ied at once.

"And you mean to tell me that he's in there?" he asked, at last, grinning
broadly.

"Sorra a place else," replied Mary Ellen, "and you're to guard the door
till the police comes."

"Guard nothink," said Mr. Watlin, belligerently, "I'll go right in and
tackle him single-handed."

With one accord The Seraph and I flung ourselves before the door.

"You shan't hurt him," we cried, "he's our own Granfa! We'll fight you
first."

Mr. Watlin made some playful passes at our stomachs. "Let's all have a
fight," he chaffed. Then he said--"Hullo, here's the old 'un himself, and
quite a character to be sure. No wonder Mrs. 'Andsomebody is in a taking."

The door had opened behind us; Granfa stood revealed, wearing his ragged
coat and hat, and carrying his stick and little bundle, wrapped in a red
handkerchief.

"Don't 'ee get in a frizz, my dears, about me," he said with dignity. "I be
leaving this instant moment. As for you--" addressing Mr. Watlin--"you be a
gert beefy critter, but don't be too sure you could tackle me,
single-handed. I be terr'ble full of power when I'm roused, and it takes a
deal to calm me down again." And he trotted to the head of the stairs and
began to descend.

The Seraph and I kept close on either side of him, tightly holding his
hands.

"She's in the parlour," I whispered, "and the Bishop's with her. Shall you
go in?"

Granfa nodded solemnly.

We stood in the doorway of the sacred apartment. Even there, the spirit of
the May morning seemed to have penetrated, for in the glass case a stuffed
oriole had cocked his eye with a longing look at a withered nest that hung
before him.

Mrs. Handsomebody had just finished her recital. "I thought I should have
swooned," she said.

"And no wonder," replied the Bishop, "I'm quite sure I should have." Then
he turned to us with a look of mingled amusement and concern. "Now what do
you suppose I'm going to do with you Granfa?"

"Oh, parson, don't 'ee send me back to the work'us! If I bide there any
longer, 'twill break my fine spirit."

"I am going to propose something very different," said the Bishop, kindly.
"We need another sweeper and duster about the Cathedral, and if you think
you are strong enough to wield a broom, you may earn a decent living. I
know a very kind charwoman, who would lodge and board you, and you would be
near your little--"

"Gwandsons," said The Seraph.

"Silence!" ordered Mrs. Handsomebody.

"You would be