’Verywell，then！’exclaimedBob，withsuddendetermination。’NowI
knowmydoom！Andwhateveryouhearofashappeningtome，mindthis，youcruelgirl，thatitisallyourcausing！’Sayingthishestrodewithahastytreadacrosstheroomintothepassageandoutatthedoor，slammingitloudlybehindhim。
Annesuddenlylookedupfromherhandkerchief，andstaredwithroundweteyesandpartedlipsatthedoorbywhichhehadgone。Havingremainedwithsuspendedbreathinthisattitudeforafewsecondssheturnedround，bentherheaduponthetable，andburstoutweepinganewwiththricetheviolenceoftheformertime。Itreallyseemednowasifhergriefwouldoverwhelmher，alltheemotionswhichhadbeensuppressed，bottledup，andconcealedsinceBob’sreturnhavingmadethemselvesasluiceatlast。
Butsuchthingshavetheirend；andlefttoherselfinthelarge，vacant，oldapartment，shegrewquieter，andatlastcalm。Atlengthshetookthecandleandascendedtoherbedroom，whereshebathedhereyesandlookedintheglasstoseeifshehadmadeherselfadreadfulobject。Itwasnotsobadasshehadexpected，andshewentdownstairsagain。
Nobodywasthere，and，sittingdown，shewonderedwhatBobhadreallymeantbyhiswords。Itwastoodreadfultothinkthatheintendedtogostraightawaytoseawithoutseeingheragain，andfrightenedatwhatshehaddoneshewaitedanxiouslyforhisreturn。
Hersuspensewasinterruptedbyaverygentletappingatthedoor，andthentherustleofahandoveritssurface，asifsearchingforthelatchinthedark。Thedooropenedafewinches，andthealabasterfaceofUncleBenjyappearedintheslit。
’O，SquireDerriman，youfrightenme！’
’Allalone？’heaskedinawhisper。
’MymotherandMr。Lovedayaresomewhereaboutthehouse。’
’Thatwilldo，’hesaid，comingforward。’Ibewherritedoutofmylife，andIhavethoughtofyouagain——youyourself，dearAnne，andnotthemiller。IfyouwillonlytakethisandlockitupforafewdaystillIcanfindanothergoodplaceforit——ifyouonlywould！’
Andhebreathlesslydepositedthetinboxonthetable。
’What，obligedtodigitupfromthecellar？’
’Ay；mynephewhathascentoftheplace——how，Idon’tknow！butheandayoungwomanhe’smetwitharesearchingeverywhere。Iworkedlikeawire-drawertogetitupandawaywhiletheywerescrapinginthenextcellar。Nowwherecouldyeputit，dear？’Tisonlyafewdocuments，andmywill，andsuchlike，youknow。Poorsoulo’me，I’mwornoutwithrunningandfright！’
’I’llputitheretillIcanthinkofabetterplace，’saidAnne，liftingthebox。’Dearme，howheavyitis！’
’Yes，yes，’saidUncleBenjyhastily；’theboxisiron，yousee。
However，takecareofit，becauseIamgoingtomakeitworthyourwhile。Ah，youareagoodgirl，Anne。Iwishyouwasmine！’
AnnelookedatUncleBenjy。Shehadknownforsometimethatshepossessedalltheaffectionhehadtobestow。
’Whydoyouwishthat？’shesaidsimply。
’Nowdon’tyearguewithme。Whered’yeputthecoffer？’
’Here，’saidAnne，goingtothewindow-seat，whichroseasaflap，disclosingaboxedreceptaclebeneath，asinmanyoldhouses。
’’Tisverywellforthepresent，’hesaiddubiously，andtheydroppedthecofferin，Annelockingdowntheseat，andgivinghimthekey。’NowIdon’twantyetobeonmysidefornothing，’hewenton。’Ineverdidnow，didI？Thisisforyou。’Hehandedheralittlepacketofpaper，whichAnneturnedoverandlookedatcuriously。’Ialwaysmeanttodoit，’continuedUncleBenjy，gazingatthepacketasitlayinherhand，andsighing。’Come，openit，mydear；Ialwaysmeanttodoit！’
Sheopeneditandfoundtwentynewguineassnuglypackedwithin。
’Yes，theyareforyou。Ialwaysmeanttodoit！’hesaid，sighingagain。
’Butyouowemenothing！’returnedAnne，holdingthemout。
’Don’tsayit！’criedUncleBenjy，coveringhiseyes。’Put’emaway……Well，ifyouDON’Twant’em——Butput’emaway，dearAnne；theyareforyou，becauseyouhavekeptmycounsel。
