"You will catch a cold that will lay you up, if you go out in that condition." "I should not have rung that bell if I had not been afraid of taking cold," added the son.
"But, Christy, something has happened; and you must tell me about it, or I shall not sleep another wink to-night," persisted the lady, concluding that her son was trying to conceal something from her, as indeed he was, for he feared it would alarm her if he told her some one had come into the house.
"There is nothing to be frightened about, mother; and I will tell you all about it," added Christy, as he took his overcoat from the stand and put it on.

"I waked an hour ago, or more, with the idea that some one had opened the door of my room," and he related the circumstances to his mother, including his search in the grounds and the road.
"Do you think any one came into the house ?" asked Mrs.Passford, though with but little of the woman's terror that such a statement might have caused.
"That is my decided opinion.

A noise at my chamber door woke me; I found the front door ajar, though I know I closed it when I came in last night, and I saw something moving down the avenue, which could only have been a man.

Of course, I conclude that it was a burglar; but none of us have been killed or harmed." Christy went to his room and completed his toilet.

The house was warm, and he was soon comfortable enough after the out-door chill.