THE VISIT OF THE WASHERMAN. 
much better. All that passed further in the matter 
was a caution not to look in at that keyhole any 
more, and the promise was given. A few days after 
this master became somewhat surprised to perceive^ 
that a sudden fit of excessive cleanliness had taken 
possession of bis servant, but it seemed to be merely 
local, confined to that portion of the verandah im- 
mediately opposite his bedroom window, which he 
would persist in diligently sweeping whenever he retired 
to his bedroom couch to recline for a little. So one 
day he lay close in on the edge of' the wall, so as 
not to be easily seen from the outside, just to watch 
the course of events. He had on his shoes, so that, 
when the boy peeped round the verandah corner and 
saw no shoes standing in the usual place, he would 
be sure to come round to the bedroom window to 
sweep the verandah and see if master was in his room. 
Nor did he wait long, for very soon a shadow flitted 
about the walls of the room, plainly showing that 
some one was lounging in the verandah. Soon the 
window was darkened : somebody was looking in. 
The window was constructed with two sides of panes 
of glass, which bolted above and below in the centre ; 
frequently the top bolt was never fastened, as was the 
case in the present instance, only the under one. As 
before stated, master had lain close in to the wall, 
and was not visible, so the boy flattened his nose against 
the glass pane, upon which, in his eagerness to see in 
^ leaned his head rather heavily. A wicked thought 
flitted through master’s brain. Quietly, but quickly, 
his hand next to the wall was raised and grasped the 
bolt; a sharp click followed ; the window, propelled by 
the weight leaning against it on the outside, burst 
open, and in toppled the boy, head-foremost upon the 
top of master on the couch, grasping him as he 
tumbled in. They both rolled over upon the floor. 
On a momentary impulse, master had laid hold of the 
washing-stand which stood at the top of the couch, 
which of course gave away also, sousing them both 
with a basinful of dirty water, in which master had 
washed his feet before lying down. Master sprang up, 
seated himself on the edge of the couch, and eyed, in 
a half comical, irritable frame of mind, the mischief 
he had caused. The boy slowly raised himself up, 
on his legs, raised his hand to the crown of his head 
which had received a good crack, as the result of the 
tumble, then pushed the knuckles of his hands into 
his eyes, and commenced to howl* But his employer, 
instead of sympathizing with him in his dire afiliction, 
commenced soundly to rate and scold him upon 
this very extraordinary conduct. ‘‘ You rascal, worth- 
less impertinent scoundrel, jumping into my bed- 
