He said that
when Northwick's friends communicated with him and ascertained his
readiness to surrender the money he had with him, and to make
restitution in every possible way, it would be time to talk of a _nolle
prosequi_. In the meantime, by the fact of absconding he was in contempt
of court. He must return and submit himself for trial, and take the
chance of a merciful sentence.

There could be no other answer, he said, and he could give none for
Putney to carry back to the defaulter's daughters.

Suzette received it in silence, as if she had nerved herself up to bear
it so. Adeline had faltered between her hopes and fears, but she had
apparently decided how she should receive the worst, if the worst came.

"Well, then," she said, "we must give up the place. You can get the
papers ready, Mr. Putney."

"I will do whatever you say, Miss Northwick."

"Yes, and I don't want you to think that I don't want to do it. It's my
doing now; and if my sister was all against it, I should wish to do it
all the same."

Matt Hilary learned from his father the result of the conference with
the State's attorney, and he came up to Hatboro' the next day, to see
Putney on his father's behalf, and to express the wish of his family
that Mr. Putney would let them do anything he could think of for his
clients. He got his message out bunglingly, with embarrassed
circumlocution and repetition; but this was what it came to in the end.

Putney listened with sarcastic patience, shifting the tobacco in his
mouth from one thin cheek to the other, and letting his fierce blue eyes
burn on Matt's kindly face.

"Well, sir," he said, "what do _you_ think can be done for two women,
brought up as ladies, who choose to beggar themselves?"

"Is it so bad as that?" Matt asked.

"Why, you can judge for yourself. My present instructions are to make
their whole estate over to the Ponkwasset Mills Company--"

"But I thought--I thought they might have something
besides--something--"

"There was a little money in the bank that Northwick placed there to
their credit when he went away; but I've had their instructions to pay
that over to your company, too. I suppose they will accept it?"

"It isn't my company," said Matt. "I've nothing whatever to do with
it--or any company. But I've no doubt they'll accept it."

"They can't do otherwise," said the lawyer, with a humorous sense of the
predicament twinkling in his eyes. "And that will leave my clients