The servant bowed and withdrew. "What is it, dear?" inquired Abel Force. "Nothing that needs attention to-night," she replied, with assumed indifference. And Abel Force, thinking it to be some little domestic matter that might not be discussed before a stranger, and perfectly unsuspicious of anything secret or serious--thinking no evil--dropped the subject then and there, and forgot. "Ah-h-h! Yaw-w-w! I never was so tired and sleepy in all my life before!" cried Mrs. Anglesea, throwing herself back in her chair, and stretching her mouth and limbs with a tremendous yawn. "No doubt you are, madam. You have had a most fatiguing day. Permit me!" said Mr. Force, and he lighted a wax taper and put it in her hand. "And what on earth am I to do with this, old man?" she demanded, between two gapes. "It is to light you to your room," said Mrs. Force, answering for her dismayed husband. "Can you find your way, or shall I see you to the door?" "Is it that fine room fixed up with maple wood and blue calico, where the gals took me to take off my bonnet and wash my face and hands?" "Yes, it is the same. Shall I show you the way?" "Lord, no, 'oman! I ain't a baby! But I reckon you may toss me in a nightgown and nightcap before you go to bed yourself, for, you know, I come here right from the church, and, of course, didn't fetch any 'long o' me." "I think you will find all those conveniences laid out on your bed," said Mrs. Force. "All right! Good-night, ole 'oman!" And she kissed Mrs. Force, to that lady's dismay. "I'm sorry I had to make such a fuss in the church to-day, but I couldn't help it, and it is all for the best. Good-night, ole man! Lord, why, I feel just as if I had knowed you all the days of my life, and you was my own kinfolks! So here goes!" And she stood on tiptoes and pulled down Mr. Force's black-whiskered face and kissed him. And he bore the punishment with much more fortitude than his wife had done. Then the frank, rude, handsome creature, in whom there was no wickedness at all, took up her wax taper again, laughed, nodded and went out. "Well, for a woman who has been robbed of her fortune and forsaken by her husband, she takes life quite cheerfully," said Elfrida Force, with a touch of sarcasm in her manner. "It is her healthy constitution and happy, animal spirits that enables her to do so," said Abel Force, apologetically. "She is very ill bred!" said Elfrida. "That is her misfortune, not her fault, poor thing! But enough of her. How is our darling this evening?" "Fast asleep, with a regular, normal pulse and respiration. To-morrow she will be quite restored, I think." "Heaven grant it!" fervently exclaimed Abel Force. Then he touched the timbre that was to summon Jake, to close up fenders and put out lights. And then the husband and wife went upstairs together. When they reached the landing, they were startled by a loud rapping on the inside of Mrs. Anglesea's door.