k you
for mercy on her young head--her inexperienced life. Our Divine Master
granted mercy even to the guilty. Will you refuse it then to this
trembling and innocent girl, for whose guileless intention, in this
terrible accident, I answer before man and God, and with my life and
soul. Come here, Miss Clifford! Take off your veil. Tell Mr.
Blanchard, in the simple language of truth, how this incident took
place."

"Yes, come here, my young friend," said Mr. Blanchard, "and tell me
how this sad mistake arose."

Perhaps it was Franklin's eloquence--perhaps it was Caroline's
appearance--perhaps it was both, which drew the silent tear from Mr.
Blanchard's eyes, and those two significant words from his lips. But
oh! to Franklin's soul, wrought up almost to despair--almost, to
madness--they were rapture, they were ecstasy, they were like the
first streak of golden sky which announces to the half-wrecked sailor
that the tempest is over.

"Speak, my dear young lady," said Mr. Blanchard, "do not tremble so!
you have nothing to fear from me!"

"I left the door," said Caroline, in a low voice, "without knowing I
had the lace. A gentleman ran against me and knocked it out of my
hand. He picked it up. I then saw what I had done. I exclaimed,
'ma'ma, let us go back!'--but ma'ma had gone on--I was alone--two men
seized me--and--and--"

She covered her face with her hands, and sunk into the chair.

"But, so far from coming back," said Mr. Jennings' piercing voice,
"you were walking rapidly away."

"No," said Caroline.

"But I say yes!" screamed Jennings. "Mr. Williams, was not the young
woman walking rapidly away?"

"She _had been_ walking rapidly," said Mr. Williams, "but when we came
up she was, as she says, standing still, looking at the lace. It is
also true that an old gentleman ran against her, knocked the lace out
of her hand, and picked it up again. That I saw from the distance."

"Mark you!" exclaimed Franklin, "how each small feature of her story
is confirmed."

"But you left our door," exclaimed Mr. Jennings, "at a furious pace."

"That I can explain to your satisfaction," said Franklin. "We were
engaged to call upon a lady, Mrs. Porter, No. ----, Portland-Place, at
half past two. This Mrs. Porter herself can testify. We left your door
too late, and walked rapidly to keep our appointment. You can
ascertain from your clerks at what hour we left."

"It was just half past two," said Mr. Williams. "I looked at t