‘It happened exactly as the Major surmised; and we have to thank Nellie’s headache, or whatever has kept her upstairs, for the timely discovery of the burglar. She was going into her dressing-room, and on opening the door, saw a man busy with her jewel-case. She knew what that meant—closed the door and locked it. She ran to the window and screamed out “Thieves!” The fellow took the alarm, and having the window open in readiness for such an emergency, he flung out a bundle which he had prepared. Then he slipped over the ledge, and let himself drop to the ground; but he had miscalculated the distance, and broke his leg in the fall. Two of our men, who had heard Nellie scream, were upon him before he could attempt to rise. He fired, but they had got his arms up in the air; so no harm was done; and he is safe for ten or fifteen years.’
‘And the bundle—what was in it?’ anxiously inquired the Squire’s wife.
‘A lot of trinkets and things, which are scattered all over the place, as the bundle in falling struck the branch of a hawthorn and was torn open. I have sent Parker to look after them; but we must go out ourselves.’
The ladies, whose looks of deep concern indicated how much they were interested in the search, eagerly proposed to accompany the gentlemen. Hats and shawls were quickly procured, and the whole party went forth. Nellie stole shyly down from her room and joined her friends—much to the delight of Maynard, although he endeavoured to appear cold and indifferent. She, too, wore a mask of indifference. But both were conscious that it was a mask, and that each was at heart earnestly wishing that the other would say something which would lead to an explanation. Without words, however, they somehow knew that the reconciliation would come in the morning.
The Major’s presence was taken as a matter of course; for, in the excitement of the moment, his banishment was forgotten by every one except himself. He silently took his place as the special attendant of Miss Euphemia, who received his attentions as graciously as if the incident of the morning had not occurred. He was peculiarly fortunate in being the finder of most of her stolen valuables, which won him additional favour. Nearly everything was found, and a further search was to be made in the morning. So, everybody retired to rest that night with feelings of thankfulness for having had such a singular escape from heavy loss.
In the morning, there were general inquiries for the Major. His misfortunes of the previous night had toned down the anger which had been felt regarding him, and the idea now was that they had been too hard upon the well-meaning little man. All—and especially the Squire—would have been pleased to see him in his usual place at table. But as he did not appear, the only inference that could be drawn was that he felt too much hurt to make any advances.
They were rising from the table and preparing for the unpleasant business of the day, when there was a sound of carriage-wheels, followed by a loud ring at the hall-bell.
‘That’s Willis,’ said the Squire, moving to the window and looking out, after casting a glance of satisfaction at his wife and at his sister-in-law.
His assertion was immediately confirmed by the entrance of Parker to announce the visitor, who, without ceremony, had closely followed the butler.