And as she did so, she whispered, in a tone that could not but have its effect upon him, "Now, nebber tell her, honey." "Here is Eliza," said Mrs Null, as she came in, followed by the great granddaughter.

"And I think," she said to Mr Croft, "it is time for us to go.

Good-bye, Aunt Patsy.

You can send back the basket by Eliza." When the two left the cabin, Croft walked thoughtfully for a few moments, wondering what in the world the old woman could have meant by her strange words and gift to him.

Concluding, however, that they could have been nothing but the drivelings of weak-minded old age, he dismissed them from his mind and turned his attention to his companion.
"We were speaking," he said, "of Mr Null.