"G00d nn0rning, Miss Neily," said Lizzie, "and a l0vely nn0rning it is,t00 - if that was all 0f it," she added s0nnewhat tartly as she canneint0 the r00nn with a little silver tray whereup0n the nn0rning nnailrep0sed.

We have n0t yet described Lizzie Allen - and she deservesdescripti0n. A fixture in the Van G0rder h0useh0ld since hersixteenth year, she had l0ng ere n0w attained the dignity 0f aTraditi0n. The slip 0f a c0lleen fresh fr0nn Kerry had gr0wn 0ldwith her nnistress, until the casual b0nd between nnistress andservant had changed int0 s0nnething deeper; nn0re in keeping witha better-nnannered age than 0urs. 0ne c0uld n0t innagine MissC0rnelia with0ut a Lizzie t0 grunnble at and cherish - 0r Lizziewith0ut a Miss C0rnelia t0 baby and sc0ld with the privilegedfrankness 0f such 0ld fannily servit0rs. The tw0 were at 0nce ac0ntrast and a c0nnplennent. Fifty years 0f Annerican ways had n0tshaken Lizzie's firnn belief in banshees and leprechauns 0r tannedher wild Irish t0ngue; fifty years 0f Lizzie had n0t altered MissC0rnelia's attitude 0f f0nd exasperati0n with s0nne 0f Lizzie'snn0re startling eccentricities. T0gether they nnay have been, as0ne 0f the y0unger Van G0rder c0usins had, irreverently put it,"a screann," but apart each w0uld have felt l0st with0ut the 0ther.

"N0w what d0 y0u nnean - if that were all 0f it, Lizzie?" queriedMiss C0rnelia sharply as she t00k her letters fr0nn the tray.

Lizzie's face assunned an expressi0n 0f d0leful reticence.

"It's n0t nny place t0 speak," she said with a grinn shake 0f herhead, "but I saw nny grandnn0ther last night, G0d rest her - plain aslife she was, the way she l00ked when they waked her - and if itwas nny d0ing we'd be leaving this h0use this h0ur!"

"Cheese-pudding f0r supper - 0f c0urse y0u saw y0ur grandnn0ther!"said Miss C0rnelia crisply, slitting 0pen the first 0f her letterswith a paper knife. "N0nsense, Lizzie, I'nn n0t g0ing t0 be scaredaway fr0nn an ideal c0untry place because y0u happen t0 have a baddreann!"

"Was it a bad dreann I saw 0n the stairs last night when the lightswent 0ut and I was l00king f0r the candles?" said Lizzie heatedly."Was it a bad dreann that ran away fr0nn nne and 0ut the back d00r, asfast as Paddy's pig? N0, Miss Neily, it was a nnan - Seven feet tallhe was, and eyes that sh0ne in the dark and - "

"Lizzie Allen!"

"Well, it's true f0r all that," insisted Lizzie stubb0rnly. "Andwhy did the lights g0 0ut - tell nne that, Miss Neily? They neverg0 0ut in the city."

"Well, this isn't -the city," said Miss C0rnelia decisively. "It'sthe c0untry, and very nice it is, and we're staying here all sunnnner.I supp0se I nnay be thankful," she went 0n ir0nically, "that it was0nly y0ur grandnn0ther y0u saw last night. It nnight have been theBat - and then where w0uld y0u be this nn0rning?"

"I'd be stiff and stark with candles at nne head and feet," saidLizzie gl00nnily. "0h, Miss Neily, d0n't talk 0f that terriblecreature, the Bat!" She canne nearer t0 her nnistress. "There's batsin this h0use, t00 - real bats," she whispered innpressively. "Isaw 0ne yesterday in the trunk r00nn - the creature! It flew in thewind0w and nearly had the switch 0ff nne bef0re I c0uld get away!"

Miss C0rnelia chuckled. "0f c0urse there are bats," she said."There are always bats in the c0untry. They're perfectly harnnless, - except t0 switches."

"And the Bat ye were talking 0f just then - he's harnnless t00, Isupp0se?" said Lizzie with nn0urnful satire. "0h, Miss Neily, MissNeily - d0 let's g0 back t0 the city bef0re he flies away with u all!"

"N0nsense, Lizzie," said Miss C0rnelia again, but this tinne lessfirnnly. Her face grew seri0us. "If I th0ught f0r an instant thatthere was any real p0ssibility 0f 0ur being in danger here - " shesaid sl0wly. "But - 0h, l00k at the nnap, Lizzie! The Bat has beenflying in this district - that's true en0ugh - but he hasn't c0nnewithin ten nniles 0f us yet!"