taking it, but they
might search _her_ things.

"So now I think I have explained all; and when you get the Bible, and
the bracelet, and this letter, the only favour I ask is that you will
wait a month before you let her ladyship know anything about it, and
that will give me time to get well out of the country.

"So you must forgive me for all the wicked things I have done--and do
ask the Lord to forgive me too. I hope I shall be able to turn over a
new leaf. I shan't forget you, nor your good advice, nor what I did
at you, nor the verses marked under with red-ink. So no more from
your humble and penitent fellow-servant,

"JH."

Such was the letter, which was listened to by all with breathless
interest.

"And now what's `the next step'?" said Thomas Bradly.

"I think your next step," said the vicar, "will be to go yourself to
Lady Morville, and lay before her this conclusive evidence of your
sister's innocence."

"Yes; I suppose that will be right," said Bradly. "I can explain it
better than Jane could--indeed, I can see as Jane thinks so herself; and
it would be too much for her, any way, to go about it herself and,
besides, it'll have a better look for me to go."

CHAPTER TWENTY.

PEACE.

"If you please, my lady, Thomas Bradly would be glad to speak with you
for a few minutes, if you could oblige him."

"Thomas Bradly?" asked Lady Morville of the footman who brought the
message; "is he one of our own people?"

"No, my lady; but he says you'll know who he is if I mention that Jane
Bradly is his sister."

"Dear me! Yes, to be sure. Take him into the housekeeper's room, and
tell him I will be with him in a few minutes."

"Well, Thomas," said her ladyship, holding out her hand to him as she
entered the room, "I'm very glad to see you. I needn't ask if you are
well."

"Thank your ladyship, I'm very well; and I hope you're the same, and Sir
Lionel too."

"Thank you. Sir Lionel is not so well just now; he has had a good deal
to worry him lately. But how are all your family? We miss you still
from church very much, and from the Lord's table.--And poor Jane?"

"Well, my lady, poor Jane's been poor Jane indeed for a long time, but
she's rich Jane now."

"You don't mean to say, Thomas--!" exclaimed the other in a distressed
tone.

"Oh no!" interrupted Bradly; "Jane's not left yet for the better land,
though she's walking steadily along the road to it. But the Lord ha