f the coming interview, and hardly knew how to express
their thoughts to each other. "I will not take the carriage up to
the house," said the major, as they were entering the parish of
Hogglestock; "particularly as the man must feed the horses." So they
got out at a farm-house about half a mile from the church, where the
offence of the carriage and the livery-servant would be well out of
Mr. Crawley's sight, and from thence walked towards the parsonage.
The church, and the school close to it, lay on their way, and as
they passed by the school door they heard voices within. "I'll bet
twopence he's there," said Toogood. "They tell me he's always either
in one shop or the other. I'll slip in and bring him out." Mr. Toogood
had assumed a comfortable air, as though the day's work was to be
good pastime, and even made occasional attempts at drollery. He had
had his jokes about Dan Stringer, and had attempted to describe the
absurdities of Mr. Crawley's visit to Bedford Row. All this would
have angered the major, had he not seen that it was assumed to cover
something below of which Mr. Toogood was a little ashamed, but of
which, as the major thought, Mr. Toogood had no cause to be ashamed.
When, therefore, Toogood proposed to go into the school and bring
Mr. Crawley out, as though the telling of their story would be the
easiest thing in the world, the major did not stop him. Indeed he
had no plan of his own ready. His mind was too intent on the tragedy
which had occurred, and which was now to be brought to a close, to
enable him to form any plan as to the best way of getting up the last
scene. So Mr. Toogood, with quick and easy steps, entered the school,
leaving the major still standing in the road. Mr. Crawley was in the
school,--as also was Jane Crawley. "So here you are," said Toogood.
"That's fortunate. I hope I find you pretty well?"

"If I am not mistaken in the identity, my wife's relative, Mr
Toogood?" said Mr. Crawley, stepping down from his humble desk.

"Just so, my friend," said Toogood, with his hand extended, "just so;
and there's another gentleman outside who wants to have a word with
you also. Perhaps you won't mind stepping out. These are the young
Hogglestockians; are they?"

[Illustration: "These are the young Hogglestockians, are they?"]

The young Hogglestockians stared at him, and so did Jane. Jane, who
had before heard of him, did not like him at first sight, seeing
that her father was clearly displ