an's, long before the rest of the
household. I suppose they thought I went fair off to sleep, too; for
this part of the house was always deserted after I had gone into my
room.

It was thus I made the discovery that every night, before retiring
herself, Janet came to the library and stayed a few minutes; and I could
hear her sometimes moving about books on the table.

For a considerable time I felt hopelessly puzzled. All at once it struck
me--girls are the same all over the world and in all ages--that she
must come there to look at the photograph of someone she cared for; to
say good-night to it; perhaps to murmur a prayer over it. Girls are made
so. Doubtless she would take it away with her altogether to some place
more convenient for such oblations but that Duncan was much in the
library, and had lynx-eyes.

I grew troubled, these nocturnal visits continuing, and wished that I
could help her. I thought if I could only find out whose the photograph
was, perhaps I might.

One night I could bear it no longer. I am aware that I must seem a most
prying old woman; but somehow or other this library was fated to be
mixed up with my life. I rose and just peeped round the library door to
see what she was doing. She was standing in the clear moonlight--not, as
I had expected, with an open photograph album, but holding a little
miniature, taken from its place on the table. I went back to bed, my
heart bounding. I knew now! I did not sleep much that night.

Perhaps I acted rashly--but I thought I should apply to Paul for help. I
was sure, from various signs, that he did not hate my Janet's bairn now.
I told him of these stolen visits to the library, and tried to persuade
him to conceal himself and watch there--for the purpose of finding out
whose the portrait was. I did not tell him, deceitful woman that I was,
that I myself already knew. Old people like him and me, I said, should
help the child out of her trouble. I must have startled him terribly: he
grew, at first, so white. Then he looked at me long and intently; and
by-and-by began to cross-examine me. We were canny Scots, both of us,
and fenced.

"You say it was a photograph you saw her with?"

"I did not say I saw her."

"You have heard her open an album?"

"I have heard her move books."

I have seen the time when I could have broken a lance with the best; but
I was growing old, and he finished by getting me into rather a
hobble--when he abruptly left me, a gr