ve the ironin'."

"Yuss y' can," said Deborah, suddenly; "this erringd is ness'ary, Mrs.
Purr ma'am, so jes' put on your bunnet, an' go to Mr. Hurd as 'as 'is
orfice at Scotlan' Yard, and take 'im with you."

"Oh! but I couldn't--"

"You go," advised Mrs. Tawsey. "There's five pounds offered for the
brat's bein' found."

"Five pun!" gasped Mrs. Purr, trembling. "Lor', and me 'avin' a chanct
of gittin' it. I'll go--I'll go. I knows the Yard, 'avin' 'ad summat to
do with them dirty perlice in my time. Miss Sylvia--"

"Yes, go, Mrs. Purr, and see Mr. Hurd. He'll give you the five pounds if
you take him to Tray." Sylvia handed back the paper. "Tray seems to be
ill."

"Ill or well, he sha'n't lose me five pun, if I 'ave to drag 'im to the
lock-up m'self," said Mrs. Purr, resolutely. "Where's my bunnet--my
shawl--oh lor'--five pun! Them is as good allays gits rewards," and she
hurried out, hardly able to walk for excitement.

"There's a nice ole party fur you, Miss Sylvia?"

"Debby," said the girl, thoughtfully. "You take her to the Yard to see
Mr. Hurd, and then go to Kensington to speak with your sister."

"Well, I'll go, as importance it is," said Mrs. Tawsey, rubbing her nose
harder than ever. "But I 'opes you won't be lone, my poppet-dovey."

"Oh, no," said Sylvia, kissing her, and pushing her towards the door.
"I'll look after those four women in the wash-house, and read this new
book I have. Then I must get tea ready for Paul, who comes at four. The
afternoon will pass quite quickly."

"I'll be back at five if I can, and earlier if Matilder ain't what she
oughter be," said Mrs. Tawsey, yielding. "So make yourself 'appy, honey,
till you sees me smilin' again."

In another quarter of an hour Mrs. Tawsey, dressed in her bridal gown
and bonnet so as to crush Matilda with the sight of her splendor, walked
down the garden path attended by Mrs. Purr in a snuffy black shawl, and
a kind of cobweb on her head which she called a "bunnet." As Deborah was
tall and in white and Mrs. Purr small and in black, they looked a
strange pair. Sylvia waved her hand out of the window to Debby, as that
faithful creature turned her head for a final look at the young mistress
she idolized. The large, rough woman was dog-like in her fidelity.

Sylvia, left alone, proceeded to arrange matters. She went to the
wash-house, which was detached from the cottage, and saw that the four
women, who worked under Deborah, were busy. She found