began to laugh at me I declared I would finish it to-day! 

 We go away to-morrow, and they are moving all my furniture down again to leave things as they were before. 

 Jennie looked at the wall in amazement, but I told her merrily that I did it out of pure spite at the vicious thing. 

 She laughed and said she wouldn’t mind doing it herself, but I must not get tired. 

 How she betrayed herself that time! 

 But I am here, and no person touches this paper but me—not alive! 

 She tried to get me out of the room—it was too patent! But I said it was so quiet and empty and clean now that I believed I would lie down again and sleep all I could; and not to wake me even for dinner—I would call when I woke. 

 So now she is gone, and the servants are gone, and the things are gone, and there is nothing left but that great bedstead nailed down, with the canvas mattress we found on it. 

 We shall sleep downstairs to-night, and take the boat home to-morrow. 

 I quite enjoy the room, now it is bare again. 

 How those children did tear about here! 

 This bedstead is fairly gnawed! 

 But I must get to work. 

 I have locked the door and thrown the key down into the front path. 

 I don’t want to go out, and I don’t want to have anybody come in, till John comes. 

 I want to astonish him. 

 I’ve got a rope up here that even Jennie did not find. If that woman does get out, and tries to get away, I can tie her! 

 But I forgot I could not reach far without anything to stand on! 

 This bed will not move! 

 Prev. P 15/17 next