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 whom Mary let in; whom she went up-stairs to the nursery to
tell you about; whom you came down to speak to; the same chap, I make no
doubt, whom you took into the nursery to have your talk out with; whom
Ailsie saw, and afterwards dreamed about; thinking, poor wench! she saw
him say his prayers, when nothing, I'll be bound, was farther from his
thoughts; who took Mrs. Chadwick's brooch, value ten pounds. Now, Norah!
Don't go off! I am as sure as that 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 chap has been making up to you,
and you've been just like all other women, and have turned a soft place
in your heart to him; and he came last night a-lovyering, and you had him
up in the nursery, and he made use of his opportunities, and made off
with a few things on his way down! Come, now, Norah: it's no blame to
you, only you must not be such a fool again. Tell us," he continued,
"what name he gave you, Norah? I'll be bound it was not the right one;
but it will be a clue for the police."