persisted Horatia.

'But you won't tell Mr Clay what I've said. Leastways, I didn't say it,'
cried Nancy, in alarm. 'Naomi said that her sister said that'----

'Oh, never mind who said it. Of course I sha'n't mention any names, but I
shall certainly warn Mr Clay of what the people mean to do.'

'Then you'll do the very harm you want to stop,' said old Nancy solemnly.

'Why?' asked Horatia.

'Because it'll only make him more determined. You don't know these
Yorkshire folk; there's nothing will turn them if they get a thing into
their heads. And let Mr Clay hear that they've threatened to burn him out
of the place, and he'll make the place too hot to hold them, and they'll
pay him out,' said the old woman shrewdly.

Horatia did not make any reply. She felt that there was some truth in
Nancy's remarks, and she gave a little sigh as she thought to herself how
difficult it was not to harm where you only meant to do good. At last she
said, 'I won't say anything to Mr Clay; but I'll have a talk with Sarah,
and she shall do as she likes.'

'She won't tell him; she knows him too well,' said Nancy, and she had
hardly uttered the words when Mrs Clay, who had evidently been dreaming,
awoke with a start, and called Horatia. 'You won't leave to-night, miss?'
the nurse said, in a last attempt.

'No, no; I really couldn't, Nanny; but we're quite safe, for there are a
lot of police guarding us.'

Nancy groaned as she went off.

CHAPTER XIX.

AN UNPLEASANT MOMENT.

Mr Howroyd and Sarah, it will he remembered, had not been seen since they
arrived at the scene of the fire in the park. Mr Howroyd had vaulted from
the car as soon as his half-brother; and when the latter made his angry
speech, and sent off the townspeople, William Howroyd went after them as
quickly as he could. But he had not gone far when he heard quick, light
footsteps behind him; and, turning to see who it was, he saw Sarah,
looking very hot, coming hurrying after him. 'What do you want, my lass?
You go home. The town's no place for you to-night,' he said.

'Yes it is, Uncle Howroyd. I want to see Jane Mary. I'm sure this is some
of her doing,' she panted as she came up to her uncle.

'And if it is, what good will it do you to know it, even if she owned up,
which she won't, you may be sure?' inquired her uncle, stopping, rather
unwillingly, to talk to his niece.

'Oh, she'll tell me; she's not afraid of me. She knows I'm on her side,'
said Sarah.