precaution, and in a pleasant voice, which in reading was
singularly free from colloquial infelicities of pronunciation,
began at once:

"'Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the
inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord,
to the help of the Lord against the mighty.'"

"Oh, you looked first," said Maggie.

"I didn't now--honest Injin! I just opened."

"Go on," said Maggie, eagerly shoving him and interposing her neck
over his shoulder.

And Jim continued Deborah's wonderful song of Jael and Sisera to
the bitter end of its strong monosyllabic climax.

"There," he said, closing the volume, "that's what I call revenge.
That's the real Scripture thing--no fancy frills theer."

"Yes; but, Jim dear, don't you see that she treated him first--
sorter got round him with free milk and butter, and reg'larly
blandished him," argued Maggie earnestly.

But Jim declined to accept this feminine suggestion, or to pursue
the subject further, and after a fraternal embrace they separated
for the night. Jim lingered long enough to look after the
fastening of the door and windows, and Maggie remained for some
moments at her casement, looking across the gallery to the Marsh