faithful as ever "woman was, I do believe, as
far as love goes,—but, at the same time, who
does not always speak truth, as even the
missus must allow. Now, ray notion is, that
this Norah of ours has been come over by some
good-for-nothing chap (for she's at the time
o'life when they say women pray for
husbands—'any, good Lord, any,') and has let
him into our house, and the chap has made off
witlh your brooch, and m'appen many another
tiling beside. It's only saying that Norah is
soft-hearted, and does not stick at a white lie
—that's all, missus."

It was curious to notice how his tone, his
eyes, his whole face changed as he spoke to
his wife; but he was the resolute man
through all. She knew better than to oppose
him; so she went up-stairs, and told Norah
her master wanted to speak to her, and that
she would take care of the children in the
meanwhile.

Norah rose to go without a word. Her
thoughts were these:

"If they tear me to pieces they shall never
know through me. He may come,—and then
just Lord have mercy upon us all: for some
of us are dead folk to a certainty. But he
shall do it; not me."

You may fancy, now, her look of determination
as she faced her master alone in the
dining-room; Mr. and Mrs. Chadwick having
left the affair in their nephew's hands, seeing
that he took it up with such vehemence.

"Norah! Who was that man that came
to my house last night?"

"Man, sir! " As if infinitely surprised;
but it was only to gain time.

"Yes; the man whom Mary let in; whom
she went up-stairs to the nursery to tell you
about; whom you came down to speak to;
the same chap, I make no doubt, whom you
took into the nursery to have your talk out
with; whom Ailsie saw, and afterwards
dreamed about; thinking, poor wench! she
saw him say his prayers, when nothing, I'll
be bound, was farther from his thoughts;
who took Mrs. Chadwick's brooch, value ten
pounds. Now, Norah! Don't go off! I
am as sure as that my name's Thomas Openshaw,
that you knew nothing of this robbery.
But I do think you've been imposed on, and
that's the truth. Some good-for-nothing
chap has been making up to you, and you've
been just like all other women, and have
turned a soft place in your heart to him; and
he came last night a-lovyering, and you had
him up in the nursery, and he made use of
his opportunities, and made off with a few
things on his way down! Come, now,
Norah: it's no blame to you, only you must
not be such a fool again! Tell us," he
continued, "what name he gave you, Norah?
I'll be bound it was not the right one; but it
will be a clue for the police."

Norah drew herself up. " You may ask
that question, and taunt me with my being
single, and with my credulity, as you will,
Master Openshaw. You'll get no answer
from me. As for the brooch, and the story
of theft and burglary; if any friend ever
came to see me (which I defy you to prove,
and deny), he'd be just as much above doing
such a thing as you yourself, Mr. Openshaw
and more so, too; for I'm not at all sure as
everything you have is rightly come by, or
would be yours long, if every man had his
own." She meant, of course, his wife; but
he understood her to refer to his property
in goods and chattels.

"Now, my good woman," said he, " I'll just
tell you truly, I never trusted you out and
out; but my wife liked you, and I thought
you had many a good point about you. If you
once begin to sauce me, I'll have the police
to you, and get out the truth in a court of
justice, if you'll not tell it me quietly and
civilly here. Now the best thing you can do
is quietly to tell me who the fellow is. Look
here! a man comes to my house; asks for
you; you take him up-stairs, a valuable
brooch is missing next day; we know that
you, and Mary, and cook, are honest; but
you refuse to tell us who the man is. Indeed
you've told one lie already about him, saying
no one was here last night. Now I just put
it to you, what do you think a policeman
would say to this, or a magistrate? A
magistrate would soon make you tell the
truth, my good woman."

"There's never the creature born that
should get it out of me," said Norah. " Not
unless I choose to tell."

"I've a great mind to see," said Mr. Openshaw,
growing angry at the defiance. Then,
checking himself, he thought before he spoke
again:

"Norah, for your missus's sake I don't want
to go to extremities. Be a sensible woman,
if you can. It's no great disgrace, after all,
to have been taken in. I ask you once more—
as a friend—who was this man whom you
let into my house last night?"

No answer. He repeated the question in
an impatient tone. Still no answer. Norah's
lips were set in determination not to speak.

"Then there is but one thing to be done.
I shall send for a policeman."

"You will not," said Norah, starting
forwards. " You shall not, sir! No policeman
shall touch me. I know nothing of the
brooch, but I know this: ever since I was
four and twenty I have thought more of your
wife than of myself: ever since I saw her, a
poor motherless girl put upon in her uncle's
house, I have thought more of serving her
than of serving myself! I have cared for
her and her child, as nobody ever cared for
me. I don't cast blame on you, sir, but I
say it's ill giving up one's life to any one; for,
at the end, they will turn round upon you,
and forsake you. Why does not my missus
come herself to suspect me? Maybe she is
gone for the police? But I don't stay here,
either for police, or magistrate, or master.