for a fireplace in her room had never been fitted with a grate, and the hearthstone itself was cracked and dislocated in a dozen places. By removing some of these fragments she had actually discovered a broken way into the chimney of the sitting room below, down which it was easy to slip a hollow rail of iron which with other lumber lay in the attic. This she had done, listened for her opportunity, and thereupon spoken the ominous words. 

 I think her appearance was the consummation of the doctor’s terror, for a shuddering “Oh!” shook from his lips, and he seemed about to drop. And indeed she was somewhat like a spirit, with her wild white face looking from a tangle of pheasant-brown hair and her solemn eyes like water glints in little wells of shadow. 

 She walked past the stricken man all stately, and then Modred and I jumped up and greeted her. At this the doctor’s jaw dropped, but his trembling ceased and he watched us with injected eyes. Holding my two hands, Zyp looked coyly round, leaning backward. 

 “I love a tall man,” she whispered; “he has more in him than a short one.” 

 The doctor pulled himself together and came straggling across to the table. 

 “Who the pestilence is this?” he said, in a voice not yet quite under his command. 

 Zyp let go my hands and curtsied like a wild flower. 

 “Zyp, the orphan, good gentleman,” she said; “shall I fill your pipe for you?” 

 It had fallen on the floor by the chimney, and she picked it up and went to him with a winning expression. 

 “Where is your tobacco, please?” 

 Mechanically he brought a round tin box from his pocket and handed it to her. Then it was a study in elfin coquetry to see the way in which she daintily coaxed the weed into the bowl and afterward sucking at the pipe stem with her determined little red lips to see if it drew properly. This done, she presented the mouthpiece to the doctor’s consideration, as if it were a baby’s “comforter.” 

 “Now,” she said, “sit down and I’ll bring you your glass.” 

 But at this the four of us, including Dr. Crackenthorpe, drew back. My father was no man to allow his pleasures to be encroached upon unbidden, and 

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