TOM'S LAST EFFORT
THAT very same evening, Mrs. Keith received an ill-written letter from Tom:
"MADAM,—This is to say as little Miss to my sertain nowledge have not toled a lie. There be anuther party in the bisness wich if you cud discover wud be rather near home but I am pleged to say nothing. They that lives most with her knows and is hidinge the truth.
"Your obedient servant
"TOM TRIGGS."
Mrs. Keith showed this to her husband. As Harebell was cleared, they did not tell her anything about it, but Tom was written to and thanked for his intervention.
And very soon the Rectory party returned from the seaside. Peter and Harebell had a very solemn interview. He was made by his mother to come up and tell Mrs. Keith exactly what he had said; and then he apologised to Harebell.
She took his shamefaced apology very gravely. But when she began to relate to him her runaway ride, he brightened up and was most interested.
"It's just like a story! What a pity you came back. I should have gone to sea!"
"I couldn't have. I couldn't have taken Chris with me. It was him I didn't like leaving."
"Girls never keep things up. They always get frightened and stop in the middle."
"What would you have felt like if I had never come back?"