78 MADGE’S MISTAKE.

there just putting the key into the door of
the one in which the roses ought to be.

“Williams!” I cry; “Williams! there’s
a pear branch fallen on the south wall, and
the weight of the pears will break it off if it
is not looked to; I couldn’t do it by myself,
[-~”

Williams waits to hear no more, but
rushes off, and my plan has succeeded. I
instantly rush off to the barn, and run blindly
against someone who is coming out. I look
up terrified and sce Jack with my flowers, a
pot under each arm.

“Hush!” he says. “Come along; I thought
I'd help you, and have been on the look-out;
run and open the door—quick!” Without a
word I fly, and in a trice the new pots are
lodged safely in the places of the original
ones; and while I carefully lock the door,
Jack, armed with the old ones, clambers into
the hay-loft, whither, after looking round to
see if we have been observed, I follow him.

“There!” says Jack, as he leans against
the wall and fans himself, I’ve done you a