Rogues and Vagabonds

ever extended beyond the works of the late lamented Dr. Watts. This talented author had, it is pretty certain, come under her notice

ds some mi

e hands

te the habits of the busy bee, who 'improves each shining hour by gathering honey all the day from every opening flower.' A quotation which was singularly inapt under the

. So she just wiped her sticky little fingers on her pinafore, looked up with a roguish smile at he

an who was travelling abroad for the benefit of his health, and feeling lonely with fourteen rooms all to herself, not to speak of cellars, dark corners, and gloomy passages, she had, in an evil hour,

y echoes. They did have forty winks now and then in the day, when Topsey ran errands; but as a ru

s Topsey is. She has actually kept Cowp

to Cowper and Mrs

never read, even on a hot June day, without wishing it was a wi

re, and close th

urtains, wheel

bubbling and l

teamy column,

not inebriate

come peaceful

ed the fire, closed the shutters fast, and let fall the curtains. The table stood too near the fire for a sofa, to be wheeled round, but three chairs were set in nice convenient places, the urn was

ither can I discover any reference to a fat black pussy dozing, the picture of sleek contentment, on the hearthrug. In these particulars Mrs. Turvey had, I make bold to

eat the cat. That was always on the hearthrug. The marmalade and the mu

y one visitor was expected. Our wits would have performed the task confided to them most creditably if this was the result of their labour, for there is a knock at

a fat, smiling gentleman of fifty, and so shining that it

s, his boots shine, his buttons shine, his black stoc

vey, and when he opens his mouth yo

haken hands with her visitor and motioned him to the tea

late for this appointment, you may be sure,' answers the gentleman, shinin

urvey, 'business i

k you; I adore muffins. I've been in our line thirty years, Mrs Turvey, and o

he

, and swallows a little piece of muffin, and the redness which ensues, together with the extra shin

d till Topsey is out of the room. Let us take advantage of the lull in

et are the family solicitors of Mr. Gurth Egerton, and have the entire management of his affairs during his long absence abroad. Mr. Duck

part of the acquaintanceship. But beyond this there is a little personal friendship. Mrs. Turvey is a spinster, in spite of her matronly appellation, and Mr. Duck is a bachelor. Mr. Duck stays occasionally to take a friendly cup of tea after his business has been transacte

of a very startling character; and what more natural than that, having called in the morning and hinted that he should perhaps have

when brushes and brooms were about. If there was a nice delightful mystery to be revealed, or a little scandal to be whispered

pinion, and so the invitati

y; but this, with great diplo

h her directly Mrs. Turvey hinted that her niece had few opportunities of going out, and she thought

inform him that he was to hold his tongue on the important matter for the pres

of muffin the wrong way. That was an unforeseen contingency, from whic

n life, with many warnings not to tumble under 'buses or to leave go her friend's hand, and with strict injunctions not to get entangled in

ifting his eyes to the ceiling,

dam, Mr. Gurth E

lanced in amazement at the ceiling. Then she looke

he gasped,

, dropping his voice and glancing significantly

ow awful! You don't mean to

t the chances are that he is there now.' Mr. Duck had glanced at the carpet as he s

house so long, I've lost all the nerve I ever had. If the master's dead I'd rather not stop here.

d expect to come wandering about his

it's a dreadful thing to say, but I always did believ

ience that wouldn't let him

l, yes. It's no good mincing matt

ived, as they say at Scotland Yard, he left America in the Bon Espoir, that was wrec

t have come in t

passengers reached our firm only this week, though the wreck took place six mon

of yet. There were

ene of the wreck, and reported, on her arrival at Baltimore, that she had saved one passenger-a Mr. George Englehardt. Besides, if he had been saved we should, of course, have heard f

se her while she did so. What was to become of her? She'd lived in the house this ten years, first as servant and then

the paroxysm was over, 'you distress yourself needlessly. I think I may tell you, without

vey sobb

,' he said, softly, 'I shouldn't have spoken so abruptl

srs. Grigg and Limpet's clerk so close to hers that it almost made her bli

k took

against his shiny satin waistcoat, 'don't spurn me. You

y bosom, my own

l turn from thee, t

sed myself the first time I saw you,

ut declined to weep upon th

ltered. 'I-I really never t

lways been a suspicion; that

tations, business suggestions, reminiscences of Mr. Gurth Egerton,

was a loud kn

p from her chair and

xclaimed Mr. D

a moment's thought. 'Dear me! I'd no idea it

call again, Susan?

lled his shiny eyes so sweetly that Mr

rrow,

a pair of lips and a cheek, and then Mrs. Turvey, f

gh nothing had happened, for Topsey's sharp little ears were open, and he went off wh

owed her aunty how the ghost looked, and how it rose m

like ghosts at any time, but to-night, when her master's death had

stories of uneasy spirits visiting their earthly dwelling-places floated across her brain, and

that had been a servant's room in the days

watchful eye, Mrs. Turvey had forgotten to fasten up the front door. As a matt

with her usual care, so she sent Topsey to do it, while she go

ng back on its hinges. As it opened and the pale light of the street lamp wandered in, the figure of a man with a face ghastly in the glare of the flickering

e nearer and

terrified child found her

ked. 'Save me! The

tairs, terrified at

held up her arms, an

d given up

earthly dwelling, stood