sister and brother who went to school with her--making them play
in the school-grounds until she was ready to go home with them.

Before Miss Margaret had come to New Canaan, Tillie had done her
midnight reading by the light of the kerosene lamp which, after
every one was asleep, she would bring up from the kitchen to her
bedside. But this was dangerous, as it often led to awkward
inquiries as to the speedy consumption of the oil. Candles were
safer. Tillie kept them and a box of matches hidden under the
mattress.

It was eleven o'clock when at last the child, trembling with
mingled delight and apprehension, rose from her bed, softly closed
her bedroom door, and with extremely judicious carefulness lighted
her candle, propped up her pillow, and settled down to read as
long as she should be able to hold her eyes open. The little
sister at her side and the one in the bed at the other side of the
room slept too soundly to be disturbed by the faint flickering
light of that one candle.

To-night her stolen pleasure proved more than usually engrossing.
At first the book was interesting principally because of the fact,
so vividly present with her, that Miss Margaret's eyes and mind
had moved over every word and thought which, she was now
absorbing. But soon her intense interest in the story excluded
every other idea--even the fear of discovery. Her young spirit was
"out of the body" and following, as in a trance, this tale, the
like of which she had never before read.

The clock down-stairs in the kitchen struck twelve--one--two, but