All I know is, I saw her crossin' herself one day when she came out of that room.

She looked pale enough, 'n' I heard her mutterin' somethin' or other about the Blessed Virgin.

If it had n't been for the double doors to that chamber of his, I'd have had a squint inside before this; but, somehow or other, it never seems to happen that they're both open at once.
What do you think he employs himself about?
said I.
The young man John winked.
I waited patiently for the thought, of which this wink was the blossom, to come to fruit in words.
I don't believe in witches,--said the young man John.
Nor I.
We were both silent for a few minutes.
-- Did you ever see the young girl's drawing-books,--I said, presently.
All but one,--he answered;--she keeps a lock on that, and won't show it.
Ma'am Allen, (the young rogue sticks to that name, in speaking of the gentleman with the diamond,) Ma'am Allen tried to peek into it one day when she left it on the sideboard.

"If you please," says she,--'n' took it from him, 'n' gave him a look that made him curl up like a caterpillar on a hot shovel.

I only wished he had n't, and had jest given her a little sass, for I've been takin' boxin'-lessons, 'n' I 've got a new way of counterin' I want to try on to somebody.
-- The end of all this was, that I came away from the young fellow's room, feeling that there were two principal things that I had to live for, for the next six weeks or six months, if it should take so long.