"Silence!" interrupted the master. "Before you say any more, I will, in the presence of these witnesses, open the basket; and if it is found to contain nothing but what belongs to you, all shall be returned."
The string that had so carefully secured the cover was then cut, and the contents exposed to view. There was a large piece of bacon, with some lard, half a pound of butter, two pots of jam, and a good-sized cake. Nor was this all. On searching further, a small box was discovered containing a sovereign, and beside an empty bottle marked "Gin" lay a note addressed to her mother, and signed by cook. It directed that fifteen shillings of the money should be taken to a certain pawn-shop in Andover Street, with the enclosed numbered ticket, to redeem a certain valuable ring her mistress had dropped in the hay-field three weeks ago. Further instructions were added about the refilling of the bottle, and a special request that all might be ready for Robin to bring back the following morning. This was read aloud.
And the woman, seeing now there was no hope of escape, confessed to the whole of her misdeeds, imploring forgiveness, as the sudden terror seized her that the affair would be made public in the police-court. She said she had been tempted to take the sovereign from the embroidered purse on the morning of the birthday, when everybody was engaged in the tent on the lawn. She had heard her master promise a handsome reward to the finder of the lost ring, and therefore wished to redeem it quickly, that she might receive the promised sum.
The truth was all out now; but the master and mistress soon discerned there was no real repentance connected with cook's confession. It was only made under fear of the retributive justice she expected would swiftly follow. This was evident from the fact that, though the reading of the note had proved Robin to be no accomplice in the theft, she did her utmost to involve him in her own disgrace by telling tales of his frequent visits to the kitchen, the half of which were untrue.
"You have said enough, cook," said her master sternly. "I do not wish to hear any more. You have nothing to do with Robin; he has his own punishment. You will leave my service to-morrow. A cab will take you to your mother's house. For the sake of Mrs. Campbell, whom I respect, and whose son's ruin you have sought, I will not bring the case before the police; but let me never see you on these premises again."
The sentence was received with an expression of dogged indifference, which changed to a look of defiance as she left the room. Long and earnestly did her gentle mistress plead with the woman before her departure, trying in vain to awaken the hardened heart and conscience to a sense of sin. Those words of loving reproof and counsel fell upon an ear of stone—an ear that some years afterwards longed for that voice of Christian love, when none were nigh to speak a word of hope, as she sat a wretched prisoner in a county jail.
Robin did not lose his place. His humble and penitent confession, given without reserve as soon as cook had left the room, convinced the master that his was genuine sorrow. Another chance of gaining an honourable character must be given to the boy. This kind decision was confirmed by Jonathan's entreaties, who pleaded for Robin as if he had been his own son.
"Go home," said the old man after the interview was concluded, and he was walking down the avenue with Robin. "Go to your knees in humble thankfulness, and pour out your heart to your loving Father, against whom you have sinned. If you want words, turn to the fifty-first Psalm. You will find everything there; and God has said, 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'"
So Robin went home; and there, after saying good-night to his mother, who had awaited his return in much anxiety, and receiving her forgiveness, he knelt down beside his bed, with his Bible open before him, to cry with his whole heart:
"'Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness; according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.'"