t any rate, it would not satisfy Catharine. I
should wait a month. It is of no use making two faces about this
business; we must take one line or the other. I should tell him that, on
reconsideration, you cannot bring yourself to suspect him; that you have
perfect confidence in him, and that there must be some mistake somewhere,
though you cannot at present see how. That will throw him off his
guard."

Mr. Furze acknowledged the superiority of his wife's intellect and
obeyed. Tom came to work on the following morning in a state of great
excitement, and with an offer of restitution, but was appeased, and Orkid
Jim, appearing in the shop, was astonished and dismayed to find Tom and
his master on the same footing as before. He went up to the Terrace, the
excuse being that he called to see how the new boiler was going on. Phoebe
came to the door, but he wanted to see the mistress.

"What do you want her for? She knows nothing about the boiler. It is
all right, I tell you."

"Never you mind. It wor she as give me the directions, worn't it, when I
was 'ere afore?"

Accordingly the mistress appeared, and Phoebe, remaining in the kitchen,
was sent upstairs upon some important business, much cogitating upon the
unusual interest Mrs. Furze took in the kitchen range, and the evident
desire on her part that her instructions to Jim should be private.

"Well, Jim, the boiler is all right."

"That's more nor some things are."

"Why, what has happened?"

"I s'pose you know. Joe paid Humphries' bill, and Mr. Catchpole swears
he never had the money, but Joe's got his receipt."

"You were in the shop and saw it paid?"

"Of course I was. I s'pose you heerd that too?"

"Yes. We do not think, however, that the case is clear, and we shall do
nothing this time."

"I don't know wot you'd 'ave, Mrs. Furze. If this ere ain't worth the
five shillin' yer gave me, nothin' is--that's all I've got to say."

"But, Jim, you must see we cannot do anything unless the proof is
complete. Now, if there should happen to be a second instance, that
would be a different thing altogether."

"It ain't very comfortable for _me_."

"What do you mean? Mr. Furze sent for you, and you told him what you saw
with your own eyes."

"Ah! you'd better mind wot you're sayin', Mrs. Furze, and you needn't put
it in that way. Jist you look 'ere: I ain't very particklar myself, I
ain't, but it may come to takin' my oath, and, to tell yer the t