"He sha'n't be left helpless with that rude man." The Cobbler could not help smiling.

"Lord love you," said he; "you have a spirit of your own, and if you were my wife I should be afraid of you.

But I won't stand here eavesdropping; mayhap your grandfather has secrets I'm not to hear: call me if I'm wanted." He descended.

Sophy, with less noble disdain of eavesdropping, stood in the centre of the room, holding her breath to listen.

She heard no sound; she had half a mind to put her ear to the keyhole, but that seemed even to her a mean thing, if not absolutely required by the necessity of the case.