from poaching to thieving."

"That is quite true," replied Lady Ludlow (who had a horror of poaching
for this very reason): "but I imagine you do not send a man to gaol on
account of his bad character."

"Rogues and vagabonds," said Mr. Lathom. "A man may be sent to prison
for being a vagabond; for no specific act, but for his general mode of
life."

He had the better of her ladyship for one moment; but then she answered--

"But in this case, the charge on which you committed him is for theft;
now his wife tells me he can prove he was some miles distant from
Holmwood, where the robbery took place, all that afternoon; she says you
had the evidence before you."

Mr. Lathom here interrupted my lady, by saying, in a somewhat sulky
manner--"No such evidence was brought before me when I gave the warrant.
I am not answerable for the other magistrates' decision, when they had
more evidence before them. It was they who committed him to gaol. I am
not responsible for that."

My lady did not often show signs of impatience; but we knew she was
feeling irritated, by the little perpetual tapping of her high-heeled
shoe against the bottom of the carriage. About the same time we, sitting
backwards, caught a glimpse of Mr. Gray through the open door, standing
in the shadow of the hall. Doubtless Lady Ludlow's arrival had
interrupted a conversation between Mr. Lathom and Mr. Gray. The latter
must have heard every word of what she was saying; but of this she was