"I know you wouldn't run away from it, if it looked so sweet and loving at you," said Rose; "but why did it not come nearer to me? and why did it all fade away when I put out my arms to clasp it? That made me think it couldn't be my mamma, after all; and yet it was mamma, too, but so pale and sad." "Wall--I don't know," said the perplexed Timmins; "you are beyend me; I don't know nothing about sperrits, and I don't want to; but come here; you've been asking me all sorts of questions, now I should like to ask you one." "Well," said Rose, abstractedly. "What on airth made you carry on so like sixty about my washing you? Don't you like me?" "Y--e--s," replied Rose, blushing deeply. "Wall, then, what was the matter with you? any scars on your body, or any thing?" "No," said Rose. "What _did_ ail you, then? for I'm curious to know; why didn't you want me to wash you?" "It made me feel ashamed," said Rose; "nobody ever washed me but mamma; I didn't mind my mamma." "Wall, I'm beat if I can understand that," said Timmins, looking meditatively down upon the carpet; "and one of your own sect, as they call it, too. It seems ridikilis; but let me tell you, you'd better make no fuss here; none of the other childern does." "Other children?" asked Rose, "are there more children here? I did not hear any noise or playing." "No, I reckon you didn't," said Timmins, laughing. ("I wish to the land Mrs. Markham had heard you say that;") and Timmins laughed again, as if it was too good a joke to be thrown away on one listener. "Are _their_ mothers dead, too, Timmins?" "I dare say--I reckon some on 'em don't know much who their fathers and mothers was," said Timmins. "They had some, didn't they?" "In course," said Timmins; "why, you are enough to kill old folks; sometimes you are away beyend me, and sometimes not quite up to me, as one may say, but you'd better shut up now, for Mrs. Markham will be along presently." "Do you think Mrs. Markham is a good woman?" asked Rose. "About as good as you've seen," said the diplomatic Timmins, touching the cut on Rose's temple; "the quicker you mind her when she speaks, the better--that's all." "Do _you_ like her?" asked Rose. "No--sh--yes--why, what a thing you are to make people say what they don't mean to. I like you, any how. But don't you never act as if I did, before folks, because my hands is tied, you see." "I don't know what you mean," said Rose. "Sh--sh--didn't I tell you to shut up? Somebody is as stealthy as a cat;" and Timmins looked uneasily at the key-hole of the door. CHAPTER II.