' a green sash. Teen's gaun to mak'
it. That's what for I'll no' gang to service, as my mither's aye
wantin'. No me, to be ordered aboot like a beast! I'll hae my liberty,
an' maybe some day I'll hae servants o' my ain. Naebody kens. Lord
Bellew's bride in the story was only the gatekeeper's dochter, an'
that's her on the horse, look, after she was my Lady Bellew. Here's
Teen.'

Breathless and panting, the little seamstress returned with the cookies,
and made a little spread on the bare table. Gladys was not hungry, but
she accepted the proffered hospitality frankly as it was given, though
the tea tasted like a decoction of bitter aloes. She was horrified to
behold the little seamstress swallowing it in great mouthfuls without
sugar or cream. Gladys had sometimes been hungry, but she knew nothing
of that painful physical sinking, the result of exhausting work and
continued insufficiency of food, which the poisonous brew for the time
being overcame. Over the tea the trio waxed quite talkative, and 'Lord
Bellew's Bride' was discussed to its minutest detail. Gladys wondered at
the familiarity of the two girls with dukes and duchesses, and other
persons of high degree, of whom they spoke familiarly, as if they were
next-door neighbours. Although she was very young, and knew nothing of
their life, she gathered that its monotony was very irksome to them, and
that they were compelled to seek something, if only in the pages of an
unwholesome and unreal story, to lift them out of it. It was evident
that Liz, at least, chafed intolerably under her present lot, and that
her head was full of dreams and imaginings regarding the splendours so
vividly described in the story. All this time Gladys also wondered more
than once what had become of the parents, of whom there was no sign
visible, and at last she ventured to put the question--

'Is your mother not at home to-day?'

This question sent the little seamstress off into a fit of silent
laughter, which brought a dull touch of colour into her cheeks, and very
much improved her appearance. Liz also gave a little short laugh, which
had no mirth in it.

'No, she's no' at hame; she's payin' a visit at Duke Street.' And the
little grave nod with which Gladys received this information further
intensified the amusement of the two.

'Ye dinna see through it,' said Liz, 'so I'll gie ye'd flat. My faither
and mither are in the gaol for fechtin'. They were nailed on Saturday
nicht.'

'O