such an adventure to talk about on a Christmas
morning in a country-house barricaded with
snow was a perfect godsend.

So busy were they with the subject that they
had forgotten to miss my Lady Fitzgibbon,
who presently arrived in the coziest ot Cashmere
morning dresses, and with quite a bloom
in her cheeks from her early walk. She came
in so gaily that it was evident she had as yet
learned nothing of what had happened. Hardly
had she taken her seat at the table, when a
lady by her side commenced rapidly, " Have
you heard—- ?"

"I have heard nothing!" she answered
lightly, " but I shall be delighted to hear
anything, for I am dying for news. But first,"
she added, suddenly recollecting herself, " first
I must perform an act of justice. Miss
O'Shaughnessy," she said, putting her hand in
her pocket, and drawing something forth, " I
beg your pardon for playing a little trick upon
you. I found this lying humbly at your door
this morning, a pretty Christmas-box, placed
there, no doubt" (with an arch smile at Giles
Humphrey), " by that amiable Santa Klaus who
comes to good children on Christmas-eve. Very
pretty, I said, for a lady to meet a
magnificent bracelet waiting on the threshold when
she opens her door of a morning. No such
luck for me! And I declare, partly through
spite, and half through mischief, I picked it up
and put it in my muff. But, you see, going to
church does one some service, since I have
come home repentant, and determined to make
restitution."

And she laughingly laid beside Peg's plate
the identical splendid bracelet which we had all
admired on a plump white arm one night, and
which I bade you remember, Tom.

Peg's face and throat became crimson, and
she hastily pushed the trinket from her, saying
hoarsely,

"It is not mine, Lady Fitzgibbon."

"But, my love, I tell you I found it lying at
your door."

At the appearance of the bracelet every one
had ceased speaking, and after Lady Fitzgibbon's
repeated assertion that she had found it at
Peg's door, the room grew as hushed as a grave.
My lady herself looked round the table as if
she were asking, " What is this?" and then the
person by her side bent and whispered in her
ear. The gay brunette face was suddenly overcast,
and Lady Fitzgibbon looked shocked.

I think it was the heavy ominous silence, lasting
so long that it began to hiss in one's ears,
which made Peg lift her eyes at last. She looked
first at the bracelet lying before her on the
table, then all round the many silent faces of
the company, with a fearful hesitating look.
Every eye was upon her, furtively or openly,
and in all she read the same suspicion of
herself. Every steady frown of condemnation, every
flitting glance of disgust, every sorrowful gaze
of compassion, said plainly, "You are found
out!" The pretty flush that had been on her
face went out like a light that is extinguished,
the colour died away from her lips, her features
became set and white; she seemed to freeze
into the rigidity of death. She sat so till breakfast
was hastily finished, and the people all
slipped one by one out of the room, and left her
sitting there alone.

Lady Fitzgibbon took upon herself the office
of consoler to Giles Humphrey. I thought he
might have bestowed upon her that bracelet for
her trouble; but he was too miserly to do any
such thing. Her ladyship was the only one of
the company who attended church that Christmas
morning. The snow came on heavily after
breakfast, and furnished an excuse for every one's
remaining within doors until after the arrival
and departure of the police. As soon as I could
do so, I returned to the breakfast-room; but
Peg had disappeared, and I turned out of the
window, and walked up and down a covered
alley of the garden, trying in solitude to collect
my thoughts, and resolve upon what steps I
should take to save Peg from the degrading
consequences of her rash crime. Tracey found me
there, and we talked the matter over together.

"I see how it is with you, old fellow," he
said, grasping my hand; "I have seen it for
some time, and I am sorry for you from the
bottom of my heart. Poor Peg, how she has
ruined herself! That biting poverty has been
too many for her. For Heaven's sake,
Humphrey, don't look so deathly, or people will know
all about it at a glance. What are you going to
do for her?"

"I don't know," I said; " I must think of
some means to keep her from destruction. Of
course, after this, I can never see her again;
but I will save her, at all costs, from disgraceful
punishment."

We talked some time, and then went into the
house; just too late to make any effort to
prevent a painful scene. Two policemen had
arrived, and James Humphrey had marched them
straight up to Peg O'Shaughnessy' s chamber
door. It was wonderful how many people
happened to be about on the stairs and in the
passages when this little event occurred. The
door of the room had just opened to the rude
summons when Tracey and I reached the spot,
and Peg stood at bay in the doorway, her slim
figure drawn up, her eyes flashing, and two red
spots burning on her cheeks.

"What do you want?" she asked of the men,
who stood humbly before her, looking ashamed
of themselves.

"Please, miss," said one, "we have orders
to search this room, and we must do our duty."

"Do you permit this?" said Peg, turning
haughtily to Giles Humphrey, who growled
and swore that he had been villanously robbed,
and would make every effort to regain what
he had lost. By Heavens, the men should
search!

"Then," said Peg, closing the door behind
her, and throwing herself against it while she
still held the handle, " all I have to say is, that
I will not tolerate this insult. I dare you to
enter this room."