"I'm tired and shall go to bed," she muttered thickly, and, rising, she rambled out of the room. Melina heard her slowly mount the stairs and enter her bedroom. Silence followed, which remained unbroken.
Ten minutes later, having finished her supper, the little girl went upstairs herself; but before going to her own room she listened at her grandmother's door. The sound of stertorous breathing fell upon her ears, and, opening the door noiselessly, she glanced inside. A candle was burning on a chair close to the bed, and Mrs. Berryman, fully dressed, was lying on the bed in a heavy sleep. Melina did not disturb her; but she tiptoed across the room and put out the candle, then beat a hasty retreat.
"How very careless of Gran to have left her candle alight," she thought, "and so near her bed too! I must really tell her about it in the morning. If she doesn't mind, one of these days, when she's not herself, she'll set the place on fire!"
But when the morning came, Mrs. Berryman was in such a bad temper that Melina was afraid to mention the matter to her, and decided to hold her peace.
"She'd say I had no business in her room," she reflected; "no, on second thoughts, perhaps I'd better not speak of it. I dare say she'll never leave her candle burning like that again."
[CHAPTER VIII]
GOOD FRIDAY EVENING
WHEN Melina told her grandmother of the service which was to be held by Mr. Blackmore on Good Friday evening in the town hall, and asked permission to attend it, the old woman answered, "No, certainly not"; but on hearing that there would be no charge for admission, she said, "Well, if there'll be nothing to pay, I don't mind your going. By the way, who's this Mr. Blackmore?"
Melina had not previously mentioned her acquaintance with the little gentleman to her grandmother, so her response was a decided surprise to the old woman.
"A friend of mine, Gran—a very nice gentleman who's come to live at South View. He helps the vicar, and—"