rd, and said: "We find the prisoner not
guilty."

Then, in the stillness with which the verdict was received,
Mehetabel's voice was heard, tremulous and pleading. She had
dropped a curtsey, and said, "Thank you, gentlemen." Then turning
to the judge, and again dropping a curtsey, she raised her eyes
timidly, modestly, to the judge, and said, "Please, sir, may I go
to my baby?"

CHAPTER XLIX.

WELCOME.

Mehetabel was not able to leave Kingston for several days. Her child
was too ill to bear the journey to Thursley; and the good-natured
jailer's wife kindly urged her to remain as her guest till she
thought that the little being might be removed with safety. Joe
Filmer would drive her back, and Joe consented to tarry. He had
business to discharge, the settlement of the account with the
solicitor, or turnkey as he called him, to haggle over the sum,
and try to get him to abate a sovereign because paid in ready money.
He had also to satisfy the girl who had recommended the attorney,
and the ostler who had consulted the girl, and old Clutch, who
having found his quarters agreeable at the stable of the Sun, was
disinclined to depart, and pretended that he had the strangles, and
coughed himself into convulsions. At length, towards the end of the
week, Mehetabel thought the child was easier, and Joe having
satisfied all parties to whom he was indebted, and Clutch having
been denied his food unless he came forth and allowed himself to
be harnessed, Mehetabel departed from Kingston, on her return
journey.

The pace at which old Clutch moved was slow, the slightest elevation
in the ground gave him an excuse for a walk, and he turned his head
inquiringly from side to side as he went along, to observe the
scenery. If he passed a hedge, or a field in which was a horse,
he persisted in standing still and neighing. Whereupon the beast
addressed, perhaps at the plough, perhaps a hunter turned out to
graze, responded, and till the conversation in reciprocal neighs
had concluded to the satisfaction of the mind of Clutch, that
venerable steed refused to proceed.

"I suppose you've heard about Betty Chivers?" said Joe.

"About Betty! What?"

"She got a bad chill at the trial, or maybe coming to it; and she
is not returned to Thursley. I heard she was gone to her sister,
who married a joiner at Chertsey, for a bit o' a change, and to be
nussed. Poor thing, she took on won'erful about your little affair.
So you'll not see