ong and don't make a noise."

They went downstairs noiselessly, and paused when they reached the
hall. The sounds came from the drawing-room. Miss Penfold led the way
to the door, turned the handle, and flung it open. Three men were seen
in the act of packing up some of the valuables. They started up with
an exclamation. Miss Penfold fired, and there was a cry of pain. A
moment later there was a roar as the blunderbuss went off, the
contents lodging in the ceiling. "Without hesitating for a moment the
three men made a rush to the open window, and were gone.

"John Wilton," Miss Penfold said sternly, "you are a fool! I give you
a month's notice from to-day. Fasten up the shutters again and all go
off to bed." And without another word she turned and went upstairs. As
she reached the landing her sister ran out of her room in great alarm.

"What is the matter, Charlotte? I heard two explosions."

"It is nothing, Eleanor. Some men broke into the house, and we have
gone down and frightened them away. I did not think it was worth while
disturbing you, as you are so easily alarmed; but it is all over now,
and the servants are shutting up the house again. I will tell you all
about it in the morning. Go to bed again at once, or you will catch
cold. Good-night."

Directly Miss Penfold had gone upstairs a hubbub of talk burst out
from the female servants.

"It's disgraceful, John! With that great gun you ought to have shot
them all dead."

"It went off by itself," John said, "just as I was going to level it."

"Went off by itself!" the cook said scornfully. "It never went off of
itself when it was hanging above your bed. Guns never go off by
themselves, no more than girls do. I am surprised at you, John. Why, I
have heard you talk a score of times of what you would do if burglars
came; and now here you have been and knocked a big hole in the
ceiling. Why missus has twenty times as much courage as you have. She
shot straight, she did, for I heard one of the men give a squalk. Oh,
you men are pitiful creatures, after all!"

"You wouldn't have been so mighty brave, cook, if Miss Penfold and me
hadn't been in front of you."

"A lot of use you were!" the cook retorted. "Six feet one of flesh,
and no heart in it! Why, I would have knocked him down with a broom if
I had been within reach of him."

"Yes, that we would, cook," the under-housemaid said. "I had got my
poker ready, and I would have given it them nicely if I could