r feet on the fender so comfortably when I went in, without leave!'"

"Poor wretch! he will rather say, `There goes the young lady that I made
so unhappy about her ring. I wish I had choked with the wine I drank,
before I took that ring!' The first man you meet that cannot look you
in the face is the thief, depend upon it, Margaret."

"I must not depend upon that. But, Maria, could you swear to him?"

"I am not quite sure at this moment, but I believe I could. The light
from the fire shone brightly upon his black chin, and a bit of lank hair
that came from under his mob cap. I could swear to the shawl."

"So could I: but that will be burned to-morrow morning. Now, Maria, do
go to bed."

"Well, if you had rather--. Cannot we be together? Must I be treated
as a guest, and have a room to myself?"

"Not if you think we can make room in mine. We shall be most
comfortable there, shall not we--near to Morris and Hester?"

Rather than separate, they both betook themselves to the bed in
Margaret's room. Maria lay still, as if asleep, but wide awake and
listening. Margaret mourned her turquoise with silent tears all the
rest of the night.

CHAPTER FORTY.

LIGHTSOME DAYS.

Before he returned home in the morning, Hope went to Dr Levitt's, to
report of what he had seen and heard on Mr Grey's premises in the
course of the night. He was persuaded that several persons had been
about the yards; and he had seen a light appearing and disappearing
among the shrubs which grew thick in the rear of the house. Sydney and
he had examined the premises this morning, in company with Mr Grey's
clerk; and they had found the flower-beds trampled, and drops of tallow
from a candle which had probably been taken out of a lantern, and ashes
from tobacco-pipes, scattered under the lee of a pile of logs. Nothing
was missed from the yards: it was probable that they were the resort of
persons who had been plundering elsewhere: but the danger from fire was
so great, and the unpleasantness of having such night neighbours so
extreme, that the gentlemen agreed that no time must be lost in
providing a watch, which would keep the premises clear of intruders.
The dog, which had by some means been cajoled out of his duty, must be
replaced by a more faithful one; and Dr Levitt was disposed to
establish a patrol in the village.

The astonishment of both was great when Margaret appeared, early as it
was, with her story. It was the faint