bad
as themselve to make a leest of the furniture: we most keep them out of
these rooms, dear Maud.'

'You left the key in the door on the outside,' I retorted; 'that was not to
keep them out, but me in, Madame.'

'_Deed_ I leave the key in the door?' ejaculated Madame, with both hands
raised, and such a genuine look of consternation as for a moment shook me.

It was the nature of this woman's deceptions that they often puzzled though
they seldom convinced me.

'I re-ally think, Maud, all those so frequent changes and excite-ments they
weel overturn my poor head.'

'And the windows are secured with iron bars--what are they for?' I
whispered sternly, pointing with my finger at these grim securities.

'That is for more a than forty years, when Sir Phileep Aylmer was to reside
here, and had this room for his children's nursery, and was afraid they
should fall out.'

'But if you look you will find these bars have been put here very recently:
the screws and marks are quite new.'

'_Eendeed!_' ejaculated Madame, with prolonged emphasis, in precisely the
same consternation. 'Why, my dear, they told a me down stair what I have
tell a you, when I ask the reason! Late a me see.'

And Madame mounted on a chair, and made her scrutiny with much curiosity,
but could not agree with me as to the very recent date of the carpentry.

There is nothing, I think, so exasperating as that sort of falsehood which
affects not to see what is quite palpable.

'Do you mean to say, Madame, that you really think those chisellings and
screws are forty years old?'

'How can I tell, cheaile? What does signify whether it is forty or only
fourteen years? Bah! we av other theeng to theenk about. Those villain men!
I am glad to see bar and bolt, and lock and key, at least, to our room, to
keep soche faylows out!'

At that moment a knock came to the door, and Madame's nasal 'in moment'
answered promptly, and she opened the door, stealthily popping out her
head.

'Oh, that is all right; go you long, no ting more, go way.'

'Who's there?' I cried.

'Hold a your tongue,' said Madame imperiously to the visitor, whose voice I
fancied I recognised--'_go_ way.'

Out slipped Madame again, locking the door; but this time she returned
immediately, bearing a tray with breakfast.

I think she fancied that I would perhaps attempt to break away and escape;
but I had no such thought at that moment. She hastily set down the tray on
the floor at the t