ghter?"

"I tell you what I'll do," said Shaw, after a pause. "I like your
granddaughter. I am inclined to believe, in spite of appearances, that
she is innocent. I must confess that she acted very insolently to me
this morning, and for the sake of the other shop people she must
apologize; but if she will apologize I will have her back--there, I
can't act fairer than that."

"Nothing will make her step inside your shop, sir, until she is
cleared."

"Oh, well!" said Mr. Shaw, rising, "she must take the consequence. She
is a great fool, for she'll never get such a chance again. Suspicion
is strong against her. I am willing to overlook everything, and to let
the affair of the five pounds sink into oblivion. Your granddaughter
is useful to me, and, upon my word, I believe she is innocent. If she
does not come back, she will find it extremely difficult to get another
situation."

"Sir," said Mrs. Reed, "you don't know Alison. Nothing will make her
set her foot inside this shop until the real thief is found. Are you
going to find him or are you not?"

"I will do my best, madam, and if that is your last word, perhaps you
will have the goodness not to take up any more of my valuable time."

CHAPTER II.

Mrs. Reed left the shop, and went home as quickly as her small, active
feet could carry her. She was feeling quite brisked up by her
interview with Shaw, and her indignation supplied her with strength.
She got back to the model lodging in Sparrow Street, mounted to her own
floor, and opened the door with a latch-key. Alison was sitting by the
window, busy over the needlework which Grannie would have done had she
been at home. Alison was but an indifferent worker, whereas Grannie
was a very beautiful one. Few people could do more lovely hand work
than Mrs. Reed. She was famous for her work, and got, as such things
go, good prices for it. The very best shops in the West End employed
her. She was seldom without a good job on hand. She had invented a
new pattern in feather-stitching which was greatly admired, and which
she was secretly very proud of--it was an intricate pattern, and it
made a very good show. No other workwoman knew how to do it, and
Grannie was very careful not to impart her secret to the trade. This
feather-stitching alone gave her a sort of monopoly, and she was too
good a woman of business not to avail herself of it. It was the
feather-stitching which had mostly tried her poor