noise--'ih-ih-ih--Ah-umph!' something like that. Then I knew it was
the goat, that I'd heard pat-pat-pattering along the hall last night
and that I'd followed. And I guessed it was Jack, instead of a
burglar, who'd rushed past me and locked me in. I was mighty glad to
see anybody, even a goat, and I opened the gate to the place and Baal
jumped out. He was tied to that board--he'd pulled it off the gate,
and was as glad to see me as I was him. That little sort of cupboard,
or cubby-hole, had lots of excelsior in it; I guess it had come around
crockery or something, and that was where Baal slept. There was a tin
box there, too, and I opened it. I was glad enough then! For it was
half full of cakes and apples and a lemon pie, that you call a
'Christchurch' up here in Canada; and before I knew it Baal had his
nose in the box, like he was used to eating out of it, and I had to
slap his nose to make him let me have a share. So I'm not hungry and
all I care is that I have made you all so worried."

But already that was almost forgotten, though Miss Muriel's curiosity
was not yet satisfied.

"Jack, are you in the habit of keeping that animal here, in this
room?"

"Yes--yes, Ma'am; times I am. Other times he stays in the old
shed down by the brook. Most of the men knew I had him; Michael
did, anyhow. He never said nothing again' it;" answered the boy,
defiantly, trying to shift responsibility to the old porter, the
most trusted servant of the house.

"No, I cannot imagine Michael meddling with you and your foolishness;
and for a lad who's lived so long at a great school, I wonder to hear
such bad grammar from your lips. How did you get Baal into this room
without being detected in it?"

"Why, Ma'am, that was easy as preachin'. That back end, outside steps,
what leads up from the ground for carrying up wet clothes, it used to
be. He comes up that way, for goats can climb any place. Leastwise,
Baal can, and the door's never locked no more, 'cause I lost the key;"
answered Jack, who was now the center of attention and proud of the
fact.

"Very well, Jack. That will do. Kindly see to it that Baal is
permanently removed from Oak Knowe, and--" She paused for a moment, as
if about to add more, then quietly moved away, with Dorothy beside her
and all her now happy flock following.

Never before had the laughter and chatter of her girls sounded so
musical in her ears, nor her own heart been lighter than now, in its
rebound fro