his head with a good-humoured smile.

"They do not alway then," added Mistress Collenwood drily.

"Well, well!" said the Justice, "you wot well enough, every one of you,
the matter must go no further. Mind you, niece Gertrude, you slip it
not forth to some chattering maid of your acquaintance."

"Oh, I am safe enough, good Uncle," laughed Gertrude.

"Indeed, I hope we be all discreet in such dangerous matters," added
Mistress Grena.

Only Mrs Collenwood and Pandora were silent.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

OUT OF HEART.

"Aunt Grena," said Pandora Roberts, "if it stand with your pleasure, may
I have leave to visit little Christabel Hall this fine morrow?"

"Thou shouldst, my dear heart, with my very good will," was the kindly
answer; "but misfortunately, at this time I am not in case to accompany
thee."

Pandora did not reply, but she looked greatly disappointed, when her
aunt, Mistress Collenwood, suggested--

"Could not old Osmund go with her, Grena?"

"He might, if it were matter of grave concern," replied Mistress Grena,
in a tone which indicated that the concern would have to be very grave
indeed.

"Well, Dorrie, thou mayest clear those troubled eyes," said Mistress
Collenwood with a smile: "for I myself will accompany thee to visit thy
friend."

"You, Aunt Francis? Oh, I thank you!" said Pandora joyfully, passing in
a moment from distress to delight.

In half-an-hour the horses were at the door. Not much was said during
the ride to Staplehurst, except that Pandora told her aunt that
Christabel was an invalid child, and that her father was the manager at
the cloth-works. Christie, who of course was always at home, was
rejoiced to see her friend; and Mistress Collenwood inquired closely
into her ailments, ending with the suggestion, which she desired might
be conveyed to her father, that Christie should rub her limbs with oil
of swallows, and take a medicine compounded of plantain water and
"powder of swine's claws."

"Father's in the house," said Christie. "He had to return back for some
papers the master desired."

Roger Hall confirmed her words by coming into the room in a few minutes,
with the papers in his hand which he had been sent to seek. He made a
reverence to his master's relatives.

"Master Hall," said Mrs Collenwood, "I would gladly have a word with
you touching your little maid's ailments."

Roger detected her desire to say something to him out of Christie's
hearing, and le