, that I could
hardly get on with my work. At length I met mistress as she was going
up-stairs. She said she was coming to bid me go into the study; and her
manner was so kind that I obeyed her without fear. My master, too, spoke
very kindly to me. I found that my mistress had written to tell him what
had been passing at home in his absence, and that he, chancing to be at
Dudley, which is only a short distance from Birmingham, had gone there to
make further inquiry about me; that he had been at the school, had seen
the matron, and had also seen my aunt. All that he had heard about me had
satisfied him, and convinced him that what I had told my mistress was
nothing but the truth. "Is this your handkerchief, Fanny?" said my master,
taking up one from a side table. "Yes, sir, it is," I said, unfolding it,
"and here is my name marked; it was given to me by a favorite little
schoolfellow, and I feared I had lost it."--"Where do you think I found
this handkerchief, Fanny?"--"Indeed, sir, I can't tell; but, thank you,
sir, for I am so glad it is found." "I found it in the wine-cellar." I
must have looked very much alarmed, for my mistress said kindly, "Don't
look so frightened, Fanny." My master rang the bell: it was answered by
Mary Wild. "Stay here," he said; "and, Fanny, go and tell the nurse to
come down." When the nurse entered, he rang the bell again. No one came.
Indeed, there was no one to come but the cook; and that not being _her_
bell, she did not think of answering it. "Shall I tell her, sir?" said
Mary Wild, who, as well as the nurse, now beginning to suspect something
was wrong, turned very pale. "No!" said my master, angrily, "no one shall
leave the room." Just then the door opened, and the cook entered. The
plausible smooth face she had put on was gone in an instant, on seeing
what was the state of things. After a moment's silence, he began "This
handkerchief," he said, "though marked with Fanny's name, was not put in
the wine-cellar by her." He looked sternly at the cook--"Silence!" he said,
to the cook, when she tried to speak. He then went on: "If the three
bottles of wine stolen out of the cellar are still in the house, they
_shall_ be found--here is a search warrant, and at the door is a policeman,
ready to enforce its execution. There is no escape, and in confession is
the best chance of mercy." Mary Wild looked at the cook. I shall never
forget that woman's face at that moment. She seemed choking with feeli