rld. I've only
brought down my neighbour with me as I can trust," he continued,
hoarsely--"to save both your characters. I don't want to make no talk;
if you do what is right by Rosa, neither me or him will ever say a
word. I want Rosa, Mr Wentworth. Where's Rosa? If I had known as it
was for this you wanted her home! But I'll take my oath not to make no
talk," cried the clerk, with passion and earnestness, which confounded
Mr Wentworth--"if you'll promise to do what's right by her, and let
me take her home."

"Elsworthy, are you mad?" cried the Curate--"is he out of his senses?
Has anything happened to Rosa? For heaven's sake, Hayles, don't stand
there like a man of wood, but tell me if the man's crazy, or what he
means."

"I'll come in, sir, if you've no objection, and shut the door, not to
make a talk," said Elsworthy's companion, Peter Hayles, the druggist.
"If it can be managed without any gossip, it'll be best for all
parties," said this worthy, shutting the door softly after him. "The
thing is, where's Rosa, Mr Wentworth? I can't think as you've got her
here."

"She's all the same as my own child!" cried Elsworthy, who was greatly
excited. "I've had her and loved her since she was a baby. I don't
mean to say as I'd put myself forward to hurt her prospects if she was
married in a superior line o' life; but them as harms Rosa has me to
reckon with," he said, with a kind of fury which sat strangely on the
man. "Mr Wentworth, where's the child? God forgive you both, you've
given me a night o' weeping; but if you'll do what's right by Rosa,
and send her home in the mean time--"

"Be silent, sir!" cried the Curate. "I know nothing in the world about
Rosa. How dare you venture to come on such an errand to me? I don't
understand how it is," said the young man, growing red and angry,
"that you try so persistently to connect this child with me. I have
never had anything to do with her, and I will not submit to any such
impertinent suspicion. Leave my house, sir, immediately, and don't
insult me by making such inquiries here."

Mr Wentworth was very angry in the first flush of his wrath. He did
not think what misery was involved in the question which had been
addressed to him, nor did he see for the moment the terrible calamity
to Rosa which was suggested by this search for her. He thought only of
himself, as was natural, at the first shock--of the injurious and
insulting suspicion with which he seemed to be pursued,