Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/71

 the screen down at the same time with great violence.

The fire was strong, and the lace dry, so that its destruction was the work of a moment. At the expense of burning my hand and arm, I saved a fragment, but it could be of no use, and I really became sick with terror and vexation.

Jenny desired me not to vex myself, for that it was easy to say that the screen only fell by accident, and that my lord would be a good boy, and say that he saw it fall, and that the lace which hung on it fell into the fire; "and then what can my lady say, you know?" cried she, perfectly satisfied with the arrangement.

Her story might do very well, I said, provided there was none to witness against us.

"And who can witness against us?" said she, "has not the door been shut all the time? who then can witness against us?"

"O Jenny," returned I, "there are