And Joe, alone of her three listeners, laughed--a long hearty peal
of amusement.

"There's nothing to laugh at," said Mrs. Bunting sharply. "I should
feel ashamed of being caught laughing at anything connected with the
Bible."

And poor Joe became suddenly quite serious. This was the first time
that Mrs. Bunting had ever spoken really nastily to him, and he
answered very humbly, "I beg pardon. I know I oughtn't to have
laughed at anything to do with the Bible, but you see, Miss Daisy
said it so funny-like, and, by all accounts, your lodger must be a
queer card, Mrs. Bunting."

"He's no queerer than many people I could mention," she said quickly;
and with these enigmatic words she got up, and left the room.



CHAPTER XXIV

Each hour of the days that followed held for Bunting its full meed
of aching fear and suspense.

The unhappy man was ever debating within himself what course he
should pursue, and, according to his mood and to the state of his
mind at any particular moment, he would waver between various
widely-differing lines of action.

He told himself again and again, and with fretful unease, that the