wall, and covered with
both her hands. Here she was free to cry as loud as she pleased; for
Mrs. Sullivan was gone out, and there was no one in the house to hear
her.

But she had not indulged long in her tantrum when the gate at the end of
the yard closed with a bang, and footsteps were heard coming towards Mr.
Flint's door. Gerty's attention was arrested, for she knew by the sound
that a stranger was approaching. With a strong effort she controlled
herself so as to keep quiet. There was a knock at the door, but Gerty
did not reply to it, remaining concealed behind the bed. The knock was
not repeated, but the stranger lifted the latch and walked in.

"There doesn't seem to be any one at home," said a female voice, "what a
pity."

"Isn't there? I'm sorry," replied another, in the sweet musical tones of
Miss Graham. Gerty knew the voice at once.

"I thought you'd better not come here yourself," rejoined the first
speaker, who was no other than Mrs. Ellis, the identical lady whom Gerty
had so frightened and disconcerted.

"Oh, I don't regret coming," said Emily. "You can leave me here while
you go to your sister's, and very likely Mr. Flint or the little girl
will come home in the meantime."

"It don't become you, Miss Emily, to be carried round everywhere, and
left, like an express parcel, till called for. You caught a horrid cold
that you're hardly well of now, waiting there in the church for the
minister; and Mr. Graham will be finding fault next."

"Oh, no, Mrs. Ellis; it's very comfortable here; the church must have
been damp, I think. Come, put me in Mr. Flint's arm-chair, and I can
make myself quite contented."

"Well, at any rate," said Mrs. Ellis, "I'll make up a good fire in this
stove before I go."

As she spoke, the energetic housekeeper seized the poker, and, after
stirring up the coals, and making free with all True's kindlewood,
waited till the fire burnt up, and then, having laid aside Emily's
cloak, went away with the same firm step with which she had come, and
which had so overpowered Emily's noiseless tread, that Gerty had only
anticipated the arrival of a single guest. As soon as Gerty knew that
Mrs. Ellis had really departed, she suspended her efforts at
self-control, and, with a deep-drawn sigh, gasped out, "O dear! O dear!"

"Why, Gerty!" exclaimed Emily, "is that you?"

"Yes," sobbed Gerty.

"Come here."

The child waited no second bidding, but, starting up, ran, threw herself
on