“Open it. There’s no candle in it’is there? But there was’a quarter of an hour ago.”
Numerous voices were now audible around the burning rick. The constable looked out, and hesitated whether to go forth and ensure order without, or to hear what had to be said within.
He saw that there was not much chance of further mischief, the intensity of the fire kept everyone at a distance.
“Go on,” said he. “What have you to say against the girl?”
“She was in the kitchen with Jane Redmore. And Jane Redmore asked her to go along with she on her way home, wi’ a lantern, because of the pitch darkness. Was it not so, Zerah?”
“I can’t say. I wasn’t in the kitchen,” answered Mrs. Pepperill reluctantly.
“Was it as he says?” asked the constable, turning to Kate.
“Yes.” Then suddenly, she woke out of a condition of almost stupefaction; and throwing herself on her knees before her uncle, she entreated, “Do not say that I did it!”
“I leave that to the magistrate, when he tries, and commits you to prison.”
“No, no, you will not send me there!”