“Under this powerful stimulant he revived. But she had, in the fear and excitement of the hour, utterly forgotten the inquiry she had put to him, and no more would have been said of it, had not he, in fearful interest, resumed the subject.
“‘You were asking me about—one of the servants, were you not?’ he inquired.
“‘Oh, yes. But never mind! sit still, and keep your feet to the fire until you get warm. Never mind about gratifying my foolish curiosity now,’ she answered, thoughtfully.
“‘My chill is already gone, thanks to your skilful nursing! What chill could resist your warm draughts? But now about your question. What was it?’
“‘Oh, nothing much! I only asked you who was the little girl with the red cloak, who is so silent and shy that she never answers me when I speak to her, and always shrinks away whenever she finds herself observed.’
“The trembling wretch was ready with his falsehood. He answered:
“‘Oh! she is the child of a poor couple on the mountain, and comes to the house for cold victuals; but she is as you have observed, very shy; so I think you had better leave her to herself.’
“‘Yes, but are you sure she is to be trusted? For shy as she is in other matters, she is bold enough to intrude into the most private parts of the house, and at the most untimely hours of the night,’ remarked the lady.
“‘Indeed!’ muttered the guilty man, in a sepulchral tone.
“‘Indeed and indeed! Why, only last night, when we came home at midnight, from Mrs. Judge Mayo’s ball, when you lingered below stairs to speak to the butler, and I ran up into my own room alone, I saw this strange looking little creature, with the streaming black hair and the red cloak, standing before my dressing-glass! Now what do you think of that?’