"What do you deserve, you wicked little picture of deceit?" demanded
Hamish. "Do you forget the old story of the listener who lost his
ears?"

"I always do listen whenever I can, and I always will," avowed Annabel.
"I have warned you so a hundred times over, and now I warn you again. I
wish Tom _would_ turn bell-ringer! I'd make him ring a peal that should
astonish Helstonleigh, the day Constance goes out as governess. Shan't
I have a fine time of it! It's lessons for me now, morning, noon, and
night,--she's always worrying me; but, once let us get her back turned,
and I shall have whole holiday! She may think I'll do my lessons with
her at night; but I won't!"

The boys began to chase her round the table. She was almost a match for
all four--a troublesome, indulged, sunny-hearted child, who delighted
in committing faults, that she might have the pleasure of avowing them.
She flew out into the garden, first knocking over Constance's
paint-box, and some of them went after her.

At that moment Mr. Yorke came in. You have seen him once before, in his
place in Helstonleigh Cathedral: a tall, slender man, with pale,
well-formed features, and an attractive smile. His dark eyes rested on
Constance as he entered, and once more the brilliant colour lighted up
her face. When prospects should be a little better--that is, when Mr.
Yorke should have a sufficient living bestowed upon him--Constance was
to become his wife. His stipend from the minor canonry was at present
trifling.

"Judith met me in the hall as I was going into the parlour, and told me