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gentlemen。〃 She gave an expressive shake of her fair shoulders； like a swan flapping the water off its downy wings； and so dismissed the subject from her mind。
Then she said her prayers。
Then she rose from her knees； and in tones of honey said； 〃Puss！ puss！ pretty puss！〃 and awaited a result。
Thieves and ghosts she did not believe in； yet credited cats under beds； and thought them neither 〃harmless〃 nor 〃necessary〃 there。
After tenderly evoking the dreaded and chimerical quadruped； she proceeded none the less to careful research； especially of cupboards。 The door of one resisted； and then yielded with a crack； and blew out the candle。 〃There now；〃 said she。
It was her only light； except her beauty。 They allotted each Hebe but one candle； in that ancient burgh。 〃Well；〃 she thought； 〃there is moonlight enough to _un_dress by。〃 She went to draw back one of the curtains； but in the act she started back with a little scream。 There was a tall figure over the way watching the house。
The moon shone from her side of the street full on him； and in that instant her quick eye recognised Mr。 Hardie。
〃Well！〃 said she aloud； and with an indescribable inflexion； and hid herself swiftly in impenetrable gloom。
But； after a while； Eve's daughter must have a peep。 She stole with infinite caution to one side of the curtain； and made an aperture just big enough for one bright eye。 Yes； there he was； motionless。 〃I'll tell mamma；〃 said she to him； malignantly； as if the sound could reach him。
Unconscious of the direful threat； he did not budge。
She was unaffectedly puzzled at this phenomenon； and； not being the least vain； fell to wondering whether he played the nightly sentinel opposite every lady's window who exchanged civilities within him。 〃Because； if he does； he is a fool；〃 said she； promptly。 But on reflection； she felt sure he did nothing of the kind habitually； for he had too high an opinion of himself； she had noted that trait in him at a very early stage。 She satisfied herself； by cautious examination； that he did not know her room。 He was making a temple of the whole lodging。 〃How ridiculous of him！〃 Yet he appeared to be happy over it； there was an exalted look in his moonlit face； she seemed now first to see his soul there。 She studied his countenance like an inscription； and deciphered each rapt expression that crossed it； and stored them in her memory。
Twice she heft her ambuscade to go to bed； and twice Curiosity； or Something； drew her back。 At last； having looked； peered； and peeped； till her feet were cold； and her face the reverse； she informed herself that the foolish Thing had tired her out。
〃Good…night； Mr。 Policeman；〃 said she； pretending to bawl to him。 〃And oh！ Do rain！ As hard as ever you can。 With this benevolent aspiration； a little too violent to he sincere； she laid her cheek on her pillow doughtily。
But her sentinel； when out of sight； had more power to disturb her。 She lay and wondered whether he was still there； and what it all meant； and whatever mamma would say； and which of the two； she or he； was the head culprit in this strange performance； to which Earth； she conceived； had seen no parallel； and； above all； what he would do next。 Her pulse galloped； and her sleep was broken； and she came down in the morning a little pale。 Mrs。 Dodd saw it at once； with the quick maternal eye； and moralised： 〃It is curious； youth is so fond of pleasure； yet pleasure seldom agrees with youth； this little excitement has done your mother good； who is no longer young； but it has been too much for you。 I shall he glad to have you back to our quiet home。〃
Ah！ Will that home be as tranquil now？
CHAPTER III
THE long vacation commenced about a month afterwards； and Hardie came to his father's house； to read for honours； unimpeded by university races and college lectures； and the ploughed and penitent one packed up his Aldrich and his Whately； the then authorities in Logic； and brought them home； together with a firm resolution to master that joyous science before the next examination for Smalls in October。 But lo！ ere he had been an hour at home； he found his things put neatly away in his drawers on the feminine or vertical systemdeep strata of waistcoats； strata of trousers； strata of coats； strata of papersand his Logic gone。
In the course of the evening he taxed his sister good…humouredly； and asked 〃What earthly use that book was to her； not wearing curls。〃
〃I intend to read it； and study it； and teach you it；〃 replied Julia； rather languidlyconsidering the weight of the resolve。
〃Oh； if you have boned it to read； I say no more； the crime will punish itself。〃
〃Be serious； Edward； and think of mamma！ I cannot sit with my hands before me； and let you be reploughed。〃
〃I don't want。 Butreploughed！haw； haw！ but you can't help me at Logic； as you used at Syntax。 Why； all the world knows a girl can't learn Logic。〃
〃A girl can learn anything she chooses to learn。 What she can't learn is things other people set her down to。〃 Before Edward could fully digest this revelation； she gave the argument a new turn by adding fretfully； 〃And don't be so unkind； thwarting and teasing me！〃 and all in a moment she was crying。
〃Halloa！〃 ejaculated Edward； taken quite by surprise。 〃What is the matter； dears？〃 inquired maternal vigilance from the other end of the room。 〃You did not speak brusquely to her； Edward？〃
〃No； no；〃 said Julia eagerly。 〃It is I that am turned so cross and so peevish。 I am quite a changed girl。 Mamma； what _is_ the matter with me？〃 And she laid her brow on her mother's bosom。
Mrs。 Dodd caressed the lovely head soothingly with one hand； and made a sign over it to Edward to leave them alone。 She waited quietly till Julia was composed： and then said； softly； 〃 Come； tell me what it is： nothing that Edward said to you； for I heard almost every word； and I was just going to smile； or nearly； when you And； my love； it is not the first time； you know。 I would not tell Edward； but I have more than once seen your eyes with tears in them。〃
〃Have you； mamma？〃 said Julia； scarcely above a whisper。
〃Why； you know I have。 But I said to myself it was no use forcing confidence。 I thought I would be very patient； and wait till you came to me with it； so now； what is it； my darling？ Why do you speak of one thing and think of another？ and cry without any reason that your mother can see？〃
〃I don't know； mamma；〃 said Julia； hiding her head。 〃I think it is because I sleep so badly。 I rise in the morning hot and quivering； and more tired then I lay down。〃
Mrs。 Dodd inquired how long this had been。
Julia did not answer this question； she went on； with her face still hidden： 〃Mamma； I do feel so depressed and hysterical； or else in violent spirits： but not nice and cheerful as you are； and I used to be； and I go from one thing to another； and can settle to nothingeven in church I attend by fits and starts： I forgot to water my very flowers last night： and I heard Mrs。 Maxley out of my window tell Sarah I am losing my colour。 Am I？ But what does it matter？ I am losing my sense； for I catch myself for ever looking in the glass； and that is a sure sign of a fool； you know。