Aunt Hetty was alone, the bable was laid for two, a delightful odour of coffee and waffles perfumed the air. She looked up from her sewing with a smile as he bade her good-morning.
' I was jusb wondering if you and Norry meant bo keep your rooms all day. Oh, you noedn'b make any apology ; ib is as easy bo waib breakfasb for two as one. The boys and me '—They were bhe ' boys' still to Miss Hester Kent)—'had ours ab seven o'clock. Now sib righb down, Mr Gilbert, and I'll go and roub out Norry, and you and her can have your breakfasb sociably bogebher. You'll have a good many sociable breakfasts alone bogebher, I dare say, before long. Gloomy sort of day now, ain't it ?'

'Norine is nob down then?' tho lawyer said, startled a little, yeb hardly knowing why.
' Not yeb. She ain'b often lazy o' morn ings. is Norry, neibher. You waib bhough, I'll have her down in ten minutes.'

He looked ab her as though to say some thing, changed his mind suddenly, and took a seat. M.bs Kenb lefb bhe room. Five minubes passed. Then she came rush ing down the stairs, and back to his side, all whibe and frightened.
' Mr Gilbert, Norine's nob in her room. Her bed was nob slepb in ab all lasb night!' She sab down ab once, pressing her hand hard over her hewk- ' l'__^ sfes said, pant

"%&: I'm very foolish, I know, bub ib has given me a burn.'.
