erchiefs, but
were not able to detect much difference.

"When did Mrs. Loraine shut you up the time before that," I asked,
handing her the handkerchief.

"I had not been out three days."

"What was it for that time?"

"Because I pulled up some flowers in the garden which were just coming
up. I thought they were weeds; and I'm sure I didn't mean any harm."

"How long did she shut you up for this?" asked Bob.

"Eight days."

"What do you do in your chamber while shut up there?" I inquired.

"Nothing."

"Don't you have books?"

"O, no! If I did, I shouldn't mind it so much."

"Don't you sew?"

"No; I'm not allowed to do anything," she answered, with a convulsive
sob.

I could hardly keep from crying myself, and I was almost choked by my
efforts to keep down my emotions. I had kept the boat away from the
pier, in order to afford time for this inquiry, and the Splash was now
off the Point. I put her about, and ran before the wind towards the pier
again.

"Are you willing to tell us what the trouble was to-day, before you
jumped into the water?" said Bob, tenderly.

"She told me to water the flowers in her garden, and I was doing it. She
kept telling me how to do it, and what to water, and I tried as hard as
I could to please her; but I was so frightened lest I should do
something wrong, that I trod on a peony, and broke it down. She was very
angry, and immediately told me to go back to my room, and stay there
another week. O, if you only knew how I dreaded that room! If you only
knew how gloomy and sad I am when shut up there! If you could only feel
how long and heavy the hours are there, you would pity me."

"I do pity you," said Bob, warmly.

"I begged her on my knees not to shut me up. I felt then that I would
rather die than be shut up again, for I only got out this morning.
That's my room," said she, with a shudder, as she pointed to an attic
window in the rear of the house.

"Miss Loraine, we will stand by you!" I exclaimed, with enthusiasm, for
my feelings had been strongly worked upon by her story. "But you must go
to the house, and get warm clothing. Bob and I will go with you."

"But I shall be sent to my room at once."

"If you are, we will get you out this very night, if we have to lift the
roof off the house to do it."

Kate was fearful; but whatever happened, we were determined that she
should have dry clothing. I ran the Splash up to the pier, where Mrs.
Loraine was impatiently wai