This was the signal for a general dispersion of the ladies--the
gentlemen, or most of them, adjourning to the smoking-room.

Since the late extraordinary influx of visitors, Mabel had shared
her aunt's chamber, but, instead of seeking this now, she went
straight from the parlor to the supper-room, where she found, as she
had expected, Mrs. Sutton in the height of business, directing the
setting of the breakfast-table, clearing away the debris of the
evening feast, and counting the silver with unusual care, lest a
stray fork or spoon had, by some hocus-pocus known to the class,
been slipped into the pocket of the supposititious burglar.

"Aunt," began Mabel, drawing her aside, "that poor wretch up-stairs
must be cared for. It is the height of cruelty to lock him up in a
fireless room, without provisions or dry clothing. If he should die,
would we be guiltless?"

Mrs. Sutton's benevolent physiognomy was perplexed.

"Didn't I say as much in the other room, before everybody, my dear?
And didn't SHE put me down with one of her magisterial sentences?
She is mistress here--not you or I. Besides, Winston has the key of
that east garret in his pocket, and I would not be the one to ask
him for it, since he has had his wife's opinion upon the subject of
humanity to prisoners."

"I shall not trouble him with my petition. I discovered by accident,
when I was a child, that the key of the north room would open that
door. If I order, upon my own responsibility, that a cup of hot