w; no one saw me, for I did it all like a
flash. The whole temptation come to me like a flash, and I took the
money in a twinkling. And now Alison is accused, and I am the real
thief. I did it--yes, I know why I did it: to turn Jim agen Alison, so
that I might have a chance to win him for myself. Yes, I have got the
money. I'll jest have a look at it now."

Louisa rose as she spoke; she took a key from her pocket, opened a
small drawer in her wardrobe, and extracted from an old-fashioned purse
a crumpled five-pound note. She stared at this innocent piece of paper
with big, wide-open black eyes.

"I wish I'd never touched it," she said, speaking her thoughts out
loud. "But of course Jim couldn't suspect me. Not a soul saw me when
I jest stooped and put the paper in my pocket. No, not a living soul
saw me. Shaw had gone away, and Alison was serving a customer, and I
did it like a flash. I had a fine time when they accused Alison, and
she turned first white and then red; but I didn't like it when I saw
Jim shiver. Why did he take that vow that he would marry nobody but
her? See ef I don't make him break it! I haven't got my looks for
nothink, and I don't love, as I love Jim, for nothink. Yes; I'll win
him yet--I have made up my mind. I think I know a way of blinding that
detective's eyes. I'll jest let him think that I like him--that I'm
losing my heart to him. _That 'll_ fetch him! He aint married; I know
he aint, from the way he spoke. I can soon turn a feller like that
round my little finger. Trust _me_ to blind his eyes. As to Jim! oh,
Jim, you _can't_ guess wot I done; it aint in you to think meanly of a
gel. Why, Jim, I could even be _good_ for a man like you; but there!
now that I have done this thing I can't be good, so there is nothink
for me but to go on being as bad as possible; only some day--some day,
if I win yer, perhaps I'll tell yer all. No, no; what am I saying? Of
course you must never know. You'd hate me if I were fifty times yer
wife, ef yer knew the bitter, bitter truth. Alison is nothing at all
to me; I don't care whether she breaks her heart or not, but I do care
about Jim. It is Jim I want. I'd make him a right good wife, for I
love him so well--yes, I will get him yet--I vow it; and perhaps my
vow, being a woman's, may be stronger than his."

Louisa undressed slowly and got into bed. Her conscience was too hard
to trouble her; but the thought of Jim and his despair