.

The sight of her turned Mrs. Handsomebody's terror into rage.

"Shameful, depraved girl," she gobbled, "who is this you have in your
chamber? Ah, I've caught you! The ingratitude! You terrible old
wretch!"--this to Granfa--"close that door instantly while I send for the
police!"

By this time we had ventured into the hall, and, Mrs. Handsomebody, seeing
us groaned: "Under the roof with these innocent children--I thought that in
my care their innocence was safe."

"It was thim same innocents that brung him here," said Mary Ellen, stung
into disclosing our part in the scandal, "and it's himsilf is their own
grandfather."

Mrs. Handsomebody's gaze was appalling as she turned it on us three.

"You? Your grandfather? What fresh insanity is this?"

"You see," I explained, keeping my fascinated eyes on the wart on her chin,
"he's just come for a little visit, and he really is our Granfa, and we
love him awfully."

"Won't have him abused," spluttered The Seraph.

"Be rights," added Mary Ellen, solemnly, "he should have the best spare
room, the byes' own aged relation."

"I shall sift this affair," said Mrs. Handsomebody, "to its most appalling
dregs. You, Alexander"--to The Seraph--"are the smallest, look through that
keyhole and inform me what he is doing."

The Seraph obeyed, chuckling. "He's took to the bed again--all exceptin'
one leg--"

"We can dispense with detail," cut in our governess. "Is he at all
violent?"

"Bless you, no," replied Mary Ellen. "He's as mild mannered as can be and
an old friend of the Bishop's, so they say. 'Twas him that brung him home
in his pony trap."

"The Bishop! I must see the Bishop instantly."

As she spoke a stentorian shout of "Butcher!" came from the regions below.

"There," she said, to Mary Ellen, "is young Watlin. Call him up instantly;
and he shall guard the door while I dress. Explain the situation very
briefly to him. It would be well to arm him with a poker, in case the old
man becomes violent. David, go to Bishop Torrance and tell him that I hope
he will call on me at once, if possible. Put on your clothes, but you may
leave your hair in disorder, just as it is. It will serve to show the
Bishop into what a state of panic this household has been thrown."

She was obliged to retire hastily to her room because of the arrival of Mr.
Watlin.

It was some time before Mary Ellen, and The Seraph, and I could make him
understand what had happened, though we all tr