didn't. And after I had promised, too! All
she wanted to see was King Edward's head on a coin."

"What for?" Kink asked.

"To see if he was bald on the top or not," said Janet. "She had had an
argument with her daughter's husband about it. Which just proves that
you were wrong in thinking she had no daughter."

Kink smiled an annoying smile. "Well," he said, "what then?"

"We found a coin," said Janet, "and found that the King was bald on the
top. That's all."

"And shortly afterwards she got out?" Kink asked.

"Yes, soon afterwards."

Kink laughed very heartily. "Well," he said, "I could see she was an
old fraud, but I didn't think she would steal anything, or I wouldn't
have let her in the caravan at all."

"Steal!" Janet cried. "Why, do you think she stole it? It's very horrid
and unjust of you."

"Then where is it?" Kink asked. "That stuff about the King's head was a
trick. It's a clear case. We must go to the constable's house."

"Oh, no," said Janet, "we won't. She was a poor old thing, and her
heart was bad, and she was very unhappy, and I don't mind about the
money."

"She's an old vagabond," said Kink, "and her heart's as sound as mine.
She wants locking up."

"I won't have it," said Janet again. "If she did steal it, it was very
wrong; but she has had very bad luck. Don't let's think any more about
it, but pay for the sweets and get on."

Poor Janet! no wonder she wanted the matter dropped, for there was her
locket to be explained if any of the others noticed it and asked
questions. She was very silent for some time, and walked alone,
thinking hard. This was her first experience of theft, and it hurt her.

The children, as it happened, never did notice the absence of the
locket, but they kept the memory of the old woman very green. Nothing
after that could be missed without some reference to her.

"Where's the corkscrew?" Robert would say. "I suppose Kathleen
Mavourneen's got it."

"It's no use," Jack would remark, "I can't find the salt. Erin go
bragh!"

CHAPTER 19

THE LETTERS TO X.

They reached Cirencester at five o'clock, and at once turned to the
left to the Fairford road, intending to camp just outside the town till
Monday; and it was here that Gregory had his first rebuff in his
capacity as Requester of Camping Grounds. He brought it upon himself by
refusing to let Mary accompany him, and, indeed, refusing advice
altogether.

He marched off to the farmhouse, which could