hat the young man
was seen hiding in a ditch close to the murdered man's house, only
a few days before the murder, is that no evidence against him, Mr.
Jones?" said Sir Thomas Charleys, of Charlicoats.

"No evidence at all, Sir Thomas. If I had been found asleep in the
ditch, that would have been no evidence against me."

"Yes, it would, very strong evidence; and I would have committed you
on it, without hesitation, Mr. Jones."

Mr. Jones made a spirited rejoinder to this; but it was of no use,
and poor Sam was sent back to gaol for the third time.

For the first ten days after the murder nothing was done as to the
works at the mill. The men who had been employed by Brattle ceased to
come, apparently of their own account, and everything was lying there
just in the state in which the men had left the place on the Saturday
night. There was something inexpressibly sad in this, as the old man
could not even make a pretence of going into the mill for employment,
and there was absolutely nothing to which he could put his hands, to
do it. When ten days were over, Gilmore came down to the mill, and
suggested that the works should be carried on and finished by him. If
the mill were not kept at work, the old man could not live, and no
rent would be paid. At any rate, it would be better that this great
sorrow should not be allowed so to cloud everything as to turn
industry into idleness, and straitened circumstances into absolute
beggary. But the Squire found it very difficult to deal with the
miller. At first old Brattle would neither give nor withhold his
consent. When told by the Squire that the property could not be left
in that way, he expressed himself willing to go out into the road,
and lay himself down and die there;--but not until the term of his
holding was legally brought to a close. "I don't know that I owe
any rent over and beyond this Michaelmas as is coming, and there's
the hay on the ground yet." Gilmore, who was very patient, assured
him that he had no wish to allude to rent; that there should be no
question of rent even when the day came, if at that time money was
scarce. But would it not be better that the mill, at least, should be
put in order?

"Indeed it will, Squire," said Mrs. Brattle. "It is the idleness that
is killing him."

"Hold your jabbering tongue," said the miller, turning round upon her
fiercely. "Who asked you? I will see to it myself, Squire, to-morrow
or next day."

After two or thre