eneral laugh circled round the room.

'What is your surname?' demanded the justice, with great severity.

'I do not know,' answered I.

I must here observe that these very short answers were such as, in our
mock trials, Mr. Sharpley had taught me to give, for he said I must
never say more than was necessary to answer the question asked.

'What is your father's name?' with increased severity demanded the
justice.

'I do not know.'

'What is the name you yourself generally go by?'

'Lady Anne.'

'Well, Lady Anne, since that is the name you choose to be called, what
are you to Mr. Sharpley?'

'His servant.'

'Do you know for what reason you are brought here?'

'I cannot say.'

'Astonishing calmness!' said the justice in a low tone to the gentleman
beside him. Then again addressing me: 'Lady Anne, you are accused of
robbing, in conjunction with your master, James Sharpley, the Earl of
Malbourne of various articles of plate. What do you say to this charge?'

'I did not take anything myself,' replied I, 'nor did I see my master
take anything.'

'It is melancholy to see one so young in years so old in vice,' observed
the justice. 'Who generally carries that small box?'

'I do.'

'Did you carry it yesterday?'

'I did.'

'Where is the key of it?'

I now with horror remembered that when I left the barn in the night I
had forgot to take the key from my neck, and that it was still in my
possession. With my eyes fixed on the ground, I remained silent. The
question was angrily repeated.

'I have it,' I falteringly answered.

'Hand it over. We must see the contents of that box.'

I attempted to obey, but the key had slipped so low into my bosom that
it had somehow got fixed in the ribbon belonging to my father's picture,
and I trembled so violently that I could not disentangle it without
drawing the picture entirely out, and holding it in my hand while I
disengaged the key. The keen eye of the justice instantly caught it.

'What fine picture is that, set in gold and adorned with pearls?' said
he. 'Hand it over, and let me look at it.'

'It is my father's picture,' I replied; 'it is my own property, and I
will not part with it to anybody.'

'You must part with it to me,' said the justice. 'Hand it over
immediately.'

I slipped it within my stays and spread my hands over my bosom, while I
replied:

'It is my father's picture. It does not belong to anybody in the world
but myself, and I will sooner d