r. Brownlee, whose good opinion she
especially desired to retain. At the end of the hour, Mrs. Pennypoker
herself appeared on the threshold, with a plate of crackers in one hand
and a glass of water in the other. Without a word to the captive, she
set the meagre lunch upon the table, and withdrew, locking the door
behind her. At this last insult, Allie's temper flashed up again. It was
enough to punish her so severely; but it was not necessary to distrust
her honor, and lock her up like a criminal. At least, she would not
touch the rations her jailer had left. Deliberately she picked them up,
and, going to the window, she threw out the water with a splash, and
tossed the crackers after it. She hesitated for a moment, and then
hurled the plate and glass after them, with an angry determination which
sent them crashing far across the uneven ground beneath her window. That
done, she sat down to read with a quieted conscience.

Through the closed door she could hear Mrs. Pennypoker moving to and fro
about the house, and now and again Vic's baby voice fell upon her ears;
but, for the most part, the house was very still. At length she heard
some one calling her name in a low voice. Throwing aside her book, she
went to the door and listened intently, till she heard the call
repeated. This time it was evident that the sound came from outside the
window. She hurried across the room and threw it wide open. In a moment
more Charlie had scrambled into the room.

"Hullo!" he remarked, as he tossed his cap into a chair. "You're awfully
warm in here, so let's leave the window open. We're safe enough, for
Mrs. Pennypoker can't hear us. Besides, Dr. Hornblower is in the parlor
talking to her, and she won't know anything more to-day."

"But what are you going to do?" asked Allie, watching him in amazement,
as he seated himself at his ease and unbuttoned his light gray coat, to
expose to view a great round parcel concealed inside it.

"I'm going to spend the afternoon with you, of course," returned Charlie
composedly. "You didn't s'pose I was going back on you after the way you
stuck to me last June? Well, not much! We could climb out of the window
and go off, but she'd be sure to find it out, and that would only make
it worse, so we'll stay here and have a lark."

"You're a dear old boy, Charlie!" And Allie embraced him tempestuously.
"But how did you ever stand it to be shut in here so long, last summer?
This last hour has 'most kill