ed to
make Grizel no less unhappy. To her vehement attempt to draw her
mother's attention she got no response; the Painted Lady was hearkening
intently for some sound other than Grizel's voice, and only once did she
look at her child. Then it was with cruel, ugly eyes, and at the same
moment she shoved Grizel aside so viciously that it was almost a blow.
Grizel sat down sorrowfully beside her doll, like one aware that she
could do no more, and her mother at once forgot her. What was she
listening for so eagerly? Was it for the gallop of a horse? Tommy
strained his ears.

"Elspeth--speak low--do you hear anything?"

"No; I'm ower fleid to listen."

"Whisht! do you no hear a horse?"

"No, everything's terrible still. Do you hear a horse?"

"I--I think I do, but far awa'."

His imagination was on fire. Did he hear a distant galloping or did he
only make himself hear it? He had bent his head, and Elspeth, looking
affrighted into his face, whispered, "I hear it too, oh, Tommy, so do
I!"

And the Painted Lady had heard it. She kissed her hand toward the Den
several times, and each time Tommy seemed to hear that distant
galloping. All the sweetness had returned to her face now, and with it a
surging joy, and she rocked her arms exultantly, but quickly controlled
them lest Grizel should see. For evidently Grizel must be cheated, and
so the Painted Lady became very sly. She slipped off her shoes to be
able to make her preparations noiselessly, and though at all other times
her face expressed the rapture of love, when she glanced at her child it
was suspiciously and with a gleam of hatred. Her preparations were for
going out. She was long at the famous mirror, and when she left it her
hair was elaborately dressed and her face so transformed that first
Tommy exclaimed "Bonny!" and then corrected himself with a scornful
"Paint!" On her feet she put a foolish little pair of red shoes, on her
head a hat too gay with flowers, and across her shoulders a flimsy white
shawl at which the night air of Thrums would laugh. Her every movement
was light and cautious and accompanied by side-glances at Grizel, who
occasionally looked at her, when the Painted Lady immediately pretended
to be tending her plants again. She spoke to Grizel sweetly to deceive
her, and shot baleful glances at her next moment. Tommy saw that Grizel
had taken up her doll once more and was squeezing it to her breast. She
knew very well what was going on behind h