It was the voice of Miggs that greeted the locksmith, when he knocked at
his own house, with a shrill cry of 'Who's there?'

'Me, girl, me,' returned Gabriel.

What, already, sir!' said Miggs, opening the door with a look of
surprise. 'We were just getting on our nightcaps to sit up,--me and
mistress. Oh, she has been SO bad!'

Miggs said this with an air of uncommon candour and concern; but the
parlour-door was standing open, and as Gabriel very well knew for whose
ears it was designed, he regarded her with anything but an approving
look as he passed in.

'Master's come home, mim,' cried Miggs, running before him into the
parlour. 'You was wrong, mim, and I was right. I thought he wouldn't
keep us up so late, two nights running, mim. Master's always considerate
so far. I'm so glad, mim, on your account. I'm a little'--here Miggs
simpered--'a little sleepy myself; I'll own it now, mim, though I said I
wasn't when you asked me. It ain't of no consequence, mim, of course.'

'You had better,' said the locksmith, who most devoutly wished that
Barnaby's raven was at Miggs's ankles, 'you had better get to bed at
once then.'

'Thanking you kindly, sir,' returned Miggs, 'I couldn't take my rest in
peace, nor fix my thoughts upon my prayers, otherways than that I knew
mistress was comfortable in her bed this night; by rights she ought to
have been there, hours ago.'