A deep "Amen" followed, uttered by every one in the room except
Harry,--an omission that was noticed by more than one present.

"Harry was asleep," whispered Bessie, who had had some difficulty in
keeping her own eyes open.

Maud, to whom this was confided, did not contradict the little girl, but
she knew it was not so, and she wondered why Harry had not responded to
what everybody must wish for, she thought--at least every true
Englishman. No one saw anything of Harry after he left the room that
night, and Maud did not see him until the following afternoon. She
thought he was offended with her, and that this was the reason he kept
away from everybody, and when she saw him leaning on the fence of the
farm-yard, she determined to go and speak to him.

"I'm very sorry, Harry, if I have offended you," she said, as she drew
near the spot.

Harry started. "Maud, Maud, what shall I do?" he said, impulsively,
turning towards her and taking her hand.

Maud was only a year younger than himself, but she could not help
feeling alarmed at his words.

"What is the matter?" she said. "Prithee, tell me all about what is
troubling you."

But Harry shook his head, and tried to smile away her fears. "I have
been wishing to be a chicken, and by my faith I do wish it too," he
said.

"Marry, that is an old wish of mine," said Maud, trying to smile, but
looking down as the colour stole into her cheeks.

"You wish to be a chicken!" uttered Harry in astonishment. "By my troth,
I did not think you were so foolish, Maud."

"And wherefore not, wise sir? since you would nathless enter
chickenhood."

But instead of replying in the same gay, bantering tone, Harry sighed
deeply, and, still holding her hand, drew her into the field.

"It is quite true, Maud," he said. "I was actually wishing to be a
chicken, or anything but what I am--Harry Drury, of Hayslope Grange."

"Prithee, now tell me wherefore you wished this," said Maud.

Harry had always told her his secrets since she first came, a little
delicate girl, to live at the Grange.

"Now, marry, I can scarcely do that. But life is such a puzzle--such a
tangle--men seem to be put in the wrong places."

"And you think you have one of the wrong places?" said Maud.

Harry nodded. "I am beginning to feel sure of it," he said, sadly.

"Then put yourself in the right place," said Maud, quickly, without in
the least knowing to what he referred.

"By my faith, I cannot," he said, hus