"There are very few thieves, if any; folks leave their doors unlocked--sometimes wide open at night, and their clothes hanging out on the line; and I never hear of anything bein' took. There's very little drinking either; a drunken man's a rare sight with us." "There are a good many New Englanders here, are there not?" inquired Mr. Keith. "Yes, quite a good many; and from York state and Pennsylvany and Virginia; from Jersey too; I hail from there myself. "But I must be going, it's gettin' late; evenins is so short this time o' year--and however it may be with Mr. Keith, I know you women folks are tired enough to be ready for bed. "Now don't be formal with me, but run in whenever you can. I'll always be glad to see you. "No, never mind your hat, Mr. Keith, I don't want a beau; for I'm not the least mite afraid. Good-night to you all," and she hurried away. The candle was flaring and wasting in the wind. Miss Stanhope hastened to snuff it, remarking, "These are miserable tallows; get me some candle to-morrow, Stuart, and I'll try to make some that will be an improvement upon them. We have the moulds and the wick; all we want is the tallow." Near noon of the next day a flauntily dressed young woman walked in at the open door and introduced herself to Mrs. Keith as the "Hinglish girl, Viny Apple, that Mrs. Prior had recommended." Mrs. Keith received her kindly, "Can you cook and do general housework?" she asked. "Yes, mum; of course, that's what I came for." "I hope you understand how to work, but it is not to be expected that your way will always be what will suit me best; so I trust you are willing to be directed." "If you're not too hard to please, mum, I'll suit, I'm sure." "We will try it. Zillah, show Viny where she is to sleep." "Is she to come to the table?" asked Mildred, when the two had disappeared up the stairway. "We shall see; I have not spoken of it yet." "You won't put up with that, mother surely?" "I think I must if that is the only condition on which we can have help with our housework." On coming down, Viny was directed to set the table for dinner, shown where to find the requisite articles, told how many were in the family, and left to the performance of her task. Mildred noted the number of plates set on, and saw that Viny had counted herself in with the rest. "You have one plate too many," she said with some sharpness of tone. "No, Miss." "You certainly have. Here are eleven; and we are only ten." "And I make 'leven," returned Viny, a hot flush on her cheek and an angry gleam in her eyes. "You?" "Yes, Miss, I'm as good as the rest; and if I cook the victuals I 'ave a right to eat 'em." A warning glance from her mother's eye checked the angry exclamation on the tip of Mildred's tongue. "We will consent to your coming to the table with us, Viny, on condition that you are always neat and tidy in appearance," Mrs. Keith remarked in a quiet tone. "And now you may help me to dish up the dinner."