She audaciously took to herself the whole credit of telling her story: "I think it's my turn now," she said, "to be interested and amused.

May I ask you to begin, Miss Emily?
All I know of you at present is, t hat your family name is Brown." Emily held up her hand for silence.
Was the mysterious creaking on the stairs making itself heard once more?
No.

The sound that had caught Emily's quick ear came from the beds, on the opposite side of the room, occupied by the three lazy girls.

With no new alarm to disturb them, Effie, Annis, and Priscilla had yielded to the composing influences of a good supper and a warm night.

They were fast asleep--and the stoutest of the three (softly, as became a young lady) was snoring! The unblemished reputation of the bedroom was dear to Emily, in her capacity of queen.