ither saw nor heard any one for the first instant.
Then Edward spoke in a hoarse whisper, right below the window, standing on
the flower-beds.

"Maggie! Maggie! Come down and let me in. For your life, don't make any
noise. No one must know."

Maggie turned sick. Something was wrong, evidently; and she was weak and
weary. However, she stole down the old creaking stairs, and undid the heavy
bolt, and let her brother in. She felt that his dress was quite wet, and
she led him, with cautious steps, into the kitchen, and shut the door, and
stirred the fire, before she spoke. He sank into a chair, as if worn out
with fatigue. She stood, expecting some explanation. But when she saw he
could not speak, she hastened to make him a cup of tea; and, stooping down,
took off his wet boots, and helped him off with his coat, and brought her
own plaid to wrap round him. All this time her heart sunk lower and lower.
He allowed her to do what she liked, as if he were an automaton; his head
and his arms hung loosely down, and his eyes were fixed, in a glaring way,
on the fire. When she brought him some tea, he spoke for the first time;
she could not hear what he said till he repeated it, so husky was his
voice.

"Have you no brandy?"

She had the key of the little wine-cellar, and fetched up some. But as she
took a tea-spoon to measure if out, he tremblingly clutched at the bottle,
and shook down a quantity into the empty tea-cup, and drank it off at one
gulp. He fell back again in his chair; but in a few minutes he roused
himself, and seemed stronger.

"Edward, dear Edward, what is the matter?" said Maggie, at last; for he got
up, and was staggering toward the outer door, as if he were going once more
into the rain, and dismal morning-twilight.

He looked at her fiercely as she laid her hand on his arm.

"Confound you! Don't touch me. I'll not be kept here, to be caught and
hung!"

For an instant she thought he was mad.

"Caught and hung!" she echoed. "My poor Edward! what do you mean?"

He sat down suddenly on a chair, close by him, and covered his face with
his hands. When he spoke, his voice was feeble and imploring.

"The police are after me, Maggie! What must I do? Oh! can you hide me? Can
you save me?"

He looked wild, like a hunted creature. Maggie stood aghast. He went on:

"My mother!--Nancy! Where are they? I was wet through and starving, and I
came here. Don't let them take me, Maggie, till I'm stronger, and can g