one hand playing incessantly with a child's comforter that lay beside
her on the table, the other wiping away the crowding tears. But her mind
worked feverishly all the time, and gradually she fought herself free of
this weeping, which clutched her against her will.

Isaac was away for an hour. When he came back he closed the door
carefully, and, walking to the table, threw down his hat upon it. His
face under its ruddy brown had suffered some radical disintegrating
change.

'They've traced yer,' he said, hoarsely;' they've got it up to
twenty-six pound, an more. Most on it 'ere in Clinton--some on it,
Muster Miles o' Frampton ull swear to. Watson ull go over to Frampton,
for the warrant--to-morrer.'

The news shook her from head to foot. She stared at him wildly--
speechless.

'But that's not 'arf,' he went on--'not near 'arf. Do yer 'ear? What did
yer do with the rest? I'll not answer for keepin my 'ands off yer if yer
won't tell.'

In his trance of rage and agony, he was incapable of pity. He had small
need to threaten her with blows--every word stabbed.

But her turn had come to strike back. She raised her head; she measured
her news against his; and she did it with a kind of exultation.

'Then I _will_ tell yer--an I 'ope it ull do yer good. _I_ took
thirty-one pound o' Bolderfield's money then--but it warn't me took the