ep my temper. I give
him my mind, gentlemen, being an injured man; but I said as--if he do
his duty by her--"

"Softly a moment," said Mr Brown. "What had Mr Wentworth's aspect at
six o'clock in the morning to do with Rosa Elsworthy's disappearance
at nine on the previous night?"

"I don't see that the question is called for at the present moment,"
said Mr Waters. "Let us hear what reasons you have for attributing to
Mr Wentworth an unusual degree of interest in your niece."

"Sir," said Elsworthy, "he come into my shop as regular as the day; he
never come but he asked after Rosa, or spoke to her if she was there.
One night he walked all the way up Grange Lane and knocked at my door
and brought her in all of a glow, and said I wasn't to send her out
late no more. My missis, being a woman as is very particular, was
struck, and thought as harm might come of it; and, not to be talked
of, we sent Rosa away. And what does Mr Wentworth do, but the moment
he hears of it comes right off to my shop! He had been at his own
home, sir, a-visiting his respected family," said Elsworthy, turning
slightly towards the side of the room where the father and sons sat
together. "He came to my shop with his carpet-bag as he come off the
railway, and he gave me my orders as I was to bring Rosa back. What he
said was, 'Directly,' that very day. I never had no thought but what
his meaning was honourable--being a clergyman," said the witness, with
a heavy sigh; and then there ensued a little pause.

"The Miss Hemmings had better be called now," said Mr Waters.
"Elsworthy, you can retire; but we may require you again, so you had
better not go away. Request Miss Hemmings to do us the favour of
coming here."

The Squire lifted his heavy eyes when the next witness entered. She
made a very solemn curtsy to the gentlemen, and sat down on the chair
which somebody placed for her. Being unsupported, a lady--not to say
an unmarried lady profoundly conscious of the fact--among a number of
men, Miss Hemmings was naturally much agitated. She was the eldest and
the softest-hearted; and it occurred to her for the first time, as she
gave a frightened look towards the Curate, that he was like her
favourite younger brother, who had died ever so many years ago--a
thought which, for the first time, made her doubtful of her testimony,
and disposed to break down in her evidence.

"You were in Grange Lane on the evening of the 15th ultimo," said Mr
Morgan, aft