o happy that
neither felt it possible they had ever been at odds.

When, at last, Dorothy drew back and rose, Gwen still clung to her
hand, and penitently said:

"But that isn't all. There's a lot more to tell that, maybe, will make
you despise me worse than ever. I've done--"

"No matter what, dearest. You've talked quite enough for to-night and
Dorothy should be in bed. Bid one another good night, my dears, and
meet again to-morrow;" interrupted Lady Jane, who had quietly
returned.

So Dorothy departed, and with a happier heart than she had had since
her coming to Oak Knowe; for now there was nobody there with whom she
was at discord.

But--was there not?

Gayly tripping down the long corridor, humming a merry air and hoping
that she hadn't yet broken the retiring-rule, she stopped short on the
way. Something or somebody was far ahead of her, moving with utmost
caution against noise, yet himself, or itself, making a peculiar
rat-a-tat-tat upon the polished boards.

Instantly Dorothy hushed her light song and slackened her steps. The
passage was dimly lighted for it was rarely used, leading as it did to
the distant servants' quarters and ending in a great drying-room above
the laundry. Even this drying-room was almost given up to the storage
of trunks and other things, the laundry itself being more convenient
for all its requirements.

Rumors came back to her of the burglaries which the kitchen-folk had
declared had been frequent of late, none more serious than the loss of
a dinner provided and the strange rifling of safes and cupboard. Such
had happened weeks before, then apparently ceased; but they had begun
again of late; with added rumors of strange noises heard at night, and
in the quieter hours of the day.

The faculty had tried to keep these fresh rumors from the pupils'
ears, but they had leaked out. Yet no real investigation had been
made. It was a busy household, both above and below stairs; and as is
usual, what is "everybody's business is nobody's" and things were left
to run their course.

But now, was the burglar real? And had Dorothy come suddenly upon his
track? If she only could find out!

Without fear of consequences to herself and forgetful of that
retiring-rule she tip-toed noiselessly in the wake of whatever was in
advance, and so came at last to the door of the drying-room. It stood
ajar and whatever had preceded her passed beyond it as the girl came
to it.

She also entered, cur