LADY BETTY The next evening I was refused admittance to Phoebe's room.

Miss Locke met me at the door, looking more depressed than usual, and asked me to follow her into the kitchen, where we found Kitty in the rocking-chair by the hearth, dressing her new doll.
'It is just as she treated the vicar and Mr.Tudor,' she observed disconsolately.

'I don't quite know what ails her to-day; she had a beautiful night, and slept like a baby, and when I took her breakfast to her she put her arms round my neck and asked me to kiss her,--a thing she has not done for a year or more; and she went on for a long time about how bad she had been to me, and wanting me to forgive her and make it up with her.' 'Well ?' I demanded, rather impatiently, as Susan wiped her patient eyes and took up her sewing.
'Well, poor lamb! I told her I would forgive her anything and everything if she would only let me go on with my work, for I had Mrs.Druce's mourning to finish; but she would not let me stir for a long time, and cried so bitterly--though she says she never can cry--that I thought of sending for you or Dr.Hamilton.But she cried more when I mentioned you, and said, No, she would not see you; you had left her more miserable than she was before: and she made me promise to send you away if you came this evening, which I am loath to do after all your kindness to her.' 'I have brought her some fresh flowers this evening,' was my reply.

'Do not distress yourself, Miss Locke; we must expect Phoebe to be contrary sometimes.' And the words came to my mind, "And ofttimes it casteth him into the fire, and oft into the water." 'You have discharged your duty, but I am not going just yet.

Let me help you with that work.