Quickly divining that this must be Sal Furbush, Mary sprang back, but had not time to fasten her door ere the wild woman was there.

In a tremor of terror Mary ran under the bed as the only hiding-place the room afforded, but her heart almost ceased beating as she saw her pursuer about to follow her.

Springing out with a bound she would perhaps have made her egress through the open window, had not Sally prevented her by seizing her arm, at the same time saying, "Don't be alarmed, duckey, I shan't hurt you; I'm Sal.

Don't you know Sal ?" The voice was low and musical, and there was something in its tones which in a measure quieted Mary's fears, but she took good care to keep at a respectful distance.

After a while Sally asked, "Have you come here to board ?" "I have come here to live," answered Mary, "I have no other home." "Well, for your sake I hope there'll be an improvement in the fare, for if there isn't I declare _I_ won't stay much longer, though to be sure you don't look as if you'd been used to any thing better than skim-milk.