ore rooms, and finally the boasted view of the sea!
After all, Hilda was obliged to admit to herself that the house was more
impressive than she had at first supposed. Although single-fronted, it
was deep, and there were two bedrooms on the first floor, and four
each--two large and two small--on the second and third. Eleven in all,
they had seen, of which three were occupied by the Watchetts, and one,
temporarily, by George Cannon. The rest were empty; but the season had
scarcely begun, and the Boutwoods were coming. George Cannon had said
grandly that Hilda must choose her room; she chose the smallest on the
top floor. The furniture, if shabby and old-fashioned, was everywhere
ample.

They descended, and not a word had been said about Sarah's room.

On the first-floor landing, where indeed the danger was acutest, they
were trapped by two of the Watchetts. These elderly ladies shot almost
roguishly out of the drawing-room, and by their smiles struck the
descending party into immobility.

"Oh! We saw you arrive, Mr. Cannon!" said the elder, shaking her head.
"So this is Miss Gailey! Good afternoon, Miss Gailey! So pleased to make
your acquaintance!"

There was handshaking. Then it was Hilda's turn.

"We're so sorry our eldest sister isn't here to welcome you to No. 59,"
said the younger. "She's had to go to London for the day. We're very
fond of No. 59. There's no place quite like it, to our minds. And we're
quite sure we shall be quite as comfortable with dear Miss Gailey as we
were with dear Mrs. Granville, poor thing. It was quite a wrench when we
had to say good-bye to her last night. Do come into the drawing-room,
please! There's a beautiful view of the sea!"

Sarah Gailey hesitated. A noise of bumping came from the hall below.

"I think that's the luggage," she said. The smile with which she forced
herself to respond to the fixed simper of the Watchetts seemed to cause
her horrible torment. She motioned nervously to George Cannon, who was
nearest the stairs.

"A little later, then! A little later, then!" said both the Watchetts,
bowing the party away with the most singular grimaces.

In the hall, a lad, perspiring and breathing quickly, stood behind the
trunks.

"Wait a moment," George Cannon said to him, and murmured to Sarah: "This
is the basement, here."

The middle-aged maid appeared at the kitchen door with a large loaded
tray. "Come along with that tea, Louisa," he added pleasantly.

He went fi