ys been the perfect embodiment of health and
strength to all the grandchildren, and David did not understand her
this morning.

"Still," he said, "I can't agree with you about shorthand; it's a grand
thing--it's a trade in itself; but there's no chance of my getting to
know it, for I aint got the money. Now, hadn't I better get breakfast?
Ally will be out in a minute."

"No, no; there's time enough. Look here, Dave, Harry must leave school
altogether--he's old enough, and he has passed the standard. He must
earn somethink. Couldn't he go as one of them messenger boys?"

"Perhaps so, Grannie; but why are you in such a hurry? Harry's really
clever; he's got more brains than any of us, and he earns a shilling or
so a week now in the evenings helping me with the figures at Mr.
Groves'."

"Do you think Mr. Groves would take him on altogether, Dave?"

"No, he'd do better as a messenger boy--but don't hurry about him
leaving school. He'd best stay until midsummer, then he'll be fit for
anything."

"Midsummer," said the old woman to herself, "midsummer! Oh, good Lord!"

She bent her head down to prevent David seeing the tears which suddenly
softened her brave eyes.

"What's all this fuss about Alison?" said David suddenly.

At these words Grannie rose to her feet.

"Nothing," she said, "nothing--it's nothing more than what I'd call a
storm in a tea-cup. They have lost a five-pound note at Shaw's and
they choose, the Lord knows why, to put the blame on our Ally. Of
course they'll find the note, and Ally will be cleared."

"It seems a pity she left the shop," said David.

"Pity!" said Mrs. Reed. "You don't suppose that Ally is a Phipps and a
Reed for nothink. We 'old our heads high, and we'll go on doing so.
Why, Dave, they think a sight of Alison in that shop. Mr. Shaw knows
what she's worth; he don't believe she's a thief, bless her!
Yesterday, when I went to see him, he spoke of her as genteel as you
please, and he wanted her back again."

"Then why, in the name of goodness, doesn't she go?" said David.

"Being a Phipps and Reed, she couldn't," replied Grannie. "We, none of
us, can humble ourselves--'taint in us--the breed won't allow it. Ally
was to say she was sorry for having done nothing at all, and, being a
Phipps and a Reed, it wasn't to be done. Don't talk any more about it,
lad. Shaw will be going on his knees to have her back in a day or two;
but I have a thought in my head that she ma