t museum of dead phrases, are very quick
to see the live facts which are going on about them. Mr. Gridley had met
her, more or less accidentally, several times of late, and inquired very
particularly about Myrtle, and how she got along at the house since her
return, and whether she was getting over her headaches, and how they
treated her in the family.

"Bliss your heart, Mr. Gridley," Kitty said to him on one of these
occasions, "it's ahltogither changed intirely. Sure Miss Myrtle does
jist iverythin' she likes, an' Miss Withers niver middles with her at
ahl, excip' jist to roll up her eyes an' look as if she was the
hid-moorner at a funeril whiniver Miss Myrtle says she wants to do this
or that, or to go here or there. It's Miss Badlam that's ahlwiz after
her, an' a-watchin' her,--she thinks she's cunnin'er than a cat, but
there 's other folks that's got eyes an' ears as good as hers. It's that
Mr. Bridshaw that's a puttin' his head together with Miss Badlam for
somethin' or other, an' I don't believe there's no good in it, for what
does the fox an' the cat be a whisperin' about, as if they was thaves an'
incind'ries, if there ain't no mischief hatchin'?"

"Why, Kitty," he said, "what mischief do you think is going on, and who
is to be harmed?"

"O Mr. Gridley," she answered, "if there ain't somebody to be chated
somehow, then I don't know an honest man and woman from two rogues. An'
have n't I heard Miss Myrtle's name whispered as if there was somethin'
goin' on agin' her, an' they was afraid the tahk would go out through the
doors, an' up through the chimbley? I don't want to tell no tales, Mr.
Gridley, nor to hurt no honest body, for I'm a poor woman, Mr. Gridley,
but I comes of dacent folks, an' I vallies my repitation an' character as
much as if I was dressed in silks and satins instead of this mane old
gown, savin' your presence, which is the best I 've got, an' niver a
dollar to buy another. But if I iver I hears a word, Mr. Gridley, that
manes any kind of a mischief to Miss Myrtle,--the Lard bliss her soul an'
keep ahl the divils away from her!--I'll be runnin' straight down here to
tell ye ahl about it,--be right sure o' that, Mr. Gridley."

"Nothing must happen to Myrtle," he said, "that we can help. If you see
anything more that looks wrong, you had better come down here at once and
let me know, as you say you will. At once, you understand. And, Kitty, I
am a little particular about the dress of