And Mary Ann, who had been for the last half-hour engaged in arranging everything for the comfort and convenience of her young mistress, paused as she reached the door of the apartment, half-schoolroom, half-boudoir, which Monica called her "prison-house," and looked towards the occupant of a low couch that had been drawn up to the open window. "Oh, yes, you might put those books where I can reach them," and Monica indicated a pile of library books which were lying on a low bookcase in a corner of the room. The maid obeyed, and placed them on a table by Monica’s side, on which she kept the various things with which she vainly endeavoured to while away the tedium of the long, long days. "Are you sure there’s nothing else, miss?" "I don’t think there is, thanks." And the housemaid was just departing, when she was recalled by the sound of her name. "Oh, Mary Ann!" "Yes, miss?" "Which is your evening out?" "Fridays, Miss Monica," said the girl, astonishment expressed in both face and voice. Whatever could be coming to their young lady? Never before had she taken the slightest interest in the outings of her grandmother’s domestics! "Let me see, to-day is Friday," mused Monica, "could you do an errand for me while you are out this evening, Mary Ann?" "Well, miss, it all depends," replied the under-housemaid, cautiously. "Where would it be, miss?" "Oh, it’s only to take back these books and get me some fresh ones from Bell’s Library," said Monica. "Are you fond of reading, Mary Ann?" "La, yes, miss," admitted the girl with a giggle. "Cook says I get right down wropt up in my book, and they have to shake me sometimes, when I’m sittin’ readin’ in the kitchen of a evening, for I never ’ears no one a-speakin’ when I’m deep in my story." "Well, I daresay I could lend you a book, now and again," said Monica graciously. "And you think you could go to Bell’s this evening?" "Why, yes, Miss Monica, I’ll go with pleasure," said the girl, delighted at the prospect of the loan of some books. "Me and Jim (that’s my young man, miss," she explained with a simper and a blush) "we generally strolls down High Street, and I can easy pop in and get ’em." "Well, here is a list of half a dozen," said Monica, handing her a paper. "Ask them to give you any three that are in, and tell them who they’re for." "Very good, Miss Monica," and Mary Ann finally departed. Left to herself, Monica began to wonder how she should pass the weary hours of that hot June day.