Good-nightt’ye。Yes，theyareforyou。’
Hewentafewsteps，andturningbackaddedanxiously，’Youwon’tspend’eminclothes，orwaste’eminfairings，orornamentsofanykind，mydeargirl？’
’Iwillnot，’saidAnne。’Iwishyouwouldhavethem。’
’No，no，’saidUncleBenjy，rushingofftoescapetheirshine。Buthehadgotnofurtherthanthepassagewhenhereturnedagain。
’Andyouwon’tlend’emtoanybody，orput’emintothebank——fornobankissafeinthesetroubloustimes？……IfIwasyouI’dkeepthemEXACTLYastheybe，andnotspend’emonanyaccount。ShallI
lockthemintomyboxforye？’
’Certainly，’saidshe；andthefarmerrapidlyunlockedthewindow-bench，openedthebox，andlockedthemin。
’’Tismuchthebestplan，’hesaidwithgreatsatisfactionashereturnedthekeystohispocket。’Theretheywillalwaysbesafe，yousee，andyouwon’tbeexposedtotemptation。’
Whentheoldmanhadbeengoneafewminutes，themillerandhiswifecamein，quiteunconsciousofallthathadpassed。Anne’sanxietyaboutBobwasagainuppermostnow，andshespokebutmeagrelyofoldDerriman’svisit，andnothingofwhathehadleft。
ShewouldfainhaveaskedthemiftheyknewwhereBobwas，butthatshedidnotwishtoinformthemoftherupture。Shewasforcedtoadmittoherselfthatshehadsomewhattriedhispatience，andthatimpulsivemenhadbeenknowntododarkthingswiththemselvesatsuchtimes。
Theysatdowntosupper，theclocktickedrapidlyon，andatlengththemillersaid，’Bobislaterthanusual。Wherecanhebe？’
Astheybothlookedather，shecouldnolongerkeepthesecret。
’Itismyfault，’shecried；’Ihavedrivenhimaway！WhatshallI
do？’
Thenatureofthequarrelwasatonceguessed，andhertwoelderssaidnomore。Anneroseandwenttothefrontdoor，whereshelistenedforeverysoundwithapalpitatingheart。Thenshewentin；thenshewentout:andononeoccasionsheheardthemillersay，’IwonderwhathathpassedbetweenBobandAnne。Ihopethechapwillcomehome。’
Justaboutthistimelightfootstepswereheardwithout，andBobbouncedintothepassage。Anne，whostoodbackinthedarkwhilehepassed，followedhimintotheroom，wherehermotherandthemillerwereonthepointofretiringtobed，candleinhand。
’Ihavekeptyeup，Ifear，’beganBobcheerily，andapparentlywithoutthefaintestrecollectionofhistragicexitfromthehouse。
’Butthetruthon’tis，ImetwithFessDerrimanatthe“DukeofYork“asIwentfromhere，andtherewehavebeenplayingPuteversince，notnoticinghowthetimewasgoing。Ihaven’thadagoodchatwiththefellowforyearsandyears，andreallyheisanoutandoutgoodcomrade——aregularhearty！Poorfellow，he’sbeenverybadlyused。Ineverheardtherightsofthestorytillnow；butitseemsthatolduncleofhistreatshimshamefully。Hehasbeenhidingawayhismoney，sothatpoorFessmightnothaveafarthing，tillatlasttheyoungmanhasturned，likeanyotherworm，andisnowdeterminedtoferretoutwhathehasdonewithit。Thepooryoungchaphadn’tafarthingofreadymoneytillIlenthimacoupleofguineas——athingIneverdidmorewillinglyinmylife。Butthemanwasveryhonourable。“No；no，“sayshe，“don’tletmedepriveye。“He’sgoingtomarry，andwhatmayyouthinkheisgoingtodoitfor？’
’Forlove，Ihope，’saidAnne’smother。
’Formoney，Isuppose，sincehe’ssoshort，’saidthemiller。
’No，’saidBob，’forSPITE。Hehasbeenbadlyserved——deucedbadlyserved——byawoman。Ineverheardofamoreheartlesscaseinmylife。Thepoorchapwouldn’tmentionnames，butitseemsthisyoungwomanhastrifledwithhiminallmannerofcruelways——pushedhimintotheriver，triedtostealhishorsewhenhewascalledouttodefendhiscountry——inshort，servedhimrascally。SoIgavehimthetwoguineasandsaid，“Nowlet’sdrinktothehussy’sdownfall！“’
