The taunt seemed to restore his presence of mind. "I hope I should if I
knew; but I don't. Apparently something disagreeable has happened, for
which you think I'm to blame. But I don't know what it is, because I've
been up on Eagle Ridge ever since the early morning."

"I don't know where you've been this morning, but I know you were here
in this library yesterday; and it was you that went home and told your
cousin the books were in bad shape, and brought her round to see how I'd
neglected them."

Young Harney looked sincerely concerned. "Was that what you were told?
I don't wonder you're angry. The books are in bad shape, and as some are
interesting it's a pity. I told Miss Hatchard they were suffering from
dampness and lack of air; and I brought her here to show her how easily
the place could be ventilated. I also told her you ought to have some
one to help you do the dusting and airing. If you were given a wrong
version of what I said I'm sorry; but I'm so fond of old books that
I'd rather see them made into a bonfire than left to moulder away like
these."

Charity felt her sobs rising and tried to stifle them in words. "I don't
care what you say you told her. All I know is she thinks it's all my
fault, and I'm going to lose my job, and I wanted it more'n anyone in
the village, because I haven't got anybody belonging to me, the way
other folks have. All I wanted was to put aside money enough to get away
from here sometime. D'you suppose if it hadn't been for that I'd have
kept on sitting day after day in this old vault?"

Of this appeal her hearer took up only the last question. "It is an