Just as they got level with the visitors' room, they heard feet crossing the floor.

Polly started; the water splashed over the neck of the jug, and fell with a loud plop.
At this Jinny lost her head and ran off with the candle.

Polly, in a panic of fright, dived into the pantry with her burden, and crouched down behind a tub of fermenting gingerbeer .-- And sure enough, a minute after, the door of the room opposite was flung open and a pair of jackboots landed in the passage.
Nor was this the worst: the door was not shut again but remained ajar.
Through the chink, Polly, shrunk to her smallest--what if one of them should feel hungry, and come into the pantry and discover her ?--Polly heard Purdy say with appalling loudness: "Oh, go on, old man-don't jaw so!" He then seemed to plunge his head in the basin, for it was with a choke and a splutter that he next inquired: "And what did you think of the little 'un?
Wasn't I right ?" There was the chink of coins handled, and the other voice answered: "Here's what I think.

Take your money, my boy, and be done with it!" "Dick!--Great Snakes! Why, damn it all, man, you don't mean to tell me...." "And understand, sir, in future, that I do not make bets where a lady is concerned." "Oh, I know--only on the Tilly-Jinny-sort.

And yet good Lord, Dick!"-- the rest was drowned in a bawl of laughter.
Under cover of it Polly took to her heels and fled, regardless of the open door, or the padding of her bare feet on the boards.
Without replying to the astonished Jinny's query in respect of the water, she climbed over Tilly to her place beside the wall, and shutting her eyes very tight, drew the sheet over her face: it felt as though it would never be cool again .-- Hence, Jinny, agreeably wakeful, was forced to keep her thoughts to herself; for if you lie between two people, one of whom is in a bad temper, and the other fast asleep, you might just as well be alone in bed.
Next morning Polly alleged a headache and did not appear at breakfast.
Only Jinny and Tilly stood on the verandah of romantic memories, and ruefully waved their handkerchiefs, keeping it up till even the forms of horses were blurred in the distance..