JESSIN'S ACQUAINTANCE MADR. 57

heither would listen to the prayers of his wife nor
daughter.”

“ What a monster he was!” exclaimed Williams,
in a very audible voice.

The old woman put her apron from her head, and
said sharply to him, “ It is fine talking, young man !
but you are all tyrants by nature—every one of you
——for al) you look so mild and gentle ! Every one
of you!” added she, again throwing her apron over
her head,

“I thought that she was deaf!” exclaimed Wil-
liams, amazed, and almost terrified. |

“And so she is,” returned Jessie, “ but you are
so violent.”

“ Well, go on,” said he ; “your story affects me.”

“* My grandfather,” continued she, “ would not go
to bed till long after my mother’s voice had ceased
outside, and then he took the key of the house-door
and put it under his pillow, to prevent his wife going
out. She was very much afraid of her husband, so
she waited till she heard him snoring in bed, and
then she got out at the kitchen-window; but no-
where could she find her daughter. She wandered
about all day, and went into the neighbours’ barns,
and up and down the river-side; but she found
no traces, nor had anybody in the village seen
her. Towards evening, however, she met a wagoner
coming with his team towards the village, who had
been out with barley to a neighbouring town; and
from him she learnt that, about three o'clock in the
morning, he had overtaken a young woman, who was
walking alone on-the road, and who seemed very
much distressed. She begged him, he said, to give
her a lift in his wagon, which he did ; he had also