eased by the tone of the visitor's
address. Mr. Crawley was displeased. There was a familiarity about
Mr. Toogood which made him sore, as having been exhibited before his
pupils. "If you will be pleased to step out, sir, I will follow you,"
he said, waving his hand towards the door. "Jane, my dear, if you
will remain with the children I will return to you presently. Bobby
Studge has failed in saying his Belief. You had better set him on
again from the beginning. Now, Mr. Toogood." And again he waved his
hand towards the door.

"So that's my young cousin, is it?" said Toogood, stretching over and
just managing to touch Jane's fingers,--of which act of touching Jane
was very chary. Then he went forth, and Mr. Crawley followed him.
There was the major standing in the road, and Toogood was anxious to
be the first to communicate the good news. It was the only reward he
had proposed to himself for the money he had expended and the time he
had lost and the trouble he had taken. "It's all right, old fellow,"
he said, clapping his hand on Mr. Crawley's shoulder. "We've got the
right sow by the ear at last. We know all about it." Mr. Crawley could
hardly remember the time when he had been called an old fellow last,
and now he did not like it; nor, in the confusion of his mind, could
he understand the allusion to the right sow. He supposed that Mr
Toogood had come to him about his trial, but it did not occur to him
that the lawyer might be bringing him news which might make the trial
altogether unnecessary. "If my eyes are not mistaken, there is my
friend, Major Grantly," said Mr. Crawley.

"There he is, as large as life," said Toogood. "But stop a moment
before you go to him, and give me your hand. I must have the first
shake of it." Hereupon Crawley extended his hand. "That's right. And
now let me tell you we know all about the cheque,--Soames's cheque.
We know where you got it. We know who stole it. We know how it came
to the person who gave it to you. It's all very well talking, but
when you're in trouble always go to a lawyer."

By this time Mr. Crawley was looking full into Mr. Toogood's face, and
seeing that his cousin's eyes were streaming with tears, began to get
some insight into the man's character, and also some very dim insight
into the facts which the man intended to communicate to himself. "I
do not as yet fully understand you, sir," he said, "being perhaps in
such matters somewhat dull of intellect, but it seeme