y pretty sure to be in misfortune myself.
You mightn't think it of me, but I am not quite a heathen, and do
reflect a little at times. You may be as wicked as myself, or as good
as Joseph, for anything I know or care, for, as I say, it ain't my
business to judge you. Tell me now what you are up to, and I will make
it the better for you."

Mary had been trying hard to get at what he was "up to," but found
herself quite bewildered.

"I am sorry, sir," she faltered, "but I haven't the slightest idea what
you mean."

"Then you go home," he said. "I will send for you when I want you."

The moment she was out of the room, he rang his bell violently. Mewks
appeared.

"Go after that young woman--do you hear? You know her--Miss--damn it,
what's her name?--Harland or Cranston, or--oh, hang it! you know well
enough, you rascal!"

"Do you mean Miss Marston, sir?"

"Of course I do! Why didn't you say so before? Go after her, I tell
you; and make haste. If she goes straight home--you know where--come
back as soon as she's inside the door."

"Yes, sir."

"Damn you, go, or you'll lose sight of her!"

"I'm a-listenin' after the street-door, sir. It ain't gone yet. There
it is now!"

And with the word he left the room.

Mary was too much absorbed in her own thoughts to note that she was
followed by a man with the collar of his great-coat up to his eyes, and
a woolen comforter round his face. She walked on steadily for home,
scarce seeing the people that passed her. It was clear to Mewks that
she had not a suspicion of being kept in sight. He saw her in at her
own door, and went back to his master.

CHAPTER XLIV.

JOSEPH JASPER.

Another fact Mewks carried to his master--namely, that, as Mary came
near the door of the house, she was met by "a rough-looking man," who
came walking slowly along, as if he had been going up and down waiting
for her. Ho made her an awkward bow as she drew near, and she stopped
and had a long conversation with him--such at least it seemed to Mewks,
annoyed that he could hear nothing of it, and fearful of attracting
their attention--after which the man went away, and Mary went into the
house. This report made his master grin, for, through the description
Mewks gave, he suspected a thief disguised as a workman; but, his hopes
being against the supposition, he dwelt the less upon it.

The man who stopped Mary, and whom, indeed, she would have stopped, was
Joseph Jasper, the blacksmith