It was curious to notice how his tone, his eyes, his whole face was
changed, as he spoke to his wife; but he was the resolute man through
all. She knew better than to oppose him; so she went upstairs, and
told Norah that her master wanted to speak to her, and that she would
take care of the children in the meanwhile.

Norah rose to go, without a word. Her thoughts were these:

'If they tear me to pieces, they shall never know through me. He may
come--and then, just Lord have mercy upon us all! for some of us are
dead folk to a certainty. But _he_ shall do it; not me.'

You may fancy, now, her look of determination, as she faced her master
alone in the dining-room; Mr and Mrs Chadwick having left the
affair in their nephew's hands, seeing that he took it up with such
vehemence.

'Norah! Who was that man that came to my house last night?'

'Man, sir!' As if infinitely surprised; but it was only to gain time.

'Yes; the man that Mary let in; that she went upstairs to the nursery
to tell you about; that you came down to speak to; the same chap, I
make no doubt, that you took into the nursery to have your talk out
with; the one Ailsie saw, and afterwards dreamed about; thinking, poor
wench! she saw him say his prayers, when nothing, I'll be bound, was
further from his thoughts; the one that took Mrs Chadwick's brooch,
value ten pounds. Now, Norah! Don't go off. I'm as sure as my name's
Thomas Openshaw that you knew nothing of this robbery. But I do think
you've been imposed on, and that's the truth. Some good-for-nothing