d air, and
I sid her, at the wall, in the alcove as my aunt used to call it,
which was a recess where the state bed used to stand in ald times wi'
a door open wide, and her hands gropin' in at somethin' was there. I
never sid that door befoore. And she turned round to me, like a thing
on a pivot, flyrin', and all at once the room was dark, and I standin'
at the far side o' the bed; I don't know how I got there, and I found
my tongue at last, and if I did na blare a yellock, rennin' down the
gallery and almost pulled Mrs. Wyvern's door off t' hooks, and
frighted her half out o' wits.

"Ye may guess I did na sleep that night; and wi' the first light, down
wi' me to my aunt, as fast as my two legs cud carry me.

"Well my aunt did na frump or flite me, as I thought she would, but
she held me by the hand, and looked hard in my face all the time. And
she telt me not to be feared; and says she:

"'Hed the appearance a key in its hand?'

"'Yes,' says I, bringin' it to mind, 'a big key in a queer brass
handle.'

"'Stop a bit,' says she, lettin' go ma hand, and openin' the
cupboard-door. 'Was it like this?' says she, takin' one out in her
fingers, and showing it to me, with a dark look in my face.

"'That was it,' says I, quick enough.

"'Are ye sure?' she says, turnin' it round.

"'Sart,' says I, and I felt like I was gain' to faint when I sid it.

"'Well, that will do, child,' says she, saftly thinkin', and she
locked it up again.

"'The squire himself will be here today, before twelve o'clock, and ye
must tell him all about it,' says she, thinkin', 'and I suppose I'll
be leavin' soon, and so the best thing for the present is, that ye
should go home this afternoon, and I'll look out another place for you
when I can.'

"Fain was I, ye may guess, at that word.

"My aunt packed up my things for me, and the three pounds that was due
to me, to bring home, and Squire Crowl himself came down to Applewale
that day, a handsome man, about thirty years ald. It was the second
time I sid him. But this was the first time he spoke to me.

"My aunt talked wi' him in the housekeeper's room, and I don't know
what they said. I was a bit feared on the squire, he bein' a great
gentleman down in Lexhoe, and I darn't go near till I was called. And
says he, smilin':

"'What's a' this ye a sen, child? it mun be a dream, for ye know
there's na sic a thing as a bo or a freet in a' the world. But
whatever it was, ma little maid, sit ye