake her by the shoulder so hard as I had been obliged to do, to startle her.

"Sarah! Listen to me!"

Yes, miss."

"Don't call me until ten o'clock to-morrow; I am not going down to breakfast."

"Yes, miss.”

"Do you understand me, Sarah? I am not going down to breakfast; and I don't want to be called before ten."

"Yes, miss. Indeed you wants a sleep, miss; you ought to be in bed now."

"I am going to bed now.

until ten."

Remember, not

"Yes, miss; not until ten. An' what'll you have for breakfast, miss? Cook's got another chop that she's a keeping on purpose.'

"Yes; that, anything. It does not signify much, Sarah. Cook is very kind; tell her I said so, Sarah. Good night, Sarah."

And then I kissed the under-housemaid, —an action even more unprecedented than that of my kissing my cousin Mountiford.

"Law, bless you, miss!" said Sarah, embracing me in an overflow of sympathy, "Don't

VOL. II.

H

give way, miss! Not for them old wretches, miss. I wish I had the settling of them,I do!"

"Goo-good night, Sarah! Mi—mind, not till ten o'clock. Do you remember, Sarah ?” And a long sleep

Yes, miss ; ten o'clock.

will do you good, miss."

And then I bade Sarah good night again, and departed; the kitchen-maid having kept up a snoring accompaniment to the whole of this conversation.

I went to bed then without any delay, beyond searching for a small black leather bag which I possessed, and placing it by my

thick boots.

CHAPTER VI.

BUT though I lay

that I slept much.

FLIGHT.

down in bed, I cannot say My brain was too excited either to rest itself, or let my body rest; and I tossed and turned to and fro for a long time. When at last I did sleep, it was but for a short time; then I started up in a wide-awake terror of having overslept myself. I lit my candle, and looked at my watch; it was four o'clock. Longhampton was five miles from Crawdour; it would take me quite an hour and a half to walk there, particularly carrying my black leather bag and shawl; so I rose at once.

I dressed quickly,-putting on the stuff dress, strong boots, warm jacket, and bonnet,-and then packed my bag.

One thing I could not leave behind-the It took up a good deal of space, two

museum.