ing-room, and her image was so intimately
associated with it, neither the carpenter nor his daughter could muster
courage to enter it before. Determined, however, to conquer the feeling
as soon as possible, Wood had given orders to have the evening meal
served there; but, notwithstanding all his good resolutions upon his
first entrance, he had much ado to maintain his self-command. His wife's
portrait had been removed from the walls, and the place it had occupied
was only to be known by the cord by which it had been suspended. The
very blank, however, affected him more deeply than if it had been left.
Then a handkerchief was thrown over the cage, to prevent the bird from
singing; it was _her_ favourite canary. The flowers upon the
mantel-shelf were withered and drooping--_she_ had gathered them. All
these circumstances,--slight in themselves, but powerful in their
effect,--touched the heart of the widowed carpenter, and added to his
depression.

Supper was over. It had been discussed in silence. The cloth was
removed, and Wood, drawing the table as near the window as possible--for
it was getting dusk--put on his spectacles, and opened that sacred
volume from which the best consolation in affliction is derived, and
left the lovers--for such they may now be fairly termed--to their own
conversation. Having already expressed our determination not to betray
any confidences of this sort, which, however interesting to the parties
concerned, could not possibly be so to others, we shall omit also the
"love passages," and proceeding to such topics as may have general
interest, take up the discourse at the point when Thames Darrell
expressed his determination of starting for Manchester, as soon as Jack
Sheppard's examination had taken place.

"I am surprised we have received no summons for attendance to-day," he
remarked; "perhaps the other robber may be secured."

"Or Jack have escaped," remarked Winny.

"I don't think that's likely. But, this sad affair disposed of, I will
not rest till I have avenged my murdered parents."

"'_The avenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer_'," said Wood,
who was culling for himself certain texts from the scriptures.

"It is the voice of inspiration," said Thames; "and I receive it as a
solemn command. The villain has enjoyed his security too long."

"'_Bloody and deceitful men shall not live half their days_'," said
Wood, reading aloud another passage.

"And yet, _he_ has been spa