"Then I hope Berkins will," said Sally, with a coarse laugh.

The association of Berkins with electricity proved so generally
ludicrous that Mrs. Wood, conscious of the respect she owed Miss
Brookes, pretended to look for her handkerchief, and it was for a
moment doubtful if the spectacles would preserve their gravity. Tears
started to Grace's eyes, and she bent over her work to hide them from
her sisters, which was unnecessary, for Maggie and Sally were absorbed
in past experiences.

"What about Frank?" Sally asked, and Susan looked up curious to hear
Maggie's answer.

"Well," said Maggie, staring at the window, "Frank is very good-
looking, but I don't think that he electrifies one... he did once."

"And when was that?" said Sally.

"You remember the first time he came to stay here? Willy brought him
down from London. We went to bed early and left them playing
billiards; I lay awake waiting to hear them come up the stairs, and as
he passed my room Frank stopped and I thought he was coming in. I felt
it all down my spine, but never afterwards. You see, I didn't know him
much then."

"And Jimmy?"

"I never liked Jimmy."