Even as did little Polly--vow that aunt would be so cross; and then feel herself drawn, drawn closer and closer to the iron-barred window, till her little hands were caught in two strong, muscular fists, which pressed them so hard that they almost hurt. "Oh! you mustn't, mustn't come!" sobbed Polly. "If aunt found it out she would almost kill me!" "No, no, little one," said Humphrey; "why should she?" "You--you don't know aunt," whispered Polly. "She's ordered me not to speak to you." "Not to speak to me!" "Yes; nor to any one else. She would be so angry if she knew. You don't want to get me scolded." "No, no," he whispered--"not for worlds." "Pray, pray, go then; and you must not speak to me any more." "But Polly, dear Polly," whispered Humphrey, "tell me one thing, and then I'll go and wait years and years, if you like, only tell me that." Humphrey stopped short, for a singular phenomenon occurred. Polly's fingers seemed to suddenly change from within his hands to his wrists, and to become bony and firm, a sharp voice at the same moment exclaiming-- "Who's this?" Humphrey Lloyd was a man, every inch of him, and he spoke out boldly-- "Well, if you must know, it's me--Humphrey." "Go round to the side door, and come to my room," said Mrs Lloyd, in a low, angry voice. Humphrey was heard to go rustling through the laurels, as Mrs Lloyd exclaimed-- "Go up to your room, Miss, this instant; and don't you stir till I call you down." Shivering with fear and shame, Polly made her escape to run up to her room, throw herself on the bed, and cry as if her heart would break, just missing Humphrey, who came round without loss of time. "Now," said Mrs Lloyd, as soon as the door was closed, "what have you to say to this?" "Only that it was my fault," said Humphrey--"all my fault; so don't blame the poor little girl. It was all my doing." "Now, look here, Humphrey Lloyd," exclaimed the housekeeper, speaking in a low, angry voice, "you like your place here?" "Yes, if you and he could treat me a little better." "Never mind about that," said Mrs Lloyd. "It's no use to mind," said Humphrey, bitterly. "If I had been a dog instead of your own flesh and blood, you couldn't have treated me worse." "Treated you badly!" exclaimed Mrs Lloyd; "haven't you been well fed, educated, and placed in a good situation?" "Yes--all that," said Humphrey. "And for reward you fly in my face. Now, look here, Humphrey. If you so much as look at that girl again, let alone speak to her, off you go. You shall not stay on the premises another day." "Well," said Humphrey, "that's pleasant; but all the same I don't see what power you have in the matter, so long as I satisfy the young master." "Then just content yourself with satisfying your young master, sir, and mind, that girl's not for you, so let's have no more of it. Now go."