"Pounds, maybe."
"Oh! then that's why Tom Smith wanted to take it away from me!"
Bob told Lizzie all that had passed between Tom and him. She was most indignant.
"A sixpenny-halfpenny brooch, indeed!" she cried. "Oh, I'm glad Stray gave him a good fright! Where is Stray, by the way? Gone upstairs to his missus, I suppose?"
"Yes," Bob replied, adding anxiously, "I hope Tom Smith will never do him any harm—he's such a cruel boy, you know."
Lizzie handed him back the brooch, advising him to take great care of it.
"It may be advertised for," she said; "if so, there's sure to be a reward offered, and you'll get it. Mind you keep it safe!"
"Oh, I will," he assured her; "no fear about that!"
Bob was very tired when by-and-bye he said "good-night" to Lizzie and went upstairs. He made sure that Jackie was asleep, then paid a call on Mrs. Winter. The old woman was seated at her little round table, reading her Bible by the light of a candle. She nodded to a chair, and bade her visitor take it; then, as he obeyed, said, in a tone of concern—
"You look quite done up, my dear!"