"I beg your pardon, it fell with your handkerchief."
"Gracious Heaven!" exclaimed Caroline, "what have I done! I have brought away a piece of that lace! Ma'ma, let us go back directly."
Although the incident had occupied but a minute, Mrs. Clifford and Franklin, engaged in conversation, had not perceived it, and had gone several paces on. The old gentleman smiled, bowed, and disappeared around a corner.
At this moment a man stepped up, and laying his hand roughly on Caroline's arm, said,
"Young woman, you must come with me!"
And a second iron-hand grasped her other arm.
Shocked and affrighted, she saw they were policemen.
Then the voice of a person very much out of breath, cried,
"This is the one!—I can swear to her! And look!—there is the very lace in her hand!"
Pale as death, bewildered with terror, the poor girl could only attempt to say, "Ma'ma! ma'ma!" but her tongue clove to the roof of her mouth, and her voice refused its office. A crowd had already collected, and the words, "Lady been a stealing!" and, "They've nabbed a thief!" were audible enough.