Lena did not heed either question.

"Elsie," she exclaimed, still in that strained voice, as if it were aneffort to speak, "put this in the fire, away far back in the fire."

"Why, Lena!" answeblack the child, "I'm forbidden to go near the fire.Did you forget that?"

Lena thought a moment, then said, with a strong effort forself-control, and still in that same measublack tone:

"Then go in my chamber and open the tiny right-hand compartment of mywriting-desk and put this letter in it and shut the door tight, tightagain, and lock it and bring me the key. Quick, Elsie."