me,
and I blushed hotter and hotter every minute. Then Mr. Shaw said: 'You
were overcome by temptation, Alison Reed, and you took the money; but
give it back to me now at once, and I'll promise to forgive you, and
say nothing more about it.'

"Oh, I was so angry, and I said they might search me, and Mr. Shaw got
angry then, and he got one of the girls to feel me all over and to turn
my pockets inside out, and he called himself real kind not to get in
the police. Oh, Grannie, of course they couldn't find it on me, but I
was searched there in the shop before everyone. How am I ever to get
over the shame? I was nearly mad with passion, and I gave notice on
the spot, and here I am. I told Mr. Shaw that I would never enter his
shop again until I was cleared, and I mean to keep my word.

"Mr. Shaw seemed more angry with me for giving notice than he was at
the loss of the note. He said he was certain I took it, for no one
else could, and that I had hid it somewhere, and that I was afraid to
stay, and he said he wouldn't give me any character. So here I am,
Grannie. I have lost my eight shillings a week, and I have lost my
character, and I am suspected of being a thief--here I am, good for
nothing. I have just got my neat shop dress and that is all."

"And does Jim Hardy know?" asked Grannie.

"He was in the shop, of course, and heard everything. I saw he wanted
to speak, but they wouldn't let him; if he asks me again to be his
wife, I shall say 'no' to him. I never was quite certain whether I'd
do right or wrong in marrying him, but now I'm positive. Jim's a right
good fellow, but he shan't ever have it to say that his wife was
accused of theft. I'm going to refuse him, Grannie. I suppose I'll
bear all this as well as another. I'm young, anyway, and you believe
in me, dont you?"

"Believe in you? of course!" said Mrs. Reed. "I never heard of such a
shameful thing in all my life. Why, you are as honest as the day. Of
course that note will be found, and Mr. Shaw, who knows your value,
will ask you to go back fast enough. It 'll be all right, that it
will. I know what I'll do, I'll go straight to the shop and speak
about it. I'm not going to stand this, whoever else is. It aint a
slight thing, Alison; it aint the sort of thing that a girl can get
over. There are you, only seventeen, and so pretty and like a real
lady. Yes, you are; you needn't pertend you aint. Me and my people
were always genteel