’O！’saidAnne，havingapproachedbehindhim。
Bobturnedandsawher，andatthesamemomentMr。andMrs。Lovedaydiscreetlyretiredbytheotherdoor。
’Isitpeace？’heaskedtenderly。
’Oyes，’sheanxiouslyreplied。’I——didn’tmeantomakeyouthinkI
hadnoheart。’AtthisBobinclinedhiscountenancetowardshers。
’No，’shesaid，smilingthroughtwoincipienttearsasshedrewback。’Youaretoshowgoodbehaviourforsixmonths，andyoumustpromisenottofrightenmeagainbyrunningoffwhenI——showyouhowbadlyyouhaveservedme。’
’Iamyoursobedient——inanything，’criedBob。’ButamIpardoned？’
Youthisfoolish；anddoesawomanoftenletherreasoninginfavouroftheworthierstandinthewayofherperversedesireforthelessworthyatsuchtimesasthese？Shemurmuredsomesoftwords，endingwith’Doyourepent？’
ItwouldbesuperfluoustotranscribeBob’sanswer。
Footstepswereheardwithout。
’Obegad；Iforgot！’saidBob。’He’swaitingoutthereforalight。’
’Who？’
’MyfriendDerriman。’
’But，Bob，Ihavetoexplain。’
ButFestushadbythistimeenteredthelobby，andAnne，withahasty’Getridofhimatonce！’vanishedupstairs。
Hereshewaitedandwaited，butFestusdidnotseeminclinedtodepart；andatlast，forebodingsomecollisionofinterestsfromBob’snewfriendshipforthisman，shecreptintoastoreroomwhichwasovertheapartmentintowhichLovedayandFestushadgone。Bylookingthroughaknot-holeintheflooritwaseasytocommandaviewoftheroombeneath，thisbeingunceiled，withmouldedbeamsandrafters。
Festushadsatdownonthehollowwindow-bench，andwascontinuingthestatementofhiswrongs。’Ifheonlyknewwhathewassittingupon，’shethoughtapprehensively，’howeasilyhecouldtearuptheflap，lockandall，withhisstrongarm，andseizeuponpoorUncleBenjy’spossessions！’Buthedidnotappeartoknow，unlesshewereacting，whichwasjustpossible。Afterawhileherose，andgoingtothetableliftedthecandletolighthispipe。Atthemomentwhentheflamebegandivingintothebowlthedoornoiselesslyopenedandafigureslippedacrosstheroomtothewindow-bench，hastilyunlockedit，withdrewthebox，andbeataretreat。AnneinamomentrecognizedtheghostlyintruderasFestusDerriman’suncle。
BeforehecouldgetoutoftheroomFestussetdownthecandleandturned。
’What——UncleBenjy——haw，haw！Hereatthistimeofnight？’
UncleBenjy’seyesgrewparalyzed，andhismouthopenedandshutlikeafrog’sinadrought，theactionproducingnosound。
’Whathavewegothere——atinbox——theboxofboxes？Why，I’llcarryitfor’ee，uncle！——Iamgoinghome。’
’N——no——no，thanky，Festus:itisn——n——notheavyatall，thanky，’
gaspedthesquireen。
’ObutImust，’saidFestus，pullingatthebox。
’Don’tlethimhaveit，Bob！’screamedtheexcitedAnnethroughtheholeinthefloor。
’No，don’tlethim！’criedtheuncle。’’Tisaplot——there’sawomanatthewindowwaitingtohelphim！’
Anne’seyesflewtothewindow，andshesawMatilda’sfacepressedagainstthepane。
Bob，thoughhedidnotknowwhenceAnne’scommandproceededobeyedwithalacrity，pulledtheboxfromthetworelatives，andplaceditonthetablebesidehim。
’Now，lookhere，hearties；what’sthemeaningo’this？’hesaid。
’He’stryingtorobmeofallIpossess！’criedtheoldman。’Myheart-stringsseemasiftheyweregoingcrack，crack，crack！’
Atthisinstantthemillerinhisshirt-sleevesenteredtheroom，havinggotthusfarinhisundressingwhenheheardthenoise。BobandFestusturnedtohimtoexplain；andwhenthelatterhadhadhissayBobadded，’Well，allIknowisthatthisbox’——herehestretchedouthishandtolayituponthelidforemphasis。Butasnothingbutthinairmethisfingerswheretheboxhadbeen，heturned，andfoundthattheboxwasgone，UncleBenjyhavingvanishedalso。
