"But it isn't a mystery," he laughed, "why you want to get them out of the house just _now_. I know your reason for that, and think you will succeed without any device of love or cunning." "I don't understand you," she protested, puckering her black brows and growing very energetic. "I don't want to do it _now_ any more than I have for the last twelve months. Only I am getting desperate. I am not one who can want a thing and be patient. I _want_ Miss Hermione Cavanagh and her sister to laugh and be gay like other girls, and till they give up all this nonsense of self-seclusion they never will; and so I say to myself that any measures are justifiable that lead to that end. Don't you think I am right?" He smiled warily and took her pail of currants from her hand. "I think you are the brightest woman and have one of the clearest heads I ever knew. I don't remember when I have seen a woman who pleased me so well. Shall we be friends? I am only a solitary bachelor, travelling hither and thither because I do not know how else to spend my money; but I am willing to work for your ends if you are willing to work for mine." "And what are they?" she simpered, looking very much delighted. Doris was not without ambition, and from this moment not without her hopes. "To make these young ladies trust me so that I may visit them off and on while I remain in this place. I thought it was pleasant here before, but _now_----" The old fellow finished with a look and a sigh, and Doris' subjugation was complete. Yet she did not let him at this time any further into her plans, possibly because she had not formed any. She only talked on more and more about her love for the young ladies, and her wonder over their conduct, and he, listening for any chance word which might help him in his own perplexity, walked back at her side, till they arrived in sight of the house, when he gave her the pail and slunk back to come on later alone. But a seed was sown at that interview which was destined to bear strange fruit; and it is hard telling which felt the most satisfaction at the understood compact between them--the hard, selfish, and scheming miser, or the weak and obstinate serving-woman, who excused to herself the duplicity of her conduct by the plea, true enough as far as it went, that she was prompted by love for those she served, and a desire to see the two women she admired as bright and happy as their youth and beauty demanded. XVIII. SUSPENSE. The letter which Frank sent to Edgar described his encounter with Huckins, and expressed a wish that the Doctor would employ some proper person to watch his movements and see that he did not make himself disagreeable to the Misses Cavanagh, whom he had evidently set himself to annoy.