the wiser."

"On no account whatever," said Hester. "I shall not leave home, under
any circumstances."

"You are very kind," said Margaret; "but we are expecting my brother
every moment."

"But he will follow you by the same road."

Both wife and sister were sure he would do no such thing. They thought
the kindest thing Mr Grey could do would be to go out the back way, and
see that the constable was kept up to his duty. He promised to do so;
and that he would speak to Dr Levitt, to have some of Grey and Rowlands
men sworn in as special constables, if such a measure should appear to
be desirable.

"I do not know how to believe all this now," said Margaret; "it seems so
causeless and ridiculous! In Birmingham we could never have given
credit to the story of such a riot about nothing."

Morris was not sure of this. In large towns there were riots sometimes
for very small matters, or on account of entire mistakes. She had
always heard that one of the worst things about living in a village is,
that when the people once get a wrong idea into their heads, there is no
getting it out again; and that they will even be violent upon it against
all reason; but such things she knew to happen occasionally in towns.

Another knock. It was Mr Rowland, and Hester's heart turned sick at
there being no news of her husband. Mr Rowland had every expectation,
of course, that Mr Hope would be quite safe, and that this would turn
out a disturbance of very slight consequence: but he would just ask
whether it would not be advisable to close the window-shutters. If
stones should find their way into the parlours, it might be disagreeable
to the ladies.--There was no doubt of that: but would not closing the
shutters be a hint to the people outside to throw stones?--Well, perhaps
so. He only thought he would offer the suggestion, and see if he could
be of any service to the ladies.

"Morris, go up to the attic and watch; and Margaret, do you stay here.
Yes, Mr Rowland," said Hester, fixing her glorious eyes full on him;
"you can be of service to us, if my husband outlives this day. You
ought to pray that he may; for if not, it is your wife who has murdered
him."

Mr Rowland turned as pale as ashes.

"We know well that you have no share in all this injury: we believe that
you respect my husband, and have friendly feelings towards us all. I
will spare you what I might say--what Mrs Rowland should sink to the
earth to hear, if s