"Not fresh? I know I cooked them for my dinner and there didn't seem to be anything wrong about them to me. Then there was that lump of cheese which you said was all rind, it made me and Eustace a handsome supper. Of course I know it's none of my business, and of course any one can see you're a lady from the clothes you send to the wash; but if there's one thing I can't stand it's waste; perhaps that's because I've known what want is." Nora had been in the house more than a week without seeing or hearing anything of her landlady, or of any managing person except Miss Gibb. She made constant inquiries, but each time it seemed that Mrs. Gibb was "not very well just now," though what ailed her Miss Gibb did not explain. One afternoon, as she was removing the tea-things, Nora was struck by the look of unusual weariness which was on the preternaturally old young face; something in the look determined her to make an effort to solve the mystery of the invisible and inaudible landlady. "Angel, whenever I ask you how your mother is you always say she's not very well just now; but the only person I've seen or heard moving about the house is you. I'm beginning to wonder if your mother is a creature of your imagination." Angel said nothing; she continued to scrape the crumbs off the tablecloth with the blunt edge of a knife. "Are you alone in the house?" "Course I'm not; how about my brother, Eustace? You've seen and heard him, haven't you?" Eustace, it appeared, was only slightly his sister's senior, and almost as old; though Nora felt that no one could really be as old as Angel seemed; she admitted that she had seen Eustace. "Very well then; he don't go till after nine and he's back most days before six, so how can I be alone in the house?" "I know about Eustace; as you say, I've seen him. But I was thinking of your mother. Where is she; or have you reasons why you would rather not tell me?" "What do you mean by have I reasons?" The light of battle came into the child's eyes; it was extraordinary how soon it did come there. "I was wondering if, for any reason, you would prefer to keep your own counsel." "We don't all of us care to turn ourselves inside out; seems to me you don't for one." The accusation was so true that Nora was routed. "I beg your pardon, Angel; I didn't mean to seem to pry." "No harm done that I know of; bones aren't broke by questions." She folded the tablecloth. As she placed it in its drawer, and her back was turned to Nora, she said, as with an effort, "Mother's paralyzed." "Paralyzed? Oh, Angel, I'm so sorry; where is she?" Miss Gibb faced round, again all battle. "Where is she? This is her own house, isn't it? In whose house do you suppose she'd be if she wasn't in her own? I can't think what you mean by keeping on asking where is she?" Nora was properly meek. "You see, I only asked because I never hear her moving about; I never hear any one but you, and Eustace." "Mean I make a clatter?"