"Didn't you go up when you went away?" "No, ma'am; I didn't like to." "When did you go?" "At five, ma'am; I always go at five." "How did you know it was five?" "The kitchen clock told me; I wound it, ma'am and set it when the whistles blew at twelve." "Was that the only clock you wound?" "Only clock? Do you think I'd be going around the house winding any others?" Her face showed such surprise, and her eyes met mine so frankly, that I was convinced she spoke the truth. Gratified--I don't know why,--I bestowed upon her my first smile, which seemed to affect her, for her face softened, and she looked at me quite eagerly for a minute before she said: "You don't think so very bad of me, do you, ma'am?" But I had been struck by a thought which made me for the moment oblivious to her question. _She_ had wound the clock in the kitchen for her own uses, and why may not the lady above have wound the one in the parlor for hers? Filled with this startling idea, I remarked: "The young lady wore a watch, of course?" But the suggestion passed unheeded. Mrs. Boppert was as much absorbed in her own thoughts as I was. "Did young Mrs. Van Burnam wear a watch?" I persisted. Mrs. Boppert's face remained a blank. Provoked at her impassibility, I shook her with an angry hand, imperatively demanding: "What are you thinking of? Why don't you answer my questions?" She was herself again in an instant. "O ma'am, I beg your pardon. I was wondering if you meant the parlor clock." I calmed myself, looked severe to hide my more than eager interest, and sharply cried: "Of course I mean the parlor clock. Did you wind it?" "O no, no, no, I would as soon think of touching gold or silver. But the young lady did, I'm sure, ma'am, for I heard it strike when she was setting of it." Ah! If my nature had not been an undemonstrative one, and if I had not been bred to a strong sense of social distinctions, I might have betrayed my satisfaction at this announcement in a way that would have made this homely German woman start. As it was I sat stock-still, and even made her think I had not heard her. Venturing to rouse _me_ a bit, she spoke again after a minute's silence. "She might have been lonely, you know, ma'am; and the ticking of a clock is such company." "Yes," I answered with more than my accustomed vivacity, for she jumped as if I had struck her. "You have hit the nail on the head, Mrs. Boppert, and are a much smarter woman than I thought. But when did she wind the clock?" "At five o'clock, ma'am; just before I left the house." "O, and did she know you were going?" "I think so, ma'am, for I called up, just before I put on my bonnet, that it was five o'clock and that I was going." "O, you did. And did she answer back?"