mind by a dream, in which Richard Preston
was very conspicuous.

IV.

MR. ELSWORTHY and Lawyer Hartop were
the auditors of the accounts at Saint Ann's;
and, although everybody had implicit confidence
in the master, the auditors always made
a point of going over his books as systematically
as if he had been one of the most
suspected rogues in Christendom. They came
to the gateway about half-past ten, and there
was to be a general meeting of the governors
at twelve. Peter Garnet had had a miserable
time of it; but he had struggled through,
an honest man still, though appearances were
sorely against him. He had determined to
tell his plain tale—that the money had
disappeared, and that he could not account for its
disappearance—and leave his long services
and spotless character to bear him through.

There was a great deal of business
to get through at the meeting—three boys
to elect from amongst seven candidates,
and three girls from twice that number—
besides the talking and unnecessary arguing
over trifles which always takes place on such
occasions. Peter was very exact in his
personal appearance that day, and made Alice
brush his coat the last thing before he went
to the board-room; but he could not put off
the careworn anxiety of his countenance, nor
lessen its sickly pallor. He had not told his
daughter anything of what was impending,
and she only supposed that he was nervous and
upset by the pressure of his work, now that
he was growing older: so she tried to spare
him where she could, and privately consulted
the school-doctor, who assured her there was
nothing to fear. Peter left her sitting at her
work, with an eye to the window, lest the
Fordham wagon should go by; and, with
his poor old heart thumping against his ribs
as if it would come through, went his way to
the board-room, to receive the auditors.

They came before their time, as it seemed
to him; Mr. Elsworthy as benevolent, and
Lawyer Hartop as sagacious as usual. Well,
where were the books, and how was the
subscription-list this quarter?

The subscription-list was even fuller than
usual; but—and, standing up opposite to them,
and speaking in a voice that shook, in spite
of all his efforts to be calm, Peter told his
tale; adding that it was his desire to make
up the deficiency from his quarter's salary,
then due. Mr. Elsworthy had looked him
commiseratingly in the face while he was
speaking; but Lawyer Hartop, who would
not have done his sagacity the violence to
trust any man while there was the smallest
circumstance of suspicion against him, kept his
eyes on the table, and was drumming softly
with his fingers when the master had ceased.

"It is a grievous pity, Mr. Garnet," said
Mr. Elsworthy; "a very grievous pity. How
do you account for it?"

Peter could not account for it at all. He
might have taken it out with other money,
and lost it.

"Come, come, Mr. Garnet, that won't do!"
cried Lawyer Hartop, with derisive
jocularity. "Methodical men like you don't take
out money unconsciously, and then lose it. We
must lay the circumstance before the
governors."

Poor Peter was sorely wounded; but he
had the courage to speak up for himself.
"You have known me from a boy, Mr. Hartop,
surely you won't be the first to suspect
me?" he said, proudly, while Mr. Elsworthy
looked away from him sorrowfully.

"I never profess to know any man, Mr.
Garnet, till his coffin-lid is fastened down
upon him, and we come to reading his will,"
replied the lawyer; "that I call the test ot
character; and I've known it to upset, a score
of times or more, all my foregone
conclusions."

Peter said no more; but—when Mr.
Elsworthy assured him he should have his
support with the governors, and added that
he saw no adequate reason for the
withdrawal of their confidence from a man who
had been their faithful servant for forty years.
—his heart swelled within him.

The board-room clock ticked itself slowly
round to twelve, and then the governors
and candidates for election, with their
mothers and the voters came all together,
and the business was gone into, and done
quickly; for Mr. Elsworthy had whispered
to the chairman that there was
something serious to come on concerning the
master, and he was anxious to get the rest
disposed of.

There was a full attendance of governors;
and, when the board-room had
been cleared of strangers, Peter's case was
brought forward, and stated by himself.
They were astonished to a man; but how he
was to be dealt with caused great diversity
of opinion, and he was requested to withdraw,
that they might consider it. One gentleman
suggested that, as the master offered to make
good the deficiency, they should pass the
matter over; another feared the loss argued
a very careless keeping of his trust; and the
chairman offered it as his suggestion that it
was a beginning of evils which they, as
governors of a public charity, were bound to
check in the bud. The chairman's remark
found many echoes: Lawyer Hartop's voice
the most distinct amongst them. Mr.
Elsworthy begged that the master's long services
and unimpeachable character might have
their weight; and, after a little more discussion,
it was carried, by a large majority, that
Peter Garnet should be advised to resign.
He was, accordingly, called in and informed
of the resolution.

Peter Garnet was proud and obstinate; and,
as soon as he saw his fate written in all those
faces, familiar, most of them, since they were