nd needed it; but the trap-door was left open.

For a little while Tant Sannie poked about among the empty bottles and
skins, and looked at the bag of peaches that Waldo was supposed to have
liked so; then she sat down near the trap-door beside a barrel of salt
mutton. She found that the pieces of meat were much too large, and took
out her clasp-knife to divide them.

That was always the way when one left things to servants, she grumbled
to herself: but when once she was married to her husband Bonaparte it
would not matter whether a sheep spoiled or no--when once his rich aunt
with the dropsy was dead. She smiled as she dived her hand into the
pickle-water.

At that instant her niece entered the room below, closely followed by
Bonaparte, with his head on one side, smiling mawkishly. Had Tant Sannie
spoken at that moment the life of Bonaparte Blenkins would have run a
wholly different course; as it was, she remained silent, and neither
noticed the open trap-door above their heads.

"Sit there, my love," said Bonaparte, motioning Trana into her aunt's
elbow-chair, and drawing another close up in front of it, in which he
seated himself. "There, put your feet upon the stove too. Your aunt has
gone out somewhere. Long have I waited for this auspicious event!"

Trana, who understood not one word of English, sat down in the chair and
wondered if this was one of the strange customs of other lands, that an
old gentleman may bring his chair up to yours, and sit with his knees
touching you. She had been five days in Bonaparte's company, and feared
the old man, and disliked his nose.

"How long have I desired this moment!" said Bonaparte. "But that aged
relative of thine is always casting her unhallowed shadow upon us. Look
into my eyes, Trana."

Bonaparte knew that she comprehended not a syllable; but he understood
that it is the eye, the tone, the action, and not at all the rational
word, that touches the love-chords. He saw she changed colour.

"All night," said Bonaparte, "I lie awake; I see naught but thy angelic
countenance. I open my arms to receive thee--where art thou, where? Thou
art not there!" said Bonaparte, suiting the action to the words, and
spreading out his arms and drawing them to his breast.

"Oh, please, I don't understand," said Trana, "I want to go away."

"Yes, yes," said Bonaparte, leaning back in his chair, to her
great relief, and pressing his hands on his heart, "since first thy
amethystine co