r Alice."

With a jerk Mrs. Grundy opened the door, and putting a pint cup two
thirds full of blue milk in Mary's hand, she hastily shut and fastened
it again. Quick as her movements were, Mary caught a smell of strong
green tea, and the sight of a sugar bowl and a slice of white bread.
She knew now why the door was buttoned, but thinking it was none of
her business, she started to return to the kitchen. As she passed the
outer door, an old gray-haired man, with a face perfectly simple and
foolish in its expression, stepped towards her, stretching out his
hands as if to reach her. With a loud cry she rushed headlong into the
kitchen, where one of the women was still sitting.

"What's broke loose now?" asked the woman, to which Mary replied,
"Look at him!" at the same time pointing to the man, who with his hand
thrust out was still advancing towards her.

"Don't be scared," said the woman. "It's uncle Peter. Let him touch
you and he'll go off;" but Mary didn't choose to be touched, and
retreating towards the chamber door, she fled rapidly up the stairs.

This time she was not accosted by any one, but as she passed the dark
closet, she was surprised to hear a musical voice singing the national
air of her own country, and she wondered, too, at the taste of the
singer in finishing every verse with "God save Miss Grundy."

That night Alice, who missed her cradle, was unusually restless, and
Mary, remembering Mrs. Grundy's threat, carried her in her arms until
after midnight. Then without undressing she threw herself upon the
bed, and, for the first time in many weeks, dreamed of George and his
parting promise to see her again. The next morning when she awoke she
found Mr. Parker's prediction verified, for the clouds were pouring
rain. "Billy won't come to-day," was her first thought, and throwing
herself upon the floor she burst into tears, wishing as she had once
done before that she had died with her mother.

In the midst of her grief the door was pushed hastily open, and Mrs.
Grundy's harsh voice exclaimed, "Wall, so you are up at last, hey? I
didn't know but you was goin' to take it upon you to sleep over, but
that don't answer here."

"Is it after breakfast time?" asked Mary.

"After breakfast time," repeated Mrs. Grundy. "No, but I guess you'll
find there's something to do before breakfast, or did you think we's
goin' to support you in idleness?"

Here, touched perhaps by the pale, tearful face uplifted to he