Peggy's eyes grew round. She was accustomed to London horrors, but she thought the country was free of them. "I ain't afraid of no one with Albert Edward," she said sturdily. "I'd like to have slep' by myself over at my 'ouse to-night. Albert Edward would kill any burglar if he could get at him, I know he would." Once embarked on a gruesome subject, Mrs. Timson flowed on, bringing out of her past reminiscences so many ghastly stories of murder and thieving and such-like, that at last her more cheerful husband interfered. "Come, missus, stop it! This young lady won't sleep to-night. She be drinkin' it all in like water!" "Oh! I ain't afraid," Peggy again repeated. "I arsks God to keep me safe, and I knows He will." Her sleep was sound and sweet in spite of Mrs. Timson's stories, and she would hardly wait for her breakfast, so impatient was she to get back to Ivy Cottage. "My missuses will be back at three o'clock, and I has my rooms to sweep and dust, and Albert Edward will be expectin' of me." She ran back with a light heart, found the postman had left two letters, but no one else had disturbed the premises. She worked away with a light heart, but at twelve o'clock heard at sharp ring at the bell, and when she went to the door was confronted by a tall commanding-looking lady, who asked gruffly if the Miss Churchhills were at home. Now the last words of Miss Churchhill to Peggy had been these— "You are to let nobody into the house, Peggy. You cannot be too careful. If any one calls, say we are away from home." So, with a suspicious glance at the visitor, Peggy replied importantly— "My missuses be away till this arternoon." "How vexing, to be sure! But they must have had my letter. I will come in and wait. My bag is at the station, and will follow me." Peggy's head was so full of the stories that she had heard, that she murmured to herself— "Tis a burglar, Peggy, a-dressed up and tryin' to get in. Now be brave, and do your dooty." She slowly began to shut the door. "No 'm, I ain't goin' to let you in; and if you don't get off with yer pretty sharp, I'll call Albert Edward!" "You impertinent girl! Do you know who I am?—Miss Alicia Allandale. How dare you try to shut the door in my face! A nice reception when I come to see my nieces! Let me in this minute!" Miss Allandale had a stronger arm than Peggy. As she found she could not close the door, she called loudly to Albert Edward. Alas! He was already barking frantically in the back kitchen, with two closed doors between him and the intruder. "You go out this minit!" Peggy shouted valiantly. "I see yer tricks. You ain't a-comin' I tell yer, so there. Not if I dies for it!"