"Not a bit," assented The Seraph, cheerily. "She gets weaker evwy day, and
I get stwonger."

We rushed upon Mary Ellen then with the whole story of our new friends,
dwelling, especially, upon our visit below stairs, and the rollicking men
and maid-servants we found there.

"They were drinking beer-and-gin," concluded Angel, "and the scullery-maid
did a breakdown for us in a pair of hunting boots."

"It beats all," said Mary Ellen, leaning on her broom, "what kapes me in a
dull place like this, whin there do be sich wild goin's on just around the
corner like. I'd give a month's wage to see thim folks."

"Come around with me," suggested Angel, "and I'll introduce you."

"Oh, no, Masther Angel. Misther Watlin, me young man, wouldn't want me to
be goin' into mixed company widout him. An it do seem a pity, too, since I
have me new blue dress, for if ever I look lovely, I look lovely in blue."
And she attacked the tea-leaves with a lagging broom.

Mrs. Handsomebody, when dinner was over, fixed us with her cold grey eye,
and said:

"Since you have proved yourselves utterly untrustworthy, you shall be
locked in your bedroom, during my absence this afternoon. Mary Ellen, who
will be engaged in cleaning the coal cellar, has been instructed to supply
you with bread and milk at four o'clock. By exemplary behaviour today, you
will ensure a return to your customary privileges tomorrow."

VI

The prison door was locked. The gaoler gone.

Thus our Saturday half-holiday!

Angel and I threw ourselves, face downward, on the bed. Not so The Seraph.
Folding his arms, which were almost too short to fold, he stood before the
single window, gazing through its grimy glass at the brick wall opposite,
as though determined to find something cheerful in the outlook.

Aeons passed.

Familiar faces began to leer at me from the pattern in the wall-paper.
Angel was despondently counting out his money on the counter-pane, and
trying to make three half-pennys and a penny with a hole through it, look
like affluence.

Suddenly there came a rattling of hard particles on the pane. As we stared
at each other in surprise, another volley followed. It was a signal, and no
mistake! Already The Seraph was tapping the window in response. A moment of
violent exertion passed before we could get it open. Then, thrusting out
our heads we discovered Simon standing in the passage below, his upturned
face wearing an anxious grin.

"Thought I'd never g