very little. But just before Martha went downstairs
for the tea-tray, Mary asked a question.

"Martha," she said, "has the scullery-maid had
the toothache again to-day?"

Martha certainly started slightly.

"What makes thee ask that?" she said.

"Because when I waited so long for you to
come back I opened the door and walked down the
corridor to see if you were coming. And I heard
that far-off crying again, just as we heard it the
other night. There isn't a wind to-day, so you
see it couldn't have been the wind."

"Eh!" said Martha restlessly. "Tha' mustn't
go walkin' about in corridors an' listenin'. Mr.
Craven would be that there angry there's no
knowin' what he'd do."

"I wasn't listening," said Mary. "I was just
waiting for you -- and I heard it. That's three
times."

"My word! There's Mrs. Medlock's bell,"
said Martha, and she almost ran out of the room.

"It's the strangest house any one ever lived in,"
said Mary drowsily, as she dropped her head on
the cushioned seat of the armchair near her.
Fresh air, and digging, and skipping-rope had
made her feel so comfortably tired that she fell
asleep.

[[110]]

p109 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p110w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p111

v?