hat at once, for I want to go up to Miss
Prettyman's." Then Jane got Miss Walker's hat, and immediately
afterwards scampered into the kitchen with the news. "Oh, law, cook,
it's all come out! Mr. Crawley's as innocent as the unborn babe. The
gentleman upstairs what's just come, and was here once before,--for I
know'd him immediate,--I heard him say so. And master said so too."

"Did master say so his own self?" asked the cook.

"Indeed he did; and Miss Mary told me the same this moment."

"If master said so, then there ain't a doubt as they'll find him
innocent. And who took'd it, Jane?"

"Miss Mary says as nobody didn't steal it."

"That's nonsense, Jane. It stands to reason as somebody had it as
hadn't ought to have had it. But I'm glad as anything as how that
poor reverend gent'll come off;--I am. They tells me it's weeks
sometimes before a bit of butcher's meat finds its way into his
house." Then the groom and the housemaid and the cook, one after
another, took occasion to slip out of the back-door, and poor Jane,
who had really been the owner of the news, was left alone to answer
the bell.

Miss Walker found the two Miss Prettymans sitting together over their
accounts in the elder Miss Prettyman's private room. And she could
see at once by signs which were not unfamiliar to her that Miss
Anne Prettyman was being scolded. It often happened that Miss Anne
Prettyman was scolded, especially when the accounts were brought out
upon the table. "Sister, they are illegible," Mary Walker heard, as
the servant opened the door for her.

"I don't think it's quite so bad as that," said Miss Anne, unable to
restrain her defence. Then, as Mary entered the room, Miss Prettyman
the elder laid her hands down on certain books and papers as though
to hide them from profane eyes.

"I am glad to see you, Mary," said Miss Prettyman gravely.

"I've brought such a piece of news," said Mary. "I knew you'd be glad
to hear it, so I ventured to disturb you."

"Is it good news?" said Anne Prettyman.

"Very good news. Mr. Crawley is innocent."

Both the ladies sprang on to their legs. Even Miss Prettyman
herself jumped up on to her legs. "No!" said Anne. "Your father has
discovered it?" said Miss Prettyman.

"Not exactly that. Mr. Toogood has come down from London to tell him.
Mr. Toogood, you know, is Mr. Crawley's cousin; and he is a lawyer,
like papa." It may be observed that ladies belonging to the families
of solicitors alw