. But he
burst out with his errand, of which he was full even to choking, and
which sent the glistening tears into his large blue eyes, which stood
farther and farther out with his excitement.

"My lady, I want to speak to you, and to persuade you to exert your kind
interest with Mr. Lathom--Justice Lathom, of Hathaway Manor--"

"Harry Lathom?" inquired my lady,--as Mr. Gray stopped to take the breath
he had lost in his hurry,--"I did not know he was in the commission."

"He is only just appointed; he took the oaths not a month ago,--more's
the pity!"

"I do not understand why you should regret it. The Lathoms have held
Hathaway since Edward the First, and Mr. Lathom bears a good character,
although his temper is hasty--"

"My lady! he has committed Job Gregson for stealing--a fault of which he
is as innocent as I--and all the evidence goes to prove it, now that the
case is brought before the Bench; only the Squires hang so together that
they can't be brought to see justice, and are all for sending Job to
gaol, out of compliment to Mr. Lathom, saying it his first committal, and
it won't be civil to tell him there is no evidence against his man. For
God's sake, my lady, speak to the gentlemen; they will attend to you,
while they only tell me to mind my own business."

Now my lady was always inclined to stand by her order, and the Lathoms of
Hathaway Court were cousins to the Hanbury's. Besides, it was rather a
point of honour in those days to encourage a young magistrate, by passing
a pretty sharp sentence on his first committals; and Job Gregson was the
father of a girl who had been lately turned away from her place as
scullery-maid for sauciness to Mrs. Adams, her ladyship's own maid; and
Mr. Gray had not said a word of the reasons why he believed the man
innocent,--for he was in such a hurry, I believe he would have had my
lady drive off to the Henley Court-house then and there;--so there seemed
a good deal against the man, and nothing but Mr. Gray's bare word for
him; and my lady drew herself a little up, and said--

"Mr. Gray! I do not see what reason either you or I have to interfere.
Mr. Harry Lathom is a sensible kind of young man, well capable of
ascertaining the truth without our help--"

"But more evidence has come out since," broke in Mr. Gray. My lady went
a little stiffer, and spoke a little more coldly:--

"I suppose this additional evidence is before the justices: men of good
family, and o