This feeling, given way to without restraint, at last bore fruit. Mrs. Cragg, though she had uttered threats to Pattie, had not made up her mind that she would break her own promises of silence, or that she would deliberately injure the girl. But when temptation came, it round her powerless to resist. A habit of ill-temper is weakening to the moral fibre. Mrs. Cragg's particular crony walked in to see her one certain morning—Mrs. Smithers, the chemist's wife, a smart young woman, and one of the greatest gossips in the place. A matter revealed to Mrs. Smithers was revealed to the country round. Mrs. Cragg knew this,— not that it made much difference in what she said or did not say to the woman in question. "So you've had no end of bother about Dot," Mrs. Smithers remarked. "And she's getting on all right, I'm told." Mrs. Cragg gave her own version of affairs. It was all Cragg's fault, according to her. He had been in "a fuss," and had scolded the child for being in the room, and Dot had run away and tumbled downstairs. This was not exactly an accurate report. "And Pattie Dale's been doing all the nursing, has she?" "Dear me, no. She's helped; but we've had a regular nurse in the house all this while. Mr. Cragg says she's got to go next week. He says he can't afford to keep her longer. Dot is getting on all right. I believe she'd be as well as ever, if the doctor didn't keep her lying down. 'Tisn't natural for a child. She ought to be up and about. But he gives all his orders to Pattie Dale, and I'm not allowed a word. You'd think Pattie was mistress, only to hear her." "I don't like that girl, for my part. What makes you put up with her?" "Haven't any choice. She's got the upper hand of Mr. Cragg—twists him round her little finger. And Dot won't look at anybody else." "Well, I wouldn't have it so, if I were you. I'd make a stand. She's got a conceited look." "Conceited! I should think she was. There's nobody in the world that's Pattie's equal, if you believe Pattie." "And nobody knows wherever she came from," reflected Mrs. Smithers. Mrs. Cragg pursed up her lips with a meaning air. "Well, you may know, but nobody else does. What is Pattie Dale? Your husband's been going about saying she wants to find a situation. What sort is she fit for, I'd like to know?" "When Pattie's in a temper, she always says she wants to find a situation." "I'd let her go, if I was you. Why shouldn't she? She's no relation of yours." "Cragg thinks he's bound to do something for her, because it was his house that fell, and that's how her father got killed." "Ridiculous!" declared Mrs. Smithers. "I'd like to hear my husband talking like that." "Your husband isn't Cragg," observed Mrs. Cragg, with truth. "If he was Mr. Cragg I wouldn't let him. People ought to have sense." Mrs. Smithers' eyes roved, and Mrs. Cragg saw that another subject was about to be introduced. "Nobody can tell you anything about Pattie except me."