The family which has moved into
the house next to yours, for instance, lived near to me for nearly
two years, and although I never spoke to one of them, I can tell you
of some strange transactions which took place in their house."
"Indeed!" replied Mrs. Freeman, with little manifestation of
interest or curiosity; but Mrs. Morris was too eager to communicate
her information to notice her friend's manner, and lowering her
voice to a confidential tone, continued:--
"There is an old lady in their family whom they abuse in the most
shocking manner. She is very rich, and they by threats and
ill-treatment extort large sums of money from her."
"A singular way of inducing any one to bestow favours," replied Mrs.
Freeman, dryly. "Why does not the old lady leave there?"
"Bless your heart, my dear friend, she cannot get an opportunity!
They never suffer her to leave the house unattended. Once or twice,
indeed, she succeeded in getting into the street, but they
discovered her in a moment, and actually forced her into the house.
You smile incredulously, but if you had been an eye-witness of their
proceedings, as I have, or had heard the screams of the poor
creature, and the heavy blows which they inflict, you would be
convinced of the truth of what I tell you."
"I do not doubt the truth of your story in the least, my dear Mrs.
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