Judith looked at her thoughtfully.
“Nevertheless,” she rejoined, “it is to his interest to free his client, and from what you say he already believes that he can do so.”
“I didn’t like several things he said,” remarked Phoebe. “Once he said ‘if’ Toby was innocent—just as if there could be any doubt about it!—and he wouldn’t allow Mr. Spaythe to send to the city for a detective.”
“He may be wise in that,” affirmed Judith. “Doubtless he prefers to wait and see what the next few days develop. If he is able to solve the mystery himself it will be best to keep a detective out of it. The detective would be a stranger, you know, and at their best detectives are not infallible.”
Phoebe sighed.
“What a cruel thing for Mrs. Ritchie to do!” she said. “And just when Janet and I had settled Toby’s affairs so nicely and obtained for him just the position he would have liked best.”
The Little Mother smiled.
“Was I wrong to promise that we would pay Toby’s wages?” asked Phoebe quickly.
“No, dear; I would have agreed to your plan very willingly. But it was placing Mr. Holbrook in a rather delicate position, after his confession to you of his poverty, don’t you think?”
“Perhaps so,” said the girl. “But he took it very nicely. He seems gentlemanly and kind, Cousin Judith. I can’t say why I don’t wholly trust him. Janet thinks he acted splendidly and I imagine she is quite interested in her father’s successor. I don’t dislike him, myself, you know; only, until I’ve seen more of him, I can’t exactly trust him.”