Plot and Counterplot. 125

perforce. When I had proposed to throw the letter
in and run away, I had not thought of shutters ; it
was impossible to put the letter through them, and
so I needs must wait till they were opened. Before
long I heard sounds in the house, and a maid-
servant came and opened not only the shutter, but
the window I was watching. She remained in the
room, however, dusting. I scarcely dared breathe.
At last she took a table-cloth from a drawer, put it
on the table, and went out. I waited, listened, stole
nearer, flung my Ictter suddenly in, and fled. Along
behind the bushes, through the trees, and over the
fence I ran, seized with a sort of panic lest I should
be pursued. When I reached the public road, I felt
that I needs must walk quictly, lest I should be
noticed.

I was just thinking that I should get safe home
unseen, when up from a deep, springy lane came
Tommy Cadwallader with a basket of water-cress.
I did the worst thing, short of running, that I could
have done; I stopped, hesitated, and looked em-
barrassed.,

“Reuben!” cried Tommy, in his clear, full
tones. “Why! wonders will never cease, as the
copy-book says. Whatever have you been up
to, lad? you looks as if you’d been robbing a
hen-roost, and I'd a caught you with th’ ould

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