g personal fear of burglars.

"Oh! I have several little plans for their reception," replied the
lady, with a quiet smile. There's a bell in the corner there, which was
meant for the parish church, but was thought to be a little too small.
I bought it, had a handle affixed to it, as you see, and should ring it
at an open window if the house were attempted.

"But they might rush in at the door and stop you--kill you even!"
suggested the other, with a shudder.

"Have you not observed," said Miss Stivergill, "that I lock my door on
the inside? Besides, I have other little appliances which I shall
explain to you in the morning, for I scorn to be dependent on a
man-servant for protection. There's a revolver in that drawer beside
you"--Miss Lillycrop shrank from the drawer in question--"but I would
only use it in the last extremity, for I am not fond of taking human
life. Indeed, I would decline to do so even to save my own, but I
should have no objection to maim. Injuries about the legs or feet might
do burglars spiritual as well as physical good in the long-run, besides
being beneficial to society.--Now, my dear, good-night."

Miss Stivergill extinguished the candle as violently as she would have
maimed a burglar, and poor Miss Lillycrop's heart leapt as she was
suddenly plunged into total darkness--for she was naturally timid, and
could not help it.

For some time both ladies lay perfectly still; the hostess enjoying that
placid period which precedes slumber; the guest quaking with fear caused
by the thoughts that the recent conversation had raised.

Presently Miss Lillycrop raised herself on one elbow, and glared in the
direction of her friend's bed so awfully that her eyes all but shone in
the dark.

"Did you hear THAT, dear?" she asked, in a low whisper.

"Of course I did," replied Miss Stivergill aloud. "Hush! listen."

They listened and heard "that" again. There could be no doubt about
it--a curious scratching sound at the dining-room window immediately
below theirs.

"Rats," said Miss Stivergill in a low voice.

"Oh! I _do_ hope so," whispered Miss Lillycrop. She entertained an
inexpressible loathing of rats, but compared with burglars they were as
bosom friends whom she would have welcomed with a glad shudder.

In a few minutes the scratching ceased and a bolt or spring snapped.
The wildest of rats never made a sound like that! Miss Lillycrop sat
bolt up in her bed, transfixed with horror, a