The old lady took great pride in her own acuteness.

The distasteful task of gaoler, however, pained good Aunt Dorothy, whose simplicity was, in truth, no match for Dorothy's love-quickened cunning.

But Aunt Dorothy's sense of duty and her fear of Sir George impelled her to keep good and conscientious guard.
One afternoon near the hour of sunset I knocked for admission at Lady Crawford's door.

When I had entered she locked the door carefully after me, and replaced the key in the reticule which hung at her girdle.
I exchanged a few words with her Ladyship, and entered Dorothy's bedroom, where I left my cloak, hat, and sword.

The girls were in the parlor.