96 DOGGED A CK.

fancied I heard a low sigh, and then he passed on
into his own room which was next to mine.
 "It was a hot night, and my father threw his
window open as soon as he entered, and I knew,
as I leaned out into the scented summer air, that
we were but a couple of yards apart. But as I
have said, I repressed all rising thoughts of tender-
ness, and encouraged all that was bad and evil in
my nature.
 "Never had I had such hard thoughts, such
exaggerated, monstrous ideas of injustice done me
as that night! Not once even did the thought
cross my mind that the fault could by any means
lie with myself, so determined was I to view myself
as a martyr! It was past midnight before I went
to bed, and my sleep was broken and disturbed. I
awoke earlier than usual, and after tossing about
for some time, arose and dressed.
 "I went downstairs and passed through the kitchen
to reach the yard, intending to feed a pair of rabbits
that had been lately given me. As I opened the
stable door where for the present I had bestowed
my pets, a saucer of bran in my hand and a bunch
of lettuce under my arm, a sight met my eyes that
made me halt, breathless with astonishment and
delight.
 Instead of finding my 'bunnies,' in the old deal