That would make her out a thief," I cried, "or--" but I thought better
of uttering what was in my mind. Instead I asked how they first came to
hear of her.

Miss Charity showed some flustration at this and cast her sister
an appealing look; but Miss Thankful, eying her with some severity,
answered me with becoming candor:

"She was a lodger in this house. We kept a few lodgers in those days--be
still, Charity! Just thank God those days are over."

"A lodger?" I repeated. "Did she ever tell you where she came from?"

"Yes, she mentioned the place,--it was some town farther west. That was
when we were in such trouble about our brother and how we should care
for him. She could nurse him, she said, and indeed seemed very eager to
do so, and we were glad to let her,--very glad, till my brother showed
such fear of her and of what she might do if she once got hold of his
wallet."

"You possibly did her injustice," I said. "A sick man's fancies are not
always to be relied on. What did your nephew think of her? Did he share
your distrust of her?"

"John? Oh, yes, I believe so. Why do we always come back to the subject
of John? I want to forget him; I mean to forget him; I mean that Charity
shall forget him."

"Let us begin then from this moment," I smiled; then quickly: "You knew
that Bess was a married woman."

"No, we knew nothing about her."

"Not even the name she went by?"

"Oh, that was Brown."

"Brown," I muttered, turning for a second time to go. "You must think
me inquisitive, but if I had not been," I added with a merry laugh, "I
should never have found your bonds for you." Pressing both their hands
in mine I ran hastily out of the room.

At once I crossed the street to Bess' little shop.

CHAPTER XXVIII. RESTITUTION

"Bess, why are you so white? What has happened to you in the last
twenty-four hours? Have you heard from him?"

"No, no; I'm all right." But her eyes, hunted and wandering, belied her
words.

I drew her hands down into mine across the table lying between us.

"I want to help you," I whispered; "I think I can. Something has
happened which gives me great hope; only do me a favor first; show me,
as you promised, the papers which I dug out for you."

A smile, more bitter than any tear, made her face look very hard for an
instant, then she quietly led the way into the small room at the back.
When we were quite alone, she faced me again and putting her hand to her
breast took out