opened somewhere down-stairs; for a great rushing
draft blew along the passage and the door of
the room they sat in was blown open with a crash,
and as they both jumped to their feet the light was
blown out and the crying sound was swept down
the far corridor so that it was to be heard more
plainly than ever.

"There! said Mary. "I told you so! It is
some one crying -- and it isn't a grown-up person."

Martha ran and shut the door and turned the
key, but before she did it they both heard the
sound of a door in some far passage shutting with
a bang, and then everything was quiet, for even
the wind ceased "wutherin'" for a few moments.

"It was th' wind," said Martha stubbornly.
"An' if it wasn't, it was little Betty Butterworth,
th' scullery-maid. She's had th' toothache all
day."

But something troubled and awkward in her
manner made Mistress Mary stare very hard at
her. She did not believe she was speaking the
truth.

[[64]]

p063 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p064w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p065

